Dave Steel

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}} {{distinguish|Dave Steele}} {{Use Australian English|date=November 2016}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Dave Steel | image = Dave Steel (Australian musician) on stage at Cygnet Folk Festival, January 1999 (Tony Rees photograph).jpg | image_upright = | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = A man is shown in a right profile, upper body shot. He holds a microphone on a stand with his left hand close to his mouth. With his other hand he cradles an acoustic guitar. He wears a dark shirt and looks ahead. | caption = Steel performing on stage at the Cygnet Folk Festival in 1999 | birth_name = David Alexander John Steel | alias = | birth_date =  | birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | death_date =  | death_place = | genre = {{flatlist| * Folk * country * rock }} | occupation = {{flatlist| * Musician * arranger * producer }} | instrument = {{flatlist| * Guitar * vocals * harmonica * mandolin * dobro }} | years_active = 1976–present | label = {{flatlist| * WEA * Ravenswood * Black Market }} | associated_acts = * Fire Below * Weddings Parties Anything * the Whipper Snappers * Tiffany Eckhardt | website = {{URL|davesteelmusician.tumblr.com/}} }}

'''David Alexander John Steel''' is an Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. He is a former member of folk rock group, Weddings Parties Anything (1985–88) and pop band, The Whipper Snappers (1990–91). Steel has released eleven solo studio albums, including one as leader of Dave Steel and the Roadside Prophets and two albums with folk singer, Tiffany Eckhardt. He has been nominated for three ARIA Music Awards.

==Career== ===1976-1984: Early bands=== Early in his musical career Steel was a member of various Melbourne pub bands: Related Mechanics in 1976 with Iain Colquhoun, Peter Lillee, John Lloyd and Nick Reischbeth; Moonshine from 1976 to 1977, the Trouts in 1977 with Mark Bell, Stuart Crosby, Dave McNaughton and Rob Stevens; the Satellites from 1978 to 1981; Zeros in 1981; Strange Tennants in 1981 with Alex Formosa, Lawrence Maddy, Bruce Worrall; and Fire Below from 1984 to 1985.<ref name="McFarlane">{{cite book | author1 = McFarlane, Ian | author-link1 = Ian McFarlane | others = Jenkins, Jeff (Foreword) | title = The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop | chapter = Encyclopedia entry for 'Dave Steel' | publication-date = 2017 | location = Gisborne, Vic | publisher = Third Stone Press | edition = 2nd | page = 458 | isbn = 978-0-9953856-0-3 }}</ref><ref name="Holmgren">Entries at the Australian Rock Database: * Dave Steel: {{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131022063013/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/s/steeldave.html | url = http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/s/steeldave.html | work = hem2.passagen.se | title = Dave Steel | publisher = Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | first2 = Jim | last2 = Love | first3 = Peter | last3 = Baxter | first4 = Iain | last4 = Colquhoun | archive-date = 22 October 2013 | url-status = usurped | access-date = 14 September 2018 }} * Weddings Parties Anything (1985–88): {{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130930073039/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/w/weddingspartiesanything.html | url = http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/w/weddingspartiesanything.html | work = hem2.passagen.se | title = Wedding Parties Anything | publisher = Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren) | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | first2 = Gordon | last2 = Clarke | first3 = Jim | last3 = Love | archive-date = 30 September 2013 | url-status = usurped | access-date = 14 September 2018 }} </ref>

Fire Below had a line-up of Steel with Lloyd Campbell on guitar, Nigel Harrison on drums and vocals, Michael Kennedy on bass guitar, and Peter Myers on guitar.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> They issued a single, "Walk Tall", in 1985 and provided a track, "Johnny's Tombstone", for a various artists compilation album, ''A Slab of Vic'', in that year.<ref name="McFarlane"/> According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane they, "played a tough brand of pub rock."<ref name="McFarlane"/>

===1985-1988: Weddings Parties Anything=== {{main|Weddings Parties Anything}} In 1985, Steel, on guitar, vocals and harmonica, joined a newly formed folk rock band, Weddings Parties Anything, alongside Dave Adams on drums; Mick Thomas on lead vocals, bass guitar, guitar and mandolin; Mark Wallace on piano accordion, keyboards and vocals.<ref name="Holmgren"/><ref name="McFarlane WPA">{{cite book | author1 = McFarlane, Ian | others = Jenkins, Jeff (Foreword) | title = The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop | chapter = Encyclopedia entry for 'Weddings Parties Anything' | publication-date = 2017 | location = Gisborne, Vic | publisher = Third Stone Press | edition = 2nd | pages = 507–508 | isbn = 978-0-9953856-0-3 }}</ref> Steel is recorded on their first two studio albums, ''Scorn of the Women'' (April 1987) and ''Roaring Days'' (April 1988).<ref name="Holmgren"/><ref name="McFarlane WPA"/><ref name="Zuel">{{cite news | last = Zuel | first = Bernard | author-link = Bernard Zuel | date = 23 September 2010 | title = Steel's resolved for reunion | periodical = The Sydney Morning Herald | url = http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/steels-resolved-for-reunion-20100923-15oer.html }}</ref>

Prior to their second album, Karen Middleton of ''The Canberra Times'', described how the group, "[were] compared to Irish post-punk folk rockers the Pogues, the more mellow Bushwackers and even Redgum. Steel ignored such comparisons. 'It's a rock 'n roll band', he said."<ref name="Middleton">{{cite news | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article101982822 | title = Uncompromising band keeps cool on success | last = Middleton | first = Karen | author-link = Karen Middleton (journalist) | newspaper = The Canberra Times | volume = 62 | issue = 19,156 | date = 17 March 1988 | access-date = 14 September 2018 | page = 43 | via = National Library of Australia }}</ref> Steel wrote the Weddings Party Anything tracks, "Big River", "Shotgun Wedding" and "Up for Air".<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="McFarlane WPA"/><ref name="Sutton">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118300035 |title = Pub enigma gives public face to folk-rock | last = Sutton | first = Pollyanna | newspaper = The Canberra Times. The Good Times | volume = 61 | issue = 18,892 | date = 25 June 1987 | access-date = 14 September 2018 | page = 2 | via = National Library of Australia }}</ref> Steel left in mid-1988 because of strained relations; however, according to AllMusic's Aaron Badgley, it was, "due to exhaustion."<ref name="Badgley"/> He was replaced in the group by Richard Burgman on guitar and saxophone.<ref name="Holmgren"/><ref name="McFarlane WPA"/>

===1988-1992: Solo career=== Steel relocated to Sydney, where he recorded his first solo single, "The Hardest Part" which was released in October 1988.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> At the ARIA Music Awards of 1989 it was nominated for Best Indigenous Release but lost to Weddings Party Anything's ''Roaring Days''.<ref name="ARIA1989">{{cite web | url = http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/1989 | title = ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year: 3rd Annual ARIA Awards | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | access-date = 17 September 2018 }}</ref>

Steel's debut album, ''Bitter Street'' was produced by Graham Bidstrup and released in September 1989.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> McFarlane observed, "Steel's concise and economical arrangements, narrative style vocal manner drew comparisons with Paul Kelly, albeit in a very positive light."<ref name="McFarlane"/> Badgley felt, "most of the songs are well-crafted country/folk/rock, but there is little variety. Steel cannot sustain an entire album on his own... [they] are, for the most part, pretty depressing. Pleasant melodies, but the songs start to sound all the same by the end of the disc."<ref name="Badgley"/>

During 1990 to 1991 he fronted the ''Dave Steel Band'' with Bidstrup on drums, Chris Bailey on bass guitar, Wayne Goodwin on fiddle, guitar and keyboards, Peter Howell on bass guitar, Graham Rankin and Dave Sandford on saxophone.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> He was also a guitarist of pop group, The Whipper Snappers.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> That line-up provided a cover version of Russell Morris' "Sweet, Sweet Love" (February 1991), which appeared on the various artists' compilation, ''Used and Recovered By... RRR'', in 1993.<ref name="McFarlane tWS">{{cite book | author1 = McFarlane, Ian | others = Jenkins, Jeff (Foreword) | title = The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop | chapter = Encyclopedia entry for 'The Whipper Snappers' | publication-date = 2017 | location = Gisborne, Vic | publisher = Third Stone Press | edition = 2nd | page = 513 | isbn = 978-0-9953856-0-3 }}</ref>

In 1991, Steel released his second solo album, ''Angels Never Cry'', with Bidstrup producing again.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> His bandmates, Bailey and Goodwin, were joined in the studio by Michael Barclay on drums, James Black on keyboards, John Brewster on guitar, Peter Bull on keyboards, Mark Dennison on saxophone, Kevin Dubber on trumpet and Charlie McMahon on didgeridoo.<ref name="McFarlane"/>

''The Last Radio'', Steel's third album, was released in August 1992.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> Charles Miranda of ''The Canberra Times'' noticed, "he shows why he is a respected writer. As with his past offerings, the recording is a blend of acoustic guitar and rhythm and blues."<ref name="Miranda">{{cite news | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137174369 | title = Life After Wedding Hours | newspaper = The Canberra Times | volume = 66 | issue =20,948 | date = 20 August 1992 | access-date = 15 September 2018 | page = 19 | via = National Library of Australia }}</ref> McFarlane observed, "another well-crafted set of songs competently played... It did little, however to further [his] status as one of this country's most promising singer/guitarists."<ref name="McFarlane"/>

Also in 1992 Steel formed ''The Maddisons'' with Clyde Bramley (ex-the Hitmen, Hoodoo Gurus, Damien Lovelock's Wigworld) on bass guitar, Brent Marks on drums and Wayne Tritton on guitar and lead vocals (both ex-Pressmen).<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> That group released their debut EP, ''Just Fine'', in September with Steel also producing, before they disbanded.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Miranda"/>

===1993-2000s: Solo career and band work=== In 1993 Steel formed the ''Dave Steel and the Roadside Prophets'' with Tritton, Darren Gower on drums and Gerry Kortesgast on bass guitar.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> They released an album, ''Cross My Palm'' in June 1993 and an extended play, ''Broken English'' in March 1994.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> ''Cross My Palm'' was nominated for Best Independent Release at the ARIA Music Awards of 1994.<ref name="ARIA1994">{{cite web |url = http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/1994 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120109051551/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/1994 |url-status = dead |archive-date = 9 January 2012 | title = ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 1994: 8th Annual ARIA Awards | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | access-date = 17 September 2018 }}</ref>

From November 1994 to August 1995 Steel recorded his next album, ''Old Salt Blues'' which was released in June 1996.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> For the album he co-wrote two tracks with Andrew Pendlebury.<ref name="McFarlane"/> Steel also toured as a member of the Deadly Band (1995–97) with Archie Cuthbertson, Kerry Gilmartin, Ruby Hunter, Amos Roach and Archie Roach.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> He worked as a session musician for various artists.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/>

Steel's sixth album, ''The Edge of the World'' was released in May 1999 and according to McFarlane "featured a collection of contemporary Australian acoustic roots tunes with plenty of charm".<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> One of his guest musicians was folk singer, Tiffany Eckhardt.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/>

Steel's seventh solo album, ''Home Is a Hard Thing to Find'' was released in August 2002 and was nominated for Best Blues & Roots Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2002.<ref name="ARIA2002">{{cite web | url = http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/2002 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120110233233/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/2002 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 10 January 2012 | title = ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2002: 16th Annual ARIA Awards | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | access-date = 17 September 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | date = 17 September 2002 | title = ARIA nominees announced | periodical = The Age | url = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/09/16/1032054756677.html }}</ref>

===2010-present: with Tiffany Eckhardt=== Tiffany Eckhardt and Dave Steel have performed as a duo and released two albums, ''Sunday'' (2010) and ''Big Big Sky'' (2014).<ref name="McFarlane"/> As from January 2015 they are married and live in Franklin, Tasmania with their two children.<ref name="Huon">{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150227023458/https://www.huonnews.com/index.php/component/k2/item/245-music-duo-moves-to-the-huon-valley | url = https://www.huonnews.com/index.php/component/k2/item/245-music-duo-moves-to-the-huon-valley | title = Music duo moves to the Huon Valley | work = Huon News | archive-date = 27 February 2015 | date = 22 January 2015 | access-date = 23 February 2020 }}</ref><ref name="Music Tax">{{cite web | url = https://www.musictasmania.org/our-music-industry/artists/tiffany-eckhardt-and-dave-steel | title = Tiffany Eckhardt and Dave Steel | work = Music Tasmania | access-date = 17 September 2018 | archive-date = 17 September 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180917105141/https://www.musictasmania.org/our-music-industry/artists/tiffany-eckhardt-and-dave-steel | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Steel was inducted into the EG Fall of Fame in 2012 for his contribution to Australian music as a member of Weddings Parties Anything.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ient.com.au/act/dave-steel-tiffany-eckhardt/|title= Description: Dave Steel & Tiffany Eckhardt|website=ient|access-date=22 April 2021}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:85%" | AUS <ref name="ARIA Chart">{{cite web|url= https://imgur.com/a/5zZtgDz |title =Dave Steel ARIA chart history |publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date= 23 December 2025}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref> |- |align="left"| ''Bitter Street'' | * Released: September 1989<ref name="Holmgren"/><ref name="Badgley">{{cite web | last = Badgley | first = Aaron | author-link=Aaron Badgley |title = ''Bitter Sweet'' – David Steel | publisher = AllMusic | url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/bitter-sweet-mw0001061333 }}</ref> * Label: Warner Music Group (256628-1) * Format: LP, CD, Cassette | 134 |- |align="left"| ''Angels Never Cry'' | * Released: June 1991 * Label: East West Records (903174299-2) * Format: CD | 103 |- |align="left"| ''The Last Radio'' | * Released: July 1992 * Label: Warner Music Australia (450990146-2) * Format: CD | 175 |- |align="left"| ''Cross My Palm'' (by Dave Steel and the Roadside Prophets) | * Released: June 1993 * Label: Ravenswood (RV-1004) * Format: CD | — |- |align="left"| ''Old Salt Blues'' | * Released: June 1996 * Label: Ravenswood (RV-1020) * Format: CD | — |- |align="left"| ''The Edge of the World'' | * Released: May 1999 * Label: Dave Steel (DS001) * Format: CD | — |- |align="left"| ''Home Is a Hard Thing to Find'' | * Released: August 2002 * Label: Black Market Music (BM258.2) * Format: CD | — |- |align="left"| ''Been On This Road Too Long'' (As Dave Steel and The Welcome Wagon ) | * Released: 2004 * Label: Sound Vault (SV0433) * Format: CD, DD | — |- |align="left"| ''Blues & Ballads'' | * Released: 2007 * Label: Sound Vault (SV0543) * Format: CD, DD | — |- |align="left"| ''Sunday'' (with Tiffany Eckhardt) | * Released: March 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/sunday/362038013|title=Sunday (DD)|website=Apple Music|date=March 2010|access-date=22 April 2021}}</ref> * Label: Black Market Music () * Format: CD, DD | — |- |align="left"| ''Big Big Sky'' (with Tiffany Eckhardt) | * Released: 2014 * Label: Black Market Music (TECK002) * Format: CD | — |- |}

=== Extended plays === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! Title ! Details |- |align="left"| ''Hard Done by You'' (with Dave Steel, Peter Wells and Bob Armstrong) | * Released: August 1993<ref name="Holmgren"/><ref name="Badgley"/> * Label: Ravenswood (RV-1005) * Format: CD |- |align="left"| ''Broken English'' (Dave Steel and the Roadside Prophets) | * Released: 1994 * Label: Ravenswood (RV1008) * Format: CD |}

=== Singles === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+List of singles, with selected chart positions ! rowspan="2" | Title ! rowspan="2" | Year ! colspan="1" | Chart positions ! rowspan="2" | Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:85%" | AUS <ref name="ARIA Chart"/> |- | align="left"| "The Hardest Part" | 1988 | — | rowspan="3"| ''Bitter Street'' |- | align="left"| "Hurt By You" | 1989 | 162 |- | align="left"| "The News" | 1990 | — |- | align="left"| "Bay of Swans" | rowspan="2"| 1991 | 165 | rowspan="2"| ''Angels Never Cry'' |- | align="left"| "Angels Never Cry" | 157 |- | align="left"| "Suzanne" | 1992 | — | ''The Last Radio'' |- |}

==Awards and nominations== ===ARIA Music Awards=== The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Steel has been nominated for three awards.<ref name="ARIA1989"/><ref name="ARIA1994"/><ref name="ARIA2002"/> {{awards table}} |- | 1989 | "The Hardest Part" | Best Indigenous Release | {{nom}} |- | 1994 | ''Cross My Palm'' | Best Independent Release | {{nom}} |- | 2002 | ''Home Is a Hard Thing to Find'' | Best Blues and Roots Album | {{nom}} |- {{end}}

===The Age EG Awards/Music Victoria Awards=== The Age EG Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005. Steel was inducted into its Hall of Fame as part of group Weddings, Parties, Anything.<ref name="noms">{{cite web|url=https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/awards-2012-nominations-announced-induct-weddings-parties/|title= EG Awards 2012 Announce Nominations, Induct Weddings, Parties, Anything|website=Tone Deaf|date=3 October 2012|accessdate=19 August 2020}}</ref>

{{awards table}} |- | 2012 || (as part of) Weddings, Parties, Anything || Hall of Fame || {{yes2|inductee}} |- {{end}}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Steel, Dave}} Category:Australian male singers Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Australian banjoists Category:Australian harmonica players Category:Australian mandolinists Category:Weddings Parties Anything members Category:The Whipper Snappers members