The Whitlams

The Whitlams are among Australia’s great indie underdogs. Formed in Sydney in 1992 by keyboardist/vocalist Tim Freedman, guitarist Stevie Plunder, and bassist Andy Lewis, the band—named after the country’s former Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam—built up a loyal following with two piano-powered, pub-ready pop-rock albums: 1993’s Introducing and 1994’s Undeniably. Lineup changes were frequent, but their fate took a swift turn when Plunder was found dead on January 26, 1996. That same day the band’s cheeky single “I Make Hamburgers” landed on the Triple J Hottest 100, a list compiling the previous year’s most popular songs Down Under. With motivation to keep going, Freedman brought in a revolving cast of musicians for 1997’s Eternal Nightcap and 1999’s Love This City—both packed with poignant ballads and sardonic rock romps. Over the 21st century, The Whitlams have kept to a consistent quartet, releasing two more albums, touring alongside the country’s top orchestras, and making a welcome return in 2020 with their first new single in over 14 years, the true-crime thriller, “Ballad of Bertie Kidd.”