The Truth (Australian band)

The Truth were an Australian funk band, active from 1991 to 1997. The lineup included Nicky Bomba (a.k.a. Nicholas Caruana) on drums, his older brother Michael Caruana on keyboards, Mick Girasole on bass guitar, Tony Kopa on vocals and Geoff Wells on guitars. They released two albums, The Truth (1995), which peaked in the top 60 on the ARIA Albums Chart, and Headspace (1997).

The Truth
Also known asTruth
OriginMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
GenresFunk
Years active1991 (1991)–1997 (1997)
Associated actsBomba
Past members
  • Nicky Bomba
  • Michael Caruana
  • Tony Kopa
  • Geoff Wells
  • Mick Girasole

History

The Truth were formed in Melbourne in 1991 by Nicky Bomba (a.k.a. Nicholas Caruana) on drums, his older brother, Michael Caruana on keyboards, Tony Kopa on vocals and Geoff Wells on guitars.[1] For about a year they held a residency at the 120 Bar, Fitzroy.[1] In December 1992 they recorded their debut single, "Secrets".[1]

The band gained popularity, by performing around Melbourne, and from their tracks, "My Heavy Friend" and "Secrets", receiving airplay on national youth radio station, Triple J.[2] A live-in-the-studio version of "My Heavy Friend" was included on Triple J's compilation album by various artists, Live at the Wireless 3 (1993).[3] As a consequence, "My Heavy Friend", was issued as their second single.[1]

Wells told Nicole Leedham of The Canberra Times, in November 1994, "It's very rare to have overnight success and it's even rarer for someone who has it to stay around a while. If it was overnight success it was a bloody long night."[1] At the ARIA Music Awards of 1995, "My Heavy Friend" provided their nominations for Best New Talent and for Breakthrough Artist – Single.[4]

Their self-titled first studio album, The Truth (1995), was produced by Jim Hilbun (The Angels' bass guitarist) and appeared via Mushroom Records.[5] It peaked in the top 60 on the ARIA Albums Chart.[6] For touring the band had no traditional bass player: bass lines were provided by Michael "Funkmeister" Caruana on keyboards.[7] For the band's second album, Headspace (1997), Mick Girasole was added on bass guitar and the group were re-branded as Truth. However, the band broke up toward the end of that year.

Nicky Bomba formed the band, Bomba, in 1999 for whom Caruana played keyboards. Bomba also joined the John Butler Trio from 2003 – led by John Butler who was married to Bomba's and Caruana's youngest sister, Danielle Caruana (who performs as Mama Kin). Wells was a session musician for Daryl Braithwaite, Tina Arena and John Farnham. Farnham recorded one of Wells' tracks, "The Way" on his album 33⅓ (2000).[2] "The Way" was track four on The Truth.

Kopa became a backing musician for Jon Stevens' solo shows and also appeared on the artist's album, The Works (2005).[8] He also appears on a semi-regular basis with Black Dogs.[9]

The Truth returned to the stage in 2003 for a one-off gig at The Espy in St Kilda.

Albums

Singles
  • "Secrets" (1993)
  • "My Heavy Friend" (1993)
  • "Can't Help It" (1994) – AUS No. 87[10]
  • "Let's Stay Together" (1995)
  • "Spirit Of Man" (1995)
  • "Shine" (1997)

References
  1. Leedham, Nicole (17 November 1994). "Good Times: Truth Is Stranger than Fiction". The Canberra Times. 70 (21, 763). p. 25. Retrieved 15 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. Geoff Wells' mySpace page
  3. Holmgren, Magnus; Corney, Malcolm. "Triple J – Live at the Wireless 3". hem2.passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  4. "Winners by Year 1995". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  5. "Release "The Truth" by The Truth - MusicBrainz". Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  6. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  7. Trigg, E (May 2016). "★ Chris Flaskas // Jacuzzi Masterpiece Live at NightQuarter (NightQuarter)". etrigg.com. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  8. "Jon Stevens – The Works". Archived from the original on 2 May 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
  9. "Black Dogs". Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  10. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 27 Nov 1994". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 1 September 2016.
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