Biography

Underground Lovers are a Melbourne indie/electronic group that were one of the most lauded music acts in the country’s alternative scene throughout the 1990s. Despite minimal commercial success, the band was much praised and developed a cult following. The lineup changed often since their inception in 1989, but retained a stable nucleus of Vincent Giarrusso (vocals, guitar, keyboard) and Glenn Bennie (guitar).

Playing their first gig in May 1990 at Melbourne’s Corner Hotel, supporting The MacGuffins. In addition to Bennie and Giarrusso, the original lineup featured Philippa Nihill (vocals, guitar, keyboard), Stephen Downes (bass) and Richard Andrew (drums); Maurice Argiro replaced Downes on bass following the first show. Underground Lovers self funded and recorded their self- titled debut with producer Simon Grounds and put it out through Shock Records in March 1991. By the end of that year an EP of newer material, Nice, came out, in addition to a contribution to the Youngblood 3 compilation, “Ripe”.