YOTHU YINDI ANNOUNCED AS 2012 ARIA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

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1 MEDIA RELEASE SATURDAY OCTOBER 27, 2012 YOTHU YINDI ANNOUNCED AS 2012 ARIA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE Yothu Yindi to be joined on stage by some very special guests during what is sure to be a magical ARIA AWARDS moment! One of Australia s most groundbreaking musical groups and 8 x ARIA Award winners, YOTHU YINDI, will be inducted into the ARIA HALL OF FAME at the 26 th Annual ARIA Awards, held at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on Thursday November 29. Formed in 1986 with Yolngu (Aboriginal) and Balanda (non Aboriginal), Yothu Yindi crossed the cultural divide by blending musical aspects of both indigenous and non indigenous cultures, creating a sound that was truly unique and one that has had a lasting impact on both the musical and political landscape in Australia and around the world. Combining the sounds and instrumentation of western rock n roll with songs and performances that date back tens of thousands of years, Yothu Yindi took the ancient song cycles of north-east Arnhem Land - featuring such traditional instruments as the bilma (ironwood clapsticks) and yidaki (didgeridoo or hollow log) and juxtaposed them with western pop sounds to present a true musical meeting of two diverse cultures. They took traditional Yolngu dance performances and worked them into the context of contemporary performance. The result is a band that s been hailed as the most powerful blend of indigenous and modern music to emerge from the world music scene. On behalf of the ARIA Board it is with great honour that we induct Yothu Yindi into the ARIA Hall of Fame. Yothu Yindi created a special place in the Nation s heart through their passionate and ground breaking music. Their achievements remain a lasting heritage in both our community and overseas and we look forward to celebrating their induction at the ARIA s in is what is sure to be a magic moment. Denis Handlin AM, ARIA Chairman & CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Australia & New Zealand and President, Asia. 1

2 Yothu Yindi s Aboriginal members came from Yolngu homelands near Yirrkala on the Gove Peninsula in Northern Territory s Arnhem Land. Founded by Mandawuy Yunupingu, principal songwriter, singer and guitarist, he was joined by Witiyana Marika on manikay (traditional vocals), bilma (ironwood clapsticks) and dance, Milkayngu Mununggurr on yidaki (didgeridoo), Stuart Kellaway on bass and Cal Williams on lead guitar. Two years later a young Gurrumul Yunupingu joined on keyboards, guitar, vocals and percussion. With the 1991 release of their second album, Tribal Voice, Yothu Yindi secured their place in the annals of Australian rock history. Tribal Voice, which dominated the national charts for much of , yielded the hit singles Treaty and Djapana, won the band recognition as the first predominately-aboriginal act to gain widespread media attention, and generated international recording and touring commitments. The album featured the band s first hit single, Treaty, which crashed into the Australian ARIA charts peaking at #11 and then spending almost 6 months in the charts. The first song by a predominately-aboriginal band to chart in Australia, it was also the first song in an Aboriginal language (Gumatj) to gain extensive airplay and international recognition. Treaty was inspired when lead singer Mandawuy wanted a song to highlight the lack of progress on the treaty between Aboriginal people and the Federal Government promised by Prime Minister Bob Hawke in The song was written by Mandawuy Yunupingu along with legendary Australian singer/songwriter Paul Kelly and Yothu Yindi members Kellaway, Williams, Gurrumul Yunupingu, Mununggurr and Marika and Peter Garrett, then the frontman of Midnight Oil and now the Minister for Education. Mandawuy recalls: Bob Hawke visited the Territory. He went to the Barunga festival and he made a promise that there shall be a treaty between black and white Australia. A couple of years later Paul Kelly visited me in Arnhem Land and sitting around the camp fire I said lets write a song about a treaty. And that s where Treaty was born. Yothu Yindi have released 6 albums in total; their debut album Homeland Movement in 1989 (featuring the breakthrough single Mainstream), followed by Tribal Voice in 1991, Freedom in 1993, Birrkuta - Wild Honey in 1996, One Blood in 1998 and Garma in

3 The band went on to major success both here and internationally with both Treaty and the follow up single Djapana (Sunset Dreaming) charting on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play singles charts. Treaty peaked at No. 6. on the singles charts with Tribal Voice hitting No. 3 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums chart in Yothu Yindi have toured with acts such as Midnight Oil, Tracy Chapman, Neil Young and Carlos Santana, as well as playing numerous solo tours and festivals both here and internationally. Yothu Yindi have won eight Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Music Awards. Treaty was voted Single Of The Year and Song Of The Year at the ARIA Awards in 1992 with the film clip directed and shot by Stephen Michael Johnson of Burrundi Pictures named Best Australian Video. The video also took out the same title at the MTV International Awards in Los Angeles that same year. In addition, the Tribal Voice album was voted Best Indigenous Record, and received awards for Best Cover Art and Engineer Of The Year. Treaty was also voted Song of the Year at the APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) awards for 1991 and picked up the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission s award for songwriting. In May 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), as part of its 75 th Anniversary celebrations, named Treaty as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time. At the 1993 ARIA awards, Yothu Yindi continued to pick up the accolades when their second hit single, Djapana, was named Best Indigenous Release, and received additional gongs for Best Video and Best Engineer. In addition to their numerous musical achievements, the group established the Yothu Yindi Foundation in 1990 to promote Yolngu cultural development. In 1999 they set up the annual five day Garma Festival of Traditional Culture, featuring a spectacular nightly Bunggul (traditional ceremony), an Academic key forum focussed on issues of major importance to Aboriginal people nationally, conducting workshops for indigenous musicians from Arnhem Land communities at the Yirrnga Music Development Studio, and many other cultural and artistic activities. On January , Mandawuy Yunupingu was named 1992 Australian of the Year in recognition of his commitment to forge greater understanding between Aboriginal and non-aboriginal Australians, and because of his burgeoning role as an ambassador for all Australians. 3

4 In December 1992, Yothu Yindi represented Australia at the launch of the United Nations International Year of Indigenous Peoples in New York and in 2000, the band performed at the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games and the opening ceremony of the Paralympics. During 1993, Yothu Yindi joined with the National Drug Offensive to launch a campaign aimed at encouraging the sensible use (rather than abuse) of alcohol in both Aboriginal and non-aboriginal societies. In 2003, Yothu Yindi spread a message of respecting culture through Northern Territory schools by using songs, storytelling and open discussions to inspire and encourage some of Australia s most vulnerable young people to attend school and stay healthy. Four years ago Mandawuy was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease, a dietary affliction that is rampant through indigenous communities all over Australia. Consistent with his life journey, Mandawuy is now using this story to have a positive effect for future generations of his people. Healing Stone is the first new song by Yothu Yindi in 12 years. Co-written by Mandawuy and INXS tunesmith Andrew Farriss, it s as culturally urgent, profoundly personal and ultimately universal as any song in the world-renowned Arnhem Land band s 27-year history. This new song is also the title track of a new compilation album/dvd Healing Stone: The Best of Yothu Yindi which has been assembled to celebrate Yothu Yindi s induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame. ******** 2012 ARIA Awards Thursday, 29 November 2012 Sydney Entertainment Centre, 35 Harbour Street, Darling Harbour 3.30pm 5.15m - Red Carpet arrivals 5.15pm pm - ARIA Awards GENERAL PUBLIC TICKETS: Go on sale at 9.00am on Monday, 8 October, 2012, from Ticketmaster or PH: or Ticketmaster Outlets Ticket Price - $49.95 *All prices include GST and booking fees, but transaction fees & credit card charges may apply 4

5 This years ARIA Awards are supported by Destination NSW, David Jones and PPCA and will be broadcast on Nine Network s GO! Channel. - END For Media Information on the 2012 ARIA Awards please contact: Niki White niki@nikstar.com.au Danielle McEwan daniellemcewan@gmail.com 5