{{other people}} {{Use Australian English|date=May 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Lee Harding | image = | background = stripper | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|6|8|df=y}} | birth_place = Frankston, Victoria, Australia | years_active = 2005–2007, 2019 | genre = Pop-punk | label = Sony BMG (2005–2006)<br>Sound Vault (2006) | website = }}
'''Lee Harding''' (born 8 June 1983) is an Australian singer from Frankston, Victoria. He is best known for placing third in the third season of ''Australian Idol'' in 2005.
==Career== ===Bedrock=== Prior to competing in ''Australian Idol'', Harding was a member of a cover band named "Bedrock" who described themselves as a "party band", with a repertoire of hits from the 1960s to the present day. Harding was quoted on his website as saying, "I'd been going to see them since I was 16. I saw them every single week so I knew every song when I joined Bedrock".<ref>{{cite web|title=Archived: Lee Harding Biography |url=http://www.leeharding.com.au/biography/home.do |work=leeharding.com |accessdate=12 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070306090521/http://www.leeharding.com.au/biography/home.do |archivedate=6 March 2007 }}</ref>
===2005–2007: ''Australian Idol'' and ''What's Wrong with This Picture?''=== In 2005, Harding auditioned for the third season of ''Australian Idol'', ultimately placing third. Harding's performances on ''Australian Idol'' include:
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%; margin:1em auto 1em auto; text-align:center;" |- ! colspan="4" style="background:#BFBFBF;"| ''Australian Idol'' performances and results (2005) |- ! scope="col"| Episode ! scope="col"| Song ! scope="col"| Result |- ! Audition | "Better" | Through to the Theatre Rounds |- ! Theatre Rounds | "Hard to Handle", "Just The Way You Are", "Footloose" | Through to top 30 |- ! Top 30 | "The Anthem" | Through to live shows |- ! Live show 1: Australian Made (Top 13) | "Holy Grail" | Saved by Public |- ! Live show 2: 60s Hits (Top 11) | "I'm a Believer" | Saved by Public |- ! Live show 3: Supergroups (Top 10) | "Roxanne" | Saved by Public |- ! Live show 4: Idols' Choice (Top 9) | "Holiday" | Saved by Public |- ! Live show 5: Big Band (Top 8) | "Straighten Up and Fly Right" | Saved by Public |- ! Live show 6: 80s Hits (Top 7) | "Eye of the Tiger" | Saved by Public |- ! Up Close & Personal (Top 6) | "Plush" | non-elimination episode |- ! Live show 7: Motown Hits (Top 6) | "Ben" | Saved by Public |-style="background:lightblue;" ! Live show 8: 70s Hits (Top 5) | "My Sharona" | Bottom 2 – Saved by Public |- !rowspan="2" | Live show 9: Elvis (Top 4) | "Teddy Bear" |rowspan="2" | Saved by Public |- | "Jailhouse Rock" |- bgcolor="tan" !rowspan="2" | Live show 10: No. 1 Hits (Top 3) | "Faith" |rowspan="2" | Eliminated in 3rd position |- bgcolor="tan" | "Tainted Love" |- |}
Immediately following the show, Harding was signed to Sony BMG and released his debut single "Wasabi"/"Eye of the Tiger" in December 2005.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hot Like Harding|url=http://www.take40.com/artists/1215/lee-harding/news/8213/hot-like-harding|work=Take 40 Australia|accessdate=12 April 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906061837/http://www.take40.com/artists/1215/lee-harding/news/8213/hot-like-harding|archivedate=6 September 2008}}</ref> The song debuted at number one on the ARIA Charts and was the eighth highest single in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2006|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/ARIACharts-EndofYearCharts-Top100Singles2006.htm|work=ARIA Charts|accessdate=12 April 2013}}</ref>
Harding's debut album ''What's Wrong with This Picture?'' was released in February 2006 and peaked at number 3 on the ARIA albums charts. Two further singles followed; "Anything for You" and "Call the Nurse". In July 2007, Harding's contract ceased with Sony BMG, with the record label claiming they had "their line up of priority artists for the year, and he was not one of them."<ref>{{cite web|title=Lee Harding Dumped By Record Label!|url=http://www.take40.com/artists/1215/lee-harding/news/12930/lee-harding-dumped-by-record-label!|work=Take 40 Australia|accessdate=12 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906061717/http://www.take40.com/artists/1215/lee-harding/news/12930/lee-harding-dumped-by-record-label!|archive-date=6 September 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===2007–2018: Projects === Since 2007, Harding has been involved in a number of short-lived projects, including the group Rock City 2, who released an album in October 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lee Harding Biography|url=http://www.take40.com/artists/1215/lee-harding/bio|work=Take 40 Australia|accessdate=12 April 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812214834/http://www.take40.com/artists/1215/lee-harding/bio|archivedate=12 August 2014}}</ref> and the Patience Project<ref>{{cite web|title=The Patience Project|url=http://www.novafm.com.au/entertainer/patience-project|accessdate=12 April 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812202539/http://www.novafm.com.au/entertainer/patience-project|archivedate=12 August 2014}}</ref> who released a single titled "Lipstick Cabaret" in June 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lipstick Cabaret – Official Music Video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVayI8IRGxQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/RVayI8IRGxQ |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|via=YouTube|accessdate=12 April 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Harding also plays in cover bands at Crown Casino in Melbourne.
===2019: ''The Voice'' === In 2019 Harding auditioned for the eighth season of ''The Voice Australia'' where he joined team Boy George. He was eliminated in the top 9.
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%; margin:1em auto 1em auto; text-align:center;" |- ! colspan="4" style="background:#BFBFBF;"| ''The Voice'' performances and results (2019) |- ! scope="col"| Episode ! scope="col"| Song ! scope="col"| Original Artist ! scope="col"| Result |- ! Audition | "Killing in the Name" | Rage Against the Machine | Through to The Knockouts |- ! The Knockouts | "We Will Rock You" | Queen | Through to Battle Rounds |- ! Battle Rounds | "Leave a Light On" | Tom Walker | Through to live shows |- ! Live show 1 | "Uprising" | Muse | Saved by Coach |- ! Live show 2 | "The Beautiful People" | Marilyn Manson | Saved by Public |- ! Semi Final | "Walk This Way" | Aerosmith | Eliminated |}
==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications ! 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" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Certifications |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.2em;font-size:90%;"| AUS<br/><ref name="AUS">{{cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/search.asp?search=lee+harding&cat=s|title=Discography Lee Harding|work=australian-charts.com|publisher=Hung Medien|accessdate=18 June 2019}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" |''What's Wrong with This Picture?'' | * Released: 20 February 2006 * Label: Sony BMG Australia * Format: CD, digital download | 3 | *ARIA: Gold<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/ARIACharts-Accreditations-2006Albums.htm|title=ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2006 Albums|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|accessdate=19 June 2019}}</ref> |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of singles, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|AUS<br /><ref name="AUS"/> |- ! scope="row"| "Wasabi"/"Eye of the Tiger" | 2005 | 1 | *ARIA: Platinum<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-singles-2005.htm|title=ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Singles|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|accessdate=27 September 2012}}</ref> | rowspan="3"| ''What's Wrong with This Picture?'' |- ! scope="row"| "Anything for You" | rowspan="2"| 2005 | 23 | |- ! scope="row"| "Call the Nurse" | — | |}
==Concerts/Tours== ===Shannon Noll support act=== Lee was support for fellow ''Idol'' contestant Shannon Noll on his nationwide tour with mate and fellow ''Idol'' contestant Dan England. Harding played venues such as Luna Park Sydney's Big Top.
===INXS support act=== August 2006, Harding was opening act for rock group INXS with bandmates Bedrock for one night of their tour in Brisbane.
===Anything for You Tour=== In April 2006, Harding headlined his own tour titled the Anything for You Tour. Before acts included the Sydney-based power-pop group Kid Courageous, rapper Figgkidd, and the indie rock group Town Hall Steps. Harding performed at such venues including Penrith Panthers and Castle Hill RSL Club. The tour covered venues along the east coast of Australia.
===All Age Rampage/Pop Punk Tour 2006=== In September 2006, Harding began his co-headlining tour with Kid Courageous of small venues across the nation. The tour commenced in Brisbane, then continued to the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Albury and Adelaide. Artists on the tour included Lee Harding and Bedrock, Kid Courageous, 919 (later known as Amber Calling) and Enolas Secret (formerly known as Wishlist). Melbourne band Don't Ask Us supported the tour on the Victorian dates. Due to the arisal of a family issue, the tour was postponed for the NSW shows, which consisted of venues such as Penrith Leagues, the Manning Bar and Dapto Leagues. News was received after the conclusion of the Adelaide show and was confirmed in an official press release by Harding's manager at the time.
===Bass in the Grass=== Lee attended Bass in the Grass in Darwin in 2006. While on stage he was "hit by a barrage of full water bottles hurled at him from all sides".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2006-05-28/darwin-festival-goers-turn-on-idol/1764184|title = Darwin festival-goers turn on 'Idol'| newspaper=ABC News |date = 27 May 2006}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}} *http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22064138-5012974,00.html
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20061030025116/http://blog.who.com/whosays/australian_idol/index.html WHO.com Australian Idol blog] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927110437/http://www.take40.com/action/newsdetail?articleId=12930 Take40 Article]
{{Australian Idol}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harding, Lee}} Category:1983 births Category:Australian Idol participants Category:Singers from Melbourne Category:Living people Category:21st-century Australian singers Category:21st-century Australian male singers Category:People from Frankston, Victoria Category:The Voice (Australian TV series) contestants