Bernard Fanning (b. 1969) is the frontman of Queensland band Powderfinger. Powderfinger formed in 1989, when the three earliest band members were at school together. Fanning joined the band in the early 1990s. After two EPs in 1993, Powderfinger's first album was released in 1994. Their second, Double Allergic (1996) stayed in the Top 10 for 10 weeks, and their third, Internationalist (1998) debuted at No 1. Internationalist was named album of the year by the Australian Music Industry Critics; the single from the album, 'The Day You Come' was song of the year in 1999. In the JJJ Hottest 100 of 1999 Powderfinger had four songs, including the number 1, 'These days' - the latter victory repeated the following year with 'My happiness'. The band has garnered more than a dozen ARIA awards and played at Crown Princess Mary's wedding celebrations in Copenhagen in 2004. They are enjoying a 'hiatus' in 2005 as members pursue other interests. In early 2005 Fanning was vocalist on 'Evie Part 2' with tribute band The Wrights. Although his solo album Tea and Sympathy was released in October 2005, Fanning managed to top the year's Triple J Hottest 100 list with the single 'Wish You Well'. The album has gone triple platinum and Fanning has also become the first Australian artist to achieve platinum sales via iTunes, with more than 70 000 downloads.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2006
© Christopher Morris
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