Quan Yeomans
Encyclopedia
Quan Yeomans is an Australian musician
best known as the frontman of the multi-ARIA Music Award winning band Regurgitator
, which formed in Brisbane
in December 1993.
, Australia
to a fifth Generation Australian
father and his mother Lien Yeomans, a well-known Vietnamese
chef and author. His parents divorced during his childhood, during which he recalls listening to various Fleetwood Mac
albums. In 1986, his family relocated to Brisbane
and he attended Kelvin Grove State High School
until graduation in 1989. Yeomans has credited his father, a psychiatrist, who travelled with him in 1991 to Rio de Janeiro
to the World Economic Forum, where he heard Indian scientist and author Vandana Shiva
speak about the crippling, cyclic effects of debt on the Third World. He has stated, "To find out about that was a critical moment for me and inspired a lot of work that I did in the band [Regurgitator]". His father died in 1999.
band Zooerastia. After meeting Pangaea
bassist/vocalist Ben Ely
on a bus, they would form Regurgitator
with Yeomans on guitar/vocals and Martin Lee
on drums. He has stated that he felt like a hypocrite signing to major label Warner Music because of his views on the music industry as the mouthpiece of global capitalism.
Yeomans is the dominant composer in the group, owning the writing credits to over half the songs on each album. The majority of songs chosen for single releases are also his. Regurgitator's shift towards synth-driven 80s pop on their second album Unit
, which contrasted greatly to their earlier rock
/hip hop
orientated works, is largely due to Yeomans' frustration with their male-dominant audience who embraced their heavier sound. Manager Paul Curtis recalls that he had once stated "thank god Grinspoon
came along because they took all the male angst away from our shows".
-based band Spiderbait
. The two started dating and the relationship lasted several years. The pair formed Happyland, an art pop band and released ‘’Welcome to Happyland’’ in 1998, which spawned a few hits that received airplay on Triple J
. The project has been inactive since 2000.
On 2 November 2008 Yeomans launched a solo project with the release of his debut solo album Quan: The Amateur which was recorded in Hong Kong, where he previously resided. Quan performed on the 2009 Big Day Out tour.
as a major influence. Another reoccurring theme in Yeomans' lyrics is about musicians dealing with fame, which is possibly influenced by his own career.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
best known as the frontman of the multi-ARIA Music Award winning band Regurgitator
Regurgitator
Regurgitator are an Australian rock band from Brisbane, currently consisting of Quan Yeomans , Ben Ely and Peter Kostic . The band formed in 1994, its original line-up consisting of Yeomans, Ely and drummer Martin Lee...
, which formed in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
in December 1993.
Early years
Yeomans was born in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to a fifth Generation Australian
Anglo-Celtic Australian
Anglo-Celtic Australian are citizens of Australia with British and/or Irish ancestral origins.-Demography:From the beginning of the colonial era until the mid-20th century, the vast majority of settlers were British or Irish...
father and his mother Lien Yeomans, a well-known Vietnamese
Vietnamese Australian
A Vietnamese Australian is an Australian either born in Vietnam or is an Australian descendant of the former. Communities of Overseas Vietnamese are referred to as Việt Kiều or người Việt hải ngoại.-History in Australia:...
chef and author. His parents divorced during his childhood, during which he recalls listening to various Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
albums. In 1986, his family relocated to Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
and he attended Kelvin Grove State High School
Kelvin Grove State College
Kelvin Grove State College is located at Kelvin Grove, Queensland three kilometres from Brisbane’s central business district and adjacent the Kelvin Grove campus of Queensland University of Technology ....
until graduation in 1989. Yeomans has credited his father, a psychiatrist, who travelled with him in 1991 to Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
to the World Economic Forum, where he heard Indian scientist and author Vandana Shiva
Vandana Shiva
Vandana Shiva , is a philosopher, environmental activist, and eco feminist. Shiva, currently based in Delhi, has authored more than 20 books and over 500 papers in leading scientific and technical journals. She was trained as a physicist and received her Ph.D...
speak about the crippling, cyclic effects of debt on the Third World. He has stated, "To find out about that was a critical moment for me and inspired a lot of work that I did in the band [Regurgitator]". His father died in 1999.
Regurgitator
In 1993, Yeomans was a drummer for Brisbane punkPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Zooerastia. After meeting Pangaea
Pangaea
Pangaea, Pangæa, or Pangea is hypothesized as a supercontinent that existed during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras about 250 million years ago, before the component continents were separated into their current configuration....
bassist/vocalist Ben Ely
Ben Ely
Ben Ely is a musician and artist best known for his work with Brisbane indie/alternative rock band Regurgitator, a multi-ARIA Music Award winning group which formed in Brisbane, Australia in December 1993....
on a bus, they would form Regurgitator
Regurgitator
Regurgitator are an Australian rock band from Brisbane, currently consisting of Quan Yeomans , Ben Ely and Peter Kostic . The band formed in 1994, its original line-up consisting of Yeomans, Ely and drummer Martin Lee...
with Yeomans on guitar/vocals and Martin Lee
Martin Lee
Martin Lee , QC, SC, JP, was the founding chairman of the Democratic Party in Hong Kong. He was a directly-elected Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Island geographical constituency...
on drums. He has stated that he felt like a hypocrite signing to major label Warner Music because of his views on the music industry as the mouthpiece of global capitalism.
Yeomans is the dominant composer in the group, owning the writing credits to over half the songs on each album. The majority of songs chosen for single releases are also his. Regurgitator's shift towards synth-driven 80s pop on their second album Unit
Unit (album)
This was the second, and last, Regurgitator album to be pressed on vinyl until 2011 when SuperHappyFunTimeFriends was released.- Singles :The singles from this album in Australia are:* "Everyday Formula"* "Black Bugs"* "Polyester Girl"...
, which contrasted greatly to their earlier rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
/hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
orientated works, is largely due to Yeomans' frustration with their male-dominant audience who embraced their heavier sound. Manager Paul Curtis recalls that he had once stated "thank god Grinspoon
Grinspoon
Grinspoon are an Australian rock band from Lismore, New South Wales formed in 1995 and fronted by Phil Jamieson on vocals and guitar with Pat Davern on guitar, Joe Hansen on bass guitar and Kristian Hopes on drums. Also in 1995, they won the Triple J-sponsored Unearthed competition for Lismore,...
came along because they took all the male angst away from our shows".
Happyland
In 1996, Yeomans became acquainted with Janet English, bassist/vocalist for MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
-based band Spiderbait
Spiderbait
Spiderbait are an Australian alternative rock band formed in Finley in 1989 by bass guitarist Janet English, singer-drummer Mark Maher , and guitarist Damian Whitty. In 2004 the group's cover version of the 1930s Lead Belly song "Black Betty" reached number one on the ARIA Singles Chart...
. The two started dating and the relationship lasted several years. The pair formed Happyland, an art pop band and released ‘’Welcome to Happyland’’ in 1998, which spawned a few hits that received airplay on Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
. The project has been inactive since 2000.
Recent years
Quan also has a solo career and a side project from Regurgitator with Sydney musician Spod called "Blox".On 2 November 2008 Yeomans launched a solo project with the release of his debut solo album Quan: The Amateur which was recorded in Hong Kong, where he previously resided. Quan performed on the 2009 Big Day Out tour.
Musical and lyrical style
Yeomans' lyrical style has been described as a trademark postmodern lyricism and skeptical cynicism. He is known for the explicit lyrical content that appeared on Regurgitator's earlier releases. Songs such as "I Like It Like That", "Pop Porn" and "The World of Sleaze" deals with issues of sexism. Yeomans has acknowledged feminist performance artist and friend Kiley GaffneyKiley Gaffney
Kiley Gaffney is an Australian musician and performance artist. Before signing to Warner in the 1995, she worked predominantly in theatre and the artworld ....
as a major influence. Another reoccurring theme in Yeomans' lyrics is about musicians dealing with fame, which is possibly influenced by his own career.