The Drones

The Drones are an Australian rock band from Perth, formed in 1997 and active since then. Their line-up includes Gareth Liddiard, Fiona Kitschin, Dan Luscombe, Steve Hesketh and Mike Noga. Over time the band also includes Rui Pereira and Christian Strybosch, who are part of its earlier history and later line-ups.

Origin and early line-ups

The band forms in Perth and develops through several line-up changes before settling on its best-known configuration. Gareth Liddiard and Rui Pereira previously play together in The Gutterville Splendour Six, and the early Perth versions of The Drones also include Warren Hall and James McCann. After McCann moves to Sydney, Steve Joines replaces him. Liddiard and Pereira then move to the east coast, where Fiona Kitschin joins on bass and Christian Strybosch replaces Hall on drums.

Recordings and releases

The Drones record a self-titled EP in one day, and it appears in 2001. It gains radio play on public radio and attention in the street press. The band signs to Spooky Records and releases its debut album, Here Come the Lies, in 2002. That year it also issues the singles “The Cockeyed Lowlife of the Highlands” and “Bird in a Church”.

Its second album, Wait Long By The River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By, is recorded in 2004 but its release is delayed by legal problems before appearing in 2005 on In-Fidelity. In 2006 Bang! Records releases The Miller’s Daughter, a collection of outtakes from the first two albums. That same year the band also releases the live album LIVE [in Spaceland - November 15th, 2006] through Kufala Recordings.

The third studio album, Gala Mill, is recorded at Gala Farm in Cranbrook, Tasmania, in an old mill on an isolated farm, and appears in 2006. In 2008 the band releases the EP The Minotaur / Nail It Down, followed by Havilah, which is recorded at Gareth Liddiard and Fiona Kitschin’s home outside Myrtleford with Burke Reid producing and engineering. Havilah comes out through ATP Recordings and reaches No. 47 on the Australian album chart.

I See Seaweed, the sixth studio album, appears in 2013 and is recorded independently before co-distribution through Waterfront Records. In 2016 the band releases Feelin Kinda Free, its first album on its own label, Tropical Fuck Storm Records. It becomes the band’s highest-charting album, reaching No. 12 on the ARIA Albums Chart.

Awards and recognition

Wait Long By The River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By is nominated for Triple J’s inaugural J Award in 2005 and wins the first Australian Music Prize in 2006. Gala Mill is also nominated for the Australian Music Prize. In 2009, Havilah wins Best Independent Album of the Year at the AIR Awards, and The Drones also win Independent Artist of the Year. In 2010 the band wins Best Live Act at the Australian Rolling Stone Awards.

I See Seaweed is nominated for a J Award and is a first longlist finalist for the Coopers AMP. It also receives nominations for three Age Music Victoria Awards: best band, best album and best live act. The song “Shark Fin Blues” is voted the greatest Australian song in a Triple J poll of contemporary Australian songwriters.

Later years and related projects

The Drones continue touring through the 2000s and 2010s. Christian Strybosch returns on drums in 2014, while Mike Noga leaves to focus on solo work. The band plays its final show in support of Feelin Kinda Free in 2016 and then goes on hiatus.

Gareth Liddiard and Fiona Kitschin later become founding members of Tropical Fuck Storm with Lauren Hammel and Erica Dunn. Liddiard releases a solo album, Strange Tourist, in 2010, and Mike Noga releases The Balladeer Hunter in 2011. Noga dies in 2020.