The Dukes were an Australian rock band active from 1991 to 1994. Initially called Sean Kelly and the Iron Dukes, they were formed by Sean Kelly (ex-

Models A model is an informative representation of an object, person or system. The term originally denoted the plans of a building in late 16th-century English, and derived via French and Italian ultimately from Latin ''modulus'', a measure. Models c ...

, Absent Friends) on vocals and keyboards; and Geoffrey Stapleton (

GANGgajang Ganggajang (styled as GANGgajang) are an Australian pop rock band which formed in 1984. The four founders are frontman Mark 'Cal' Callaghan (ex- Riptides) on guitar and lead vocals, Chris Bailey on bass guitar, Graham 'Buzz' Bidstrup on drums ...

, Absent Friends) on keyboards and guitar. They were soon joined by

Michael Armiger Michael William Armiger is an English-born Australian guitarist and teacher. He has been a member of various groups including Paul Kelly Band (1983–84), Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls (1985–86), John Kennedy's Love Gone Wrong (1987– ...

( Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls,

The Go-Betweens The Go-Betweens were an Australian indie rock band formed in Brisbane, Queensland, in 1977. The band was co-founded and led by singer-songwriters and guitarists Robert Forster and Grant McLennan, who were its only constant members throughout ...

) on bass guitar; Michael King (Absent Friends) on guitar and backing vocals; and John Mackay (Absent Friends) on drums and percussion.

Biography

The band were originally called Sean Kelly and The Iron Dukes, but were renamed shortly after to The Dukes. The band was formed by Sean Kelly (

) and Geoffrey Stapleton (

) following their return to Sydney in 1991 after the completion of a European tour, supporting

INXS INXS (a word play, phonetic play on "in excess") were an Australian Rock music, rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. The band's founding members were bassist Garry Gary Beers, main composer and keyboar ...

, with their previous band Absent Friends. The original members of the Iron Dukes were Kelly, Stapleton,

( Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls,

), Michael King (Absent Friends) and John Mackay ( Absent Friends). Other band members were bass player Peter Willersdorf, drummer Tony Georgeson, Mark Dennison (

DD Smash DD Smash was a New Zealand pop/rock band formed in 1980 by Dave Dobbyn after the breakup of Th' Dudes. The band briefly used the name "Dave Dobbyn's Divers" until drummer Peter Warren came up with "DD Smash". Dobbyn says the name "seemed to say ...

) on saxophone and occasional keyboard and Kevin Dubber (DD Smash) on trumpet. In 1992 they signed with

Sony Music Sony Music Entertainment (SME), also known as simply Sony Music, is an American multinational music company. Being owned by the parent conglomerate Sony Group Corporation, it is part of the Sony Music Group, which is owned by Sony Entertainment ...

. In 1992, they released a number of singles, with "Gonna Get High" and "Faith" reaching No. 60 and No. 29 respectively on the Australian singles charts. In December 1992 the band released its debut and only album, ''Harbour City'', it was co-written and co-produced by Kelly and Stapleton. Stapleton providing paintings for each song for the album booklet and the art work for all of the single and album covers. '' Harbour City'' was nominated for an

ARIA Award 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 ...

in 1993 for the category 'Best Breakthrough Artist – Album'. In 1993 they released the EP, ''I Fought The Law'', three tracks from which also appeared on the 1993 soundtrack for the

Yahoo Serious Yahoo Serious (born Greg Gomez Pead; 27 July 1953) is an Australian film actor, director, and score composer. His films include the comedy films ''Young Einstein'' (1988), '' Reckless Kelly'' (1993), and '' Mr. Accident'' (2000). Serious writes ...

movie ''

Reckless Kelly ''Reckless Kelly'' is a 1993 Australian comedy film produced, written, directed and starring Yahoo Serious. It co-stars Melora Hardin, Alexei Sayle and Hugo Weaving. The story is a satirical take on a modern-day Ned Kelly, a famous Australian ou ...

''. On 23 September 1993 The Dukes performed "Faith" to 250,000 people at

Circular Quay Circular Quay is a harbour, former working port and now international passenger shipping port, public piazza and tourism precinct, heritage area, and transport node located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on the northern edge of the Syd ...

, minutes before Sydney was announced as the host city for the

2000 Summer Olympics The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 (Dharug: ''Gadigal 2000''), the Millennium Olympic Games or the Games of the New Millennium, was an international multi-sport event held from 1 ...

. The band disbanded in early 1994.

Members

* Mark Dennison – saxophone (1991–1993) * Kevin Dubber – trumpet (1991–1993) * Tony Georgeson – drums, percussion (1991–1993) * Sean Kelly – vocals, guitar (1991–1993) * Geoff Stapleton – keyboard, guitar (1991–1993) * Peter Willersdorf – bass (1991–1993)

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

Awards

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 ...

. , - , 1993 , ''Harbour City'' , ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist – Album ,

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dukes, The Musical groups from Sydney Musical groups established in 1991 Musical groups disestablished in 1994 Australian rock music groups