Justin Burford, former frontman of Perth pop rock outfit End Of Fashion, best known for their 2005 hit O Yeah, has slammed Triple J, holding the youth broadcaster accountable for a “derisive” attitude and lack of support that directly resulted in the downfall of End Of Fashion’s career.
Earlier this month, an article published by Fairfax Media stoked controversy, as it contained quotes from anonymous Australian musicians who alleged that Triple J harbours a restrictive bias towards a certain “sound,” with some claiming they cater their music to the tastes of Triple J.
Several figures, including station manager Chris Scaddan, Triple J Unearthed music director Dave Ruby Howe, rapper Illy, and Kris Schroeder of Melbourne band The Basics, came to the defence of the station, while others, like Melbourne artist Whitley, concurred with the Fairfax report.
“Without mincing words, and I will probably get a load of shit for saying this BUT, with many more music industry parties finally coming out and saying their piece about Triple J, I feel comfortable enough to say; Triple J ended the career path of End Of Fashion, no question,” opens Burford.
According to Burford’s Facebook post, EOF initially received the station’s full support, culminating in a top ten Hottest 100 spot, but was “dropped like a sack of hot potatoes” with the band’s second album, even suffering open derision from Music Director Richard Kingsmill.
“Our lead single, Fussy was even openly derided on air by Richard Kingsmill as ‘just another pop release.’ Apparently this was before pop was declared no longer a dirty word on the j’s. This, I might add was the ONLY time that song was ever played on this station,” writes Burford.
Relations between band and station declined further upon release of the band’s “little known third album, Holiday Trip Of A Lifetime,” which was “completely independently produced and released, all on our own dime and time.” The LP’s lead single, Sleepaway, received airplay only once.
“There are so many ways to get your music out to people,” Chris Scaddan told theMusic. “Radio is still the quickest way to reach a mass audience, but every artist looking for success should be getting…onto as many platforms as they can. Both digitally and by playing live wherever you can.”
But according to Burford, writing in a subsequent comment, “The question becomes, when your entire fan base is tied up in a radio station and that station decides to no longer broadcast your output or even barely acknowledge your existence, where do you go from there?”
Justin Burford Facebook Message
Without mincing words, and I will probably get a load of shit for saying this BUT, with many more music industry parties finally coming out and saying their piece about Triple J, I feel comfortable enough to say; Triple J ended the career path of End Of Fashion, no question. A band that was fully supported by the station, earning a top ten place in a Hottest 100, was dropped like a sack of hot potatoes upon the second album’s release. Our lead single, Fussy was even openly derided on air by Richard Kingsmill as “just another pop release.” Apparently this was before pop was declared no longer a dirty word on the j’s. This, I might add was the ONLY time that song was ever played on this station. OK, so maybe it was cos we were signed to a major label. Nope. Our little known third album, Holiday Trip Of A Lifetime was completely independently produced and released, all on our own dime and time. The single ‘Sleepaway’ was played once on Goodnights. Once. An album that took us a year to write and all the money we had culminated in that one spin, with the added derision of Mariani asking her listeners to tell her if this band was “relevant” any more. I know a lot of ppl will say, at least you had what a lot of other bands never had and I agree. But upon that support we gave our whole lives over to making this band work only to have it taken away unceremoniously when they deemed it so. No J play? No career. And for people that ask me often… THAT is why End Of Fashion are no more. Rant over
