Powderfinger consists of Bernard Fanning (vocalist, guitarist), Darren Middleton (guitarist, backing vocalist), Ian Haug (guitarist), John Collins (bassist), Jon Coghill (drummer, percussionist).
Powderfinger is a successful Australian rock band. The band formed in 1989 in Brisbane, with the present lineup of Bernard Fanning (Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Harmonica), John Collins (Bass Guitar), Ian Haug (Guitar, Backing Vocals), Darren Middleton (Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals) and Jon Coghill (Drums, Percussion) settling in 1992.
Powderfinger formed in 1989 as a high school band, the original members of which were Ian Haug (Vocals, Guitar), John Collins (Bass) and Steven Bishop (Drums). The band began looking for another guitarist and recruited Bernard Fanning whom Haug met in his university economics class). Eventually, Haug passed the vocal duties onto him. Bishop later left the band, to be replaced with Jon Coghill.The final line-up was almost complete, but they decided to seek out another guitarist to replace Fanning. Darren Middleton, guitarist from the band 'Pirate', filled the position in 1992.
Powderfinger initially performed covers of other artists, gradually developing their own material.
After two independent EPs released in 1993, they were signed to Polydor and in 1994 released their first album, Parables for Wooden Ears, which charted poorly and failed to launch the band. Following this, the band released several singles and EPs and launched a national tour, appearing in Livid and Homebake music festivals
In September 1996, the band released the album Double Allergic, which was a huge success, going Australian double platinum (selling over 70,000 copies in Australia), with two singles, "Pick You Up" and "DAF" receiving widespread radio airplay. "Double Allergic" debuted at no. 7 on the Australian charts and remained in the Top 10 for over two months.
In 1998 and 2000 the band released the albums Internationalist, and Odyssey Number 5 respectively. These albums propelled the band to a prominent position on the Australian music scene, both reaching #1 album, with Internationalist selling over 330,000 copies, over 5 times platinum domestically and reaching European and British audiences for the first time.