Swoop were an Australian seven-piece rock, funk and disco band established in 1991. Swoop released three studio albums, '' Thriller'' (October 1993), '' The Woxo Principle'' (November 1995), and ''Be What You Is'' (January 1999). Their most popular single, 1995's "

Apple Eyes "Apple Eyes" is a song by Australian band Swoop that was released in October 1995 as the third single from the group's second studio album, '' The Woxo Principle'' (1995). It was their most successful single, peaking at number nine on the Austra ...

", reached No. 9 in Australia on the

ARIA Singles Chart The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...

, and was certified gold by

ARIA In music, an aria (Italian: ; plural: ''arie'' , or ''arias'' in common usage, diminutive form arietta , plural ariette, or in English simply air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompanime ...

History

1991–1993: ''Thriller''

Swoop were an Australian seven-piece rock, funk and disco band established in 1991 by Joshua Beagley on guitar and keyboards, and Roland Kapferer on lead vocals, initially as a funk and rap duo. The duo were joined by Fiona Ta'akimoeaka on lead vocals, and in 1992 by Chris Brien on drums, Armando Gomez on percussion, Alex 'Gob' Hewettson on bass guitar, and Breadman St Ledger III on keyboards. Note: McFarlane incorrectly lists Chris Brien as Chris O'Brien. Later members include percussionist Terepai Richmond, drummer Calvin Welch and keyboard player Tetsushi Morita. After Ta'akimoeaka left the band, Rebekah Jane joined the group as lead vocalist. In 1992, Swoop released the single "Positivity's Groove" and "Jelly Funk". In 1993, Swoop released "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" and "Do It" which were both included on Swoop's debut studio albums, '' Thriller'' released in October 1993.

1994–1999: ''The Woxo Principle'' and ''Be What You Is''

In October 1994, Swoop released "

Neighbourhood Freak "Neighbourhood Freak" is a song by Australian band Swoop (Australian band), Swoop and was released in October 1994 as the first single from the group's second studio album ''The Woxo Principle''. It was their first charting single, peaking at numb ...

", which became the group's first charting single, peaking at number 62 on the ARIA Charts. At the

ARIA Music Awards of 1994 The Eighth Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as the ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAS) was held on 30 March 1994 at the State Theatre in Sydney. Radio and TV personality Richard Stubbs hosted the cer ...

Swoop were nominated for

ARIA Award for Best New Talent The ARIA Music Award for Best New Talent was an award presented at the annual ARIA Music Awards. It was presented from 1987 through to 1998. The award for Best New Talent was first presented in 1987. Crowded House won the award with their single "D ...

. During 1994 and 1995 the group played regular gigs in the Gershwin Room at St Kilda's Esplanade Hotel. In 1995 Swoop released Rock Dog" and in October, "

" which peaked at number 9 on the ARIA Charts and was certified gold. In November 1995, Swoop released their second studio album '' The Woxo Principle'' Two further singles were released from the album, including the cover of

Captain & Tennille Captain & Tennille were American recording artists whose primary success occurred in the 1970s. The husband-and-wife team were "Captain" Daryl Dragon (1942–2019) and Toni Tennille (born 1940). They have five albums certified gold or platinum ...

's " Do That to Me (One More Time)". At the

ARIA Music Awards of 1996 The 10th Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as the ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAS) was held on 30 September 1996 at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre. Presenters distributed 28 award ...

they were nominated for

ARIA Award for Song of the Year The ARIA Music Award for Single of the Year/Song of the Year, is an award presented at the annual ARIA Music Awards, which recognises "the many achievements of Aussie artists across all music genres", since 1987. It is handed out by the Austral ...

and

ARIA Award for Best Video The ARIA Award for Best Video, is presented at the annual ARIA Awards, which recognise "the many achievements of Aussie artists across all music genres", since 1987. It is handed out by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), an o ...

for "Apple Eyes", and

ARIA Award for Best Pop Release The ARIA Music Awards, ARIA Music Award for Best Pop Release, is an award presented at the annual ARIA Music Awards, which recognises "the many achievements of Australians, Aussie artists across all music genres", since 1987. It is handed out by ...

for ''The Woxo Principle''. In 1998, Swoop released "Remedy" and "Blood Runs Hot", the lead singles from their third studio album ''Be What You Is'' which was released in January 1999. Late in 1999 Swoop disbanded.

2000–present: After Swoop

After Swoop, Beagley, Kapferer and Welch formed Professor Groove & the Booty Affair; with Sam Dixon on bass guitar and Robert Woolf on keyboards and vocals (later replaced by Richard Stanford on keyboards). They released their debut album, ''And so Funketh the Wise Man'' in 2001. Brien became a live and recording session musician, drum clinician and teacher; in November 2006 he relocated to

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation album

Extended play

Singles

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The

ARIA Music Awards The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (commonly known informally as ARIA Music Awards, ARIA Awards, or simply the ARIAs) is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Austr ...

is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of

Australian music The music of Australia has an extensive history made of music societies. Indigenous Australian music forms a significant part of the unique heritage of a 40,000- to 60,000-year history which produced the iconic didgeridoo. Contemporary fusions of ...

. They commenced in 1987. , , - ,

1994 File:1994 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1994 Winter Olympics are held in Lillehammer, Norway; The Kaiser Permanente building after the 1994 Northridge earthquake; A model of the MS Estonia, which Sinking of the MS Estonia, sank in ...

, ''Thriller'' ,

, , , - , rowspan="3",

1996 File:1996 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: A Centennial Olympic Park bombing, bomb explodes at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, set off by a radical Anti-abortion violence, anti-abortionist; The center fuel tank explodes on TWA Flight 8 ...

, ''The Woxo Principle'' ,

, , rowspan="3", , - , "Apple Eyes" ,

, , - , John Fransic for Swoop – "Apple Eyes" ,

, , -

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Swoop Australian rock music groups Australian funk musical groups Musical groups established in 1991 Musical groups disestablished in 1999 Musical groups from Sydney