Biography
The Sharp was a 3-piece pop/rock band from Melbourne, Australia. The band formed in 1988 with Allan Catlin on double bass and lead vocals, Charlie Rooke on guitar and lead vocals, and Danny Simcic / Piet Collins on drums. The Sharp produced a string of MTV top 40 hit singles, including Train of Thought, Scratch My Back, Talking Sly and Alone Like Me . They became known for their black skivvies and energetic live show, including Catlin balancing on his double bass while playing, and Rooke leaping off the drum kit mid-solo.
After releasing two EPs independently, they were signed to Warner Music in 1992, and had their first hit single Talking Sly written and sung jointly by Charlie Rooke and Allan Catlin, featuring wild psychobilly guitar over Manchester funk grooves. The Sharp released their debut album This Is the Sharp in 1993, achieving 7 ARIA nominations and an MTV top 40 gold record. A world tour followed in 1994, where the band toured U.S.A., U.K., Sweden and Germany, and were signed and released in 14 international territories, receiving 5-star media reviews and full houses for every show. Sonic Tripod, the band's second album, was released on 22 August 1994. Singles included Honest & Sober, Alone Like Me (their highest charting top 40 single) and Spider.
In 1995, Warner Music International offered The Sharp European Residency and international promotion, at which point they disbanded due to burn out. Currently, Catlin is writing and performing new music, Rooke runs his own secondhand book shop, teaches guitar, and is writing music. Collins is in media journalism.
In July 2010, the band reunited for a series of shows in Australia, playing venues in Melbourne and Adelaide.
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