Butterfingers (Australian band)

The group was formed when lead vocalist 'Evil' Eddie Mark Jacobson booked himself in for a gig at The Zoo, a bar in Brisbane, without a band or any intentions of performing solo. The venue held Jacobson's booking to him, and a backing band was assembled featuring DJ/percussionist Olly Thomas, bassist Dave Crane, and drummer Damien Green.

Their first two singles "Everytime" and "I Love Work", reached No. 38 and No. 15 respectively in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2003.[2]

Their next single "Yo Mama" also receiving airplay on Triple J with the group's debut album, Breakfast at Fatboys, on its national release, 3 May 2004, awarded Triple J 'Album of the Week'. The album debuted at No. 15 on the ARIA Album charts and was also nominated for the 'Best Independent Release' at the 2004 ARIA Music Awards[3] "Yo Mama" charted at No. 17 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2004.[4] In October 2004 Butterfingers scored a Guest Programming spot on rage.[5]

In March 2005 Butterfingers aligned themselves with Festival Mushroom Records through a licensing deal between FMR and Valley Trash, the bands in-house label. Their first (and last) co-release was in June 2005 with the release of the single, "Figjam (Fuck I'm Good, Just Ask Me)". The song peaked at No. 50[6] and in October 2005, "Figjam" was nominated for 'Best Urban Release' at the 2005 ARIA Music Awards.[3] "Figjam" and the preceding single, "Jesus I Was Evil" (a Darcy Clay cover) charted at No. 11 and No. 69 respectively in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2005.[7]

The band released a new album, The Deeper You Dig... on 27 May 2006, which peaked at No. 14 on the album chart.[8] A single from the album, "Get Up Outta the Dirt", was released on 3 June 2006. The single peaked at No. 36,[9] and charted at No. 83 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2006.[10]

In June 2007 the band won an APRA award - 'Most Performed Urban Work' for "Get Up Outta the Dirt".[11] The group then released "Nothin Much Happens" as a single in October 2007,[12] which landed on Triple J's "hit list" of songs receiving medium to high rotation.[13] A music video was produced for this song and was played on jtv,[14] and on rage,[15] and also Video Hits.

With the band on a presumed hiatus, lead vocalist Eddie Jacobson began performing with Brisbane-based punk band, SpitFireLiar.[16] Jacobson also went on to a solo single under the name Evil Eddie, entitled "Queensland".[17][18]

To be honest, I’m really gonna focus on the solo thing as much as possible, the other things are all collaborative; the solo thing is gonna be similar to what Butterfingers has previously sounded like. I was submitting a lot of the music for Butterfingers, I haven’t finished it all yet.

— Eddie Jacobson[16]

Jacobson's debut solo album, Welcome to Flavour Country, was released in November 2012.[19]

Butterfingers announced their reformation, alongside releasing a new single "Big Night Out," in March 2017.[20]

They then went on tour to celebrate the 15-year anniversary of Breakfast at Fatboys in 2019, supported by Fresh Violet.[21]

The band released a new album, Bad News, in April 2020.[22]

Current members

• "Evil Eddie" Jacobson − lead vocals, guitar, samples (2001–2009, 2017–present)
• Olly Thomas − keyboards, percussion, samples, turntables, backing vocals (2001–2009, 2017–present)
• Tony McCall − drums, backing vocals (2017–present)

Former members

• Dave Crane – bass guitar (2001–2009)
• Damien Green − drums (2001–2009)
• Brad "Bradzilla" Cochrane − bass guitar (2017–2021)

• Official site