The Silents are an Australian rock band from Perth, Western Australia. The group forms in the second half of 2002 when Benjamin Stowe and Jamie Terry begin writing and recording music shaped by early 1960s psychedelic and beat music. In September 2003, after seeing Sam Ford’s band play at a Perth hotel, Stowe asks Ford and drummer Alex Board to join him and Terry, and the four-piece lineup takes shape.

Formation and name

The band’s name comes from two references: Simon and Garfunkel’s song “The Sound of Silence” and “The Silence”, the original name of Marc Bolan’s band John’s Children. That second reference links the band name to one of the first psychedelic bands in the United Kingdom.

Releases and label activity

The Silents release their debut EP, “Flicker & Flames”, on Rubber Records in April 2006. Its lead single, “Nightcrawl”, receives substantial airplay on Triple J and on alternative and community radio across Australia. In April 2007 the band signs to Ivy League Records. They begin recording material for their debut album, “Things to Learn”, in May 2007, and the album is released in March 2008. In November 2007 they issue the EP “23”, which includes the title track from the album, two songs not included on it, and the earlier song “Window”.

Touring and media appearances

In 2006 the band tours extensively with The Exploders and appears as the house band on Rove Live. In 2007 they tour nationally with The Vines and Red Riders. After a lineup change, they tour nationally with Tame Impala in May 2010.

Lineup changes and later work

In November 2008, Alex Board is replaced by drummer Mike Jelinek. The following year the band parts ways with Ivy League Records and its management and continues independently with the new lineup. They work on new material for a second LP titled “Sun A Buzz”, which is recorded in a secluded part of South West Australia and at Blackbird Sound Studios in Perth in late 2009.