Prime Circle

For other uses, see Prime circle (disambiguation).
Prime Circle

Prime Circle
Background information
Origin Witbank, South Africa
Genres Rock, Alternative rock, Hard rock, Pop rock, Post-grunge
Years active 2000–present
Labels David Gresham, EMI, Prime Records
Website www.primecircleband.com
Members
  • Ross Learmonth
  • Dale Schnettler
  • Dirk Bisschoff
  • Marco Gomes
  • Neil Breytenbach
Past members
  • Gerhard Venter

Prime Circle is a South African rock band, operating out of Johannesburg. The band has released six studio albums to date and achieved multi-platinum-selling status in South Africa.

Formed in December 2000 in Witbank, Mpumalanga, South Africa, when band members Ross Learmonth, Marco Gomes, Dirk Bisschoff and Gerhard Venter who had been playing in various bands came together to form a new band. Initially they played the Mpumalanga music scene in Witbank and Middleburg honing their skills and building their repertoire in their parent's garages while holding down day jobs. The band is now based in Johannesburg.

In July 2007 Neil Breytenbach joined the band bringing a permanent keyboard player to the band. In 2008 Gerhard Venter left the band. Dale Schnettler joined the band to take over the drums in September of that year.

Prime Circle has played at most major local concerts including nine times on the 94.7 Highveld Stereo Jo'burg Day stage, Nelson Mandela 46664 Concerts, Oppikoppi, Splashy Fen, My Coke Fest, Synergy and Rocking the Daisies.

The band joined US band LIVE on stage during their "Birds of Prey" tour to South Africa in 2003.[1]

International stages have hosted platforms for the band doing two tours of India, one of them a festival known as Rock 'N India, playing at the Dubai Desert Rock Festival in 2007, the Reload Festival in Germany in 2011 and numerous German and European tours including touring with 3 Doors Down, Alterbridge and Seether. In 2013 the band played Homelandz Festival in the UK and 2014 they appeared on the main stage at Graspop Metal Meeting.

History

Early years

The band initially signed with independent local label, David Gresham Records with a two-album deal. These albums produced the signature sound and style of the band yielding songs such as "Same Goes For You", "Hello", "As Long as I'm Here", "Father", "Shed My Skin", "My Inspiration", "Let Me Go", "Weaker Still", "Live This Life", "Fall Too Fast", "New Phase", "Miracle", "the Way It Could Be" and "Maybe Wrong".[1]}

Hello Crazy World (2002)

Main article: Hello Crazy World

Their July 2002 debut album, "Hello Crazy World" was a success in South Africa with the first single, "Hello" topping the national charts for 28 weeks.[2]

This was followed in 2003 and 2004 by “Let Me Go”, “As Long As I Am Here”, “My Inspiration” and “Same Goes For You” all topping the charts in 2003 and 2004. The album achieved platinum sales status.[2] The follow up album, “Live This Life” was already in the making and was released in 2005.

Live This Life (2005)

Their second album "Live this Life" (October 2005 release) reached gold status early in 2006 and “Miracle”, “Maybe Wrong” and “Way It Could Be” joined the title track of the album in chart success through to 2007 with a remake of “As Long As I Am Here” following on their heels. The two albums cemented their position as the biggest selling South African rock act of 2003/2004/2005/2006.[3]

In 2007 the band performed internationally at the Dubai Desert Rock Festival with names like Prodigy, Iron Maiden and Robert Plant and later that year sharing the second 46664 stage with acts like Peter Gabriel, Live and GooGoo Dolls.

Living In A Crazy World (DVD) (2006)

In July 2006, a DVD entitled Living in a Crazy World was released, which featured hits from their first two albums performed live at The Function Room in Johannesburg.

Best of (box set) (2007)

In 2007 David Gresham Records released a CD / DVD Best of box set which followed the success of previous albums. The CD featured 17 tracks including some acoustic, live and remixed versions of previously released tracks and a new track, Moments which reached no.1 on many local radio charts.[4]

All or Nothing (CD & DVD) (2008)

Neil Breytenbach joined the band on the keyboards in July 2007 and pre-production of “All Or Nothing” commenced before the end of the year. Neil's arrival opened the band up to adding more keyboards to their songs, especially in live performances.

All or Nothing was released by the band's new record label, EMI Music South Africa in June 2008 followed in 2009 by a live DVD recorded during the launch of the album. The DVD release coincided with an international release of the All or Nothing CD.

In 2009 "All or Nothing" reached platinum status and charted with “Out Of This Place” and “All I Need”, “Consider Me”. The album was nominated for a SAMA in that year,[5] and "Consider Me" brought another nomination for the band the following year.[6]

2009 saw Prime Circle depart for a tour of Dubai, Bahrain and London and following on from the exposure gained from their performances around the 20/20 cricket series held in South Africa, embarked on a Hard Rock Cafe tour of India.[7] Their first foray into Europe came that year with showcases in Berlin and Cologne.[8]

In 2010 the band returned to India playing the Rock in India concert[9]

Jekyll & Hyde (2010)

In early 2010 the band began work on their 4th studio album "Jekyll & Hyde". Kevin Shirley mastered the tracks.[10]

"Jekyll & Hyde" was released in South Africa in September 2010 in derivatives: A single CD, a double CD featuring the live audio recordings from the "All Or Nothing" DVD and a CD/DVD pack featuring a documentary shot during the band's second tour to India.

The album's first single Breathing, released in August went no.1 on regional stations in the first week and repeated the chart topping success on national radio.[11] The track topped the radio airplay charts for that year (most played).

Evidence (2012)

In July 2012 the band entered the studio to record their fifth studio album "Evidence" which was released on 12 November 2012.[12]

The first released single from this album, "Time Kills Us All" played on radio for the first time on 28 September 2012 and just missed the top position on the KIA Take 40 SA 15 weeks later reaching position 2 but staying in the charts for 18 weeks.

In November 2012 the second single and title track of the album was released on national radio station, 5FM followed by a South African national "Evidence" tour.

On 7 February 2013 the band announced the dates for their return to Germany to launch the album in Europe. The band was barely back in South Africa before announcing that in June 2013 they would be opening for 3 Doors Down in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Switzerland during that band's Best of album tour.

Let The Night In (2014)

The band released their 6th studio album entitled Let The Night In on 13 June 2014 under their own label. For the first time, the band will be visiting countries like France and Spain in the initial leg of touring the album in June, and will feature at Graspop in Belgium for the first time too. On their return to South Africa they embarked on their first ever arena tour of the country with 3 sold out dates at The Teatro, Montecasino, and their first appearance at the Grand Arena, Grand West. The first single from the album, "Gone" was released 21 May 2014. The song received critical acclaim with its rock/hip hop styling receiving airplay on stations previously the preserve of more urban sounds and topping radio charts across South Africa. The second single, Doors, was released on 21 August 2014 immediately entering the charts on numerous radio stations. On 6 October 2014, the band returned to Europe for a month-long tour including Germany, Austria, Belgium, United Kingdom and for the first time, Italy.

Live performances/Tours

The list of acts they have shared stages with over the years including: Queen, Annie Lennox, Katie Melua, Will Smith, Seether, Metallica, Collective Soul, Rasmus, Iron Maiden, Incubus, In Flames, Mastedon, Robert Plant, Prodigy, Peter Gabriel, GooGoo Dolls, Live, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Wasp, Skillet, Black Sabbath, Soundgarden, Avenged Sevenfold, Volbeat, Sabaton, Muse, Hugh Masakela, Chris Cornell, Good Charlotte, Thirty Seconds To Mars, Kaizer Chiefs, Collective Soul, Simple Plan, 3 Doors Down, Dropkick Murphys, Slash, Guano Apes, Soulfly, August Burns Red, Puddle Of Mudd, Richard Marx, Megadeth, Rob Zombie, Alice in Chains, Anthrax, Slayer, Bring Me the Horizon, Steel Panther, Black Label Society, Sepultura, Mastodon, Trivium, K's Choice, Billy Talent, Feeder, Ugly Kid Joe, Stone Sour, Beth Hart, Johnny Clegg, The Bravery, Jamiroquai and Alter Bridge.

Prime Circle live on stage

Awards

Band members

Current Members
Past members

Discography

Studio Albums

Compilations, special releases and DVD releases

See also

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 Powerzone Website . Retrieved on 12 June 2013
  2. 1 2 George Herald Newspaper . Retrieved on 12 June 2013
  3. ↑ Pe Express Newspaper . Retrieved on 12 June 2013
  4. ↑ Bands.co.za . Retrieved on 12 June 2013
  5. ↑ Media24 News website . Retrieved on 12 June 2013
  6. ↑ Media24 News website . Retrieved on 12 June 2013
  7. ↑ MIO news website . Retrieved on 12 June 2013
  8. ↑ Eventful Website . Retrieved on 12 June 2013
  9. ↑ Radio & Music . Retrieved on 12 June 2013
  10. ↑ MIO News Website . Retrieved on 12 June 2013
  11. ↑ Music Review website . Retrieved on 12 June 2013
  12. ↑ Rolling Stone . Retrieved on 12 June 2013
  13. ↑ Short & Sweet . Retrieved on 2 April 2015
  14. ↑ SAMA 21 Nominees . Retrieved on 2 April 2015
  15. ↑ SAMA 21 Winners . Retrieved on 21 April 2015
  16. ↑ MAMA 2015 Nominees . Retrieved on 12 June 2015
  17. ↑ Afrima 2015 Nominees . Retrieved 02 October 2015

External links

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