Melbourne band the Sharp started out playing cover versions of rockabilly songs, with Allan Catlin on lead vocals and double bass, Charlie Rooke on guitar, and Danny Simcic on drums. Simcic also played with Real Life, whose contract with BMG prevented him from staying with the Sharp, who signed with Warner after demos of their original material attracted the label's attention. Piet Collins became their new drummer in 1991 and they became an energetic pop/rock outfit, INXS in skivvies. Their first two albums, This Is the Sharp and Sonic Tripod, were released in 1993 and 1994, respectively. Both were well-received in Australia and resulted in a period of constant touring around the world, typically playing over 300 gigs a year. Burnout was blamed for their breakup, announced in 1995 -- the same year as the release of their best-of album, Single File -- though health problems were rumored. When interviewed they were evasive and Catlin jokingly claimed to have been visited by a pair of ghostly black skivvies, which thanked him for all he'd done and explained that the band's work was finished. A final album of their unreleased studio tracks, Skeletons in the Closet, was made available to fans and then given a wider release in 1996. Collins left music for a career in journalism and writing, while Rooke formed Earlobe and Catlin formed the Rush Effect, as well as creating music for advertisements. They re-formed in 2000 for a single Melbourne concert. ~ Jody Macgregor