Eskimo Joe, ARIAS 2005 Award winning Australian 'band of the year’, does not only represent the average Joe Blogg kind of character, but it demonstrates that true talent succeeds in the end.  Perth’s Eskimo Joe is among other flourishing bands such as ‘End of Fashion’, ‘The Sleepy Jackson’ and ‘Little Birdy’ that are showing that living on the Western side of Australia does not necessarily mean that you cannot thrive in the continent-wide Australian Music Industry, or even Internationally for that matter. 

Stuart MacLeod, Eskimo Joe’s guitarist, proudly highlights the fact that all the members of all the bands in Western Australia are really good friends.  "Every time you see any of them doing well you feel a great sense of pride, and you are also spurred on to achieve more yourself.   It’s a real healthy, friendly competition we have over here,” he says. Eskimo Joe's band members are very content knowing they do not have to give up their homes, family and friends by having to move interstate or overseas to gain the success they now enjoy.  All were brought up around Perth and Stu comments, “The boys and I appreciate the fact we are living in Perth and we feel this is a place where we can have a sanity base.  We also have a strong family and friends base here.  Too much Industry here could cause a loss of the innocence that still seems to exist in this part of the world."
		Eskimo Joe - Stuart MacLeod (guitarist) & Kav Temperley (vocalist and bass)

		Before Eskimo Joe was formed, Stu and friend Kav Temperley, Eskimo Joe’s vocalist and bass player, wrote songs together and played in cafes.  The time came when Stu and Kav decided that they should form a band. Stu and Kav auditioned a few drummers but when Joel Quatermain said he could play the drums, it became apparent to both that Joel's musically talents extends beyond being just a drummer.  So Joel won the audition and became the drummer of Eskimo Joe.  Joel also plays the guitar and is one of the guitarists when the band is on tour. Kav and Joel were school friends and also former members of the band 'Freud’s Pillow'.
Eskimo Joe - Paul Keenan (backing on drums) & Kav Temperley (vocalist and bass player)

Stu says that the band appreciates the success it now experiences and he highlights the fact that the members may not have been so grateful for their success if they had been just an overnight sensation.  Surprisedly, music was not  Stu’s first passion for he did not pick up the guitar until he was sixteen.  At an earlier age he actually felt that he was destined to become an actor!  He and fellow band member Kav were enrolled in a scholarship for the Theatre Arts course for five years and it was during these five years that the two became close.  Earlier Stu thought that after he left school he would start a career as an actor,  but instead the band took over.   He justifies this change of plan by saying, in a joking manner, "Well, I’m still on the stage!”  

The trio’s first gig as Eskimo Joe was in 1997 when they entered the National Campus Band Competition of that year, a competition that they won.  This was followed in 1998 by another success when they became number 33 in Tripple J’s hottest 100 with their song, 'Sweater' from their first EP of the same name.

When 'Sweater', the band’s EP was released, the band members did not take it very seriously for they were just having a bit of a laugh.  “We didn’t think that we would be taking the world by storm, or anything like that,” says Stu.  “We were just having fun!  But about a year later we had to sit down to discuss what the band was going to do in the future and what we actually wanted out of it.  The band members all agreed that we had to start writing the sort of music that we actually wanted to listen to.” 

Stu comments that he has an appreciation for artists who write their own music, because it generally means more to him when the song is performed by the artist who wrote it.  When asked what his music influences are he replied, “Anyone who writes timeless melodies, anyone who can write the songs that hit you where it hurts”.  Stu has a long list of musicians he feels fits this category, and the list includes early David Bowie and The Beatles  to name a couple.   

Eskimo Joe has developed into a a real brotherhood for its the members have grown up with each other.   “We have a love and respect for each other and we believe that individually the band members have their own talent, and so we all respect and understand each other’s talent and short comings.  It comes down to the fact that we all are pulling together to try and write the perfect song,” says Stu.

The band’s integrity prohibits its members from selling or promoting anything that they do not believe in, and this same integrity would not allow them to receive any sponsorship from areas that they did not support.  They have even turned down big money from certain sponsors. 

Eskimo Joe is hoping to travel overseas in the next twelve months.  The band went over to America last year and the members felt it was a lot of fun.  They now desire to travel to the UK and tour parts of Europe.  They anticipate doing this after the release of their next album. 

Eskimo Joe trio - top far left Stu MacLeod, Kav Temperley front centre, and Joel Quartermain far right, assisted by Michael De Grussa (piona) and Paul Keenan drums.
Eskimo Joe - a smash with the crowd  at the Waterfront Food & Wine Festival (Gold Coast) March 2006		Stu & Joel with delighted fans  Mattison May and her friend Kathleen Calderwood (Upper and below photo)

Article and photos by Chrissy Layton, AusNotebook Music & Creative (31/3/06)

Eskimo Joe's website is www.eskimojoe.net

Associated articles:-  Waterfront Food & Wine Festival
                              2005 ARIAS Highlights