The Herd formed in 2000 when the collective behind the independent Sydney-based record label Elefant Traks decided to collaborate on a release rather than work as individual producers and MCs. The result was a wildly diverse 18-track self-titled album that featured the triple j hit ‘Scallops’. With the success of that song The Herd toured extensively and developed into a cohesive unit – a big change given that, pre-Herd, they were a completely freestyle/improv group called Dase Team 5000.
February 2003 saw their follow-up album An Elefant Never Forgets released amidst the invasion of Iraq by coalition forces and, closer to home, the devastating bushfires in Canberra. These were uncertain times – especially as the band had just released their first single: the controversially titled ‘Burn Down The Parliament’. Fortunately the song struck a chord with their audience – fans turned up to the launches in droves, and The Herd found themselves on the road more than ever. The second single, ‘77%’, immediately sparked controversy with print, electronic media and talkback radio hosts alarmed at both its use of language and the
forthright nature of its message. Maybe it was a sign of the times as it became the first of many Herd songs to get voted into the triple j Hottest 100.
For their next release The Herd set up a studio in inner west Sydney, creating their most coherent release so far in The Sun Never Sets. They also welcomed Jane Tyrrell into the group. Featuring radio hits like ‘We Can’t Hear You’ and ‘Unpredictable’ amongst a diverse range of tracks which displayed much refined song-writing and production, the album included a version of the Redgum classic ‘I Was Only 19’ (originally recorded as a one-off for a radio show). The album continued the band’s rise – doing shows at premium venues like Sydney’s Enmore Theatre and the Tivoli in Brisbane. Despite the departure of longtime member Bezerkatron (who rapped in Czech on ‘Unpredictable’), in 2006 they did the national Big Day Out tour to huge responses – as well as succesful appearances at every major Australian festival.
In winter 2007 The Herd focused on their most ambitious album to date – returning to the Central Coast A-frame house where they’d written much of their previous albums - for an extended period of writing. The resulting album, Summerland, was completed in early 2008, and features the first single ‘The King is Dead’.
In between all this activity, members of The Herd released highly acclaimed solo albums: Unkle Ho – Roads to Roma (2004) and Circus Maximus (2007); Urthboy – Distant Sense of Random Menace (2004) and The Signal (2007); and Astronomy Class (featuring Ozi Batla) – Exit Strategy (2006).
The Herd have a reputation as one of the country’s best live acts. An unconventional set-up, they perform with two MCs, two singers, an acoustic and an electric guitar, bass, piano accordion, clarinet, laptops and MPC.
Check out The Herd's New clip 2020
BUY THE 2020 SINGLE (+ 3 extra bonus remixes) by clicking the iTunes link
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Hellos to All. I'll be seeing you (yet again) in Bris in july... what the hell can I do to get you to play Mischief? i've seen you play so many times, and STILL not heard it live... will you help? Pretty Please?
heyy saw you guys at the coconet classic and you were awesome. and thanks for not ruining 'i was only 19'. its such a powerful song, for a second i was worried that any cover would kill it, but i love your version!
Pretty sure No Disclaimers and Unpredictable are my favs. Theres too much classical music for clarinet (not that I don't like playing it) and not enough other styles - its unusual for clarinet to be in hip-hop, but it sounds really good. Fusion of big band and hip-hop is awesome too. Keep up the good work :D
Hi All...Thanks for adding Me.. Saw you Guy's in Byron...BEST night I have had in a very long time..The whole place went off!!! Hope to see you again live soon Cheers Sarah
Massiv respec in check on the dex for your fun-ness infects and dissects direct all the critical politic fools in miracle ways so word to the Herd and we offer you praise! You're Woodford gigs ROCKED esp the Big Top and I thought you're cricket form was fine (esp Jane) but I think Mr Gee Negus let you down - perhaps stick a wicket up his dateline next time?
If we didn't love you guys so much, we'd be a bit pi$$ed off, we started making a very similar clip to 2020, using a newspaper weather map too. But we had to scrap it when yours came out. But we will forgive and forget because Elephants and Monkeys all have to live together in the jungle. Peace, Luv & Bananas.
Hi guys. Stop me if I've said this before -- been talking to a lot of people about 'International Sing Wherever You Go Day' lately which in Australia is sort of involved with the bushfire relief, specifically about the volunteer organisations making it happen. Anyhoo, go here if you'd like to read more: www. singwhereveryougoday. blogspot. com or my blog. Cheers, BQ. P.S. You boys play a mighty fine cricket game, a la Woodford XI. Don't about that Negus guy you had as a sub!
YEAH - im feelin the verbal gymnastics , definately revolutionary . Thanks 4 the add homie. I m 4 the rap evolution - check ma flo and tell me wat u think.
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