Powderfinger follow the Golden Rule

Aussie rockers Powderfinger feel on top of their game again. JULE SCHERER of NZPA talks to singer Bernard Fanning about their new album The Golden Rule and consistent rumours about the band is splitting-up.

With the release of their seventh album Powderfinger are set to cement their spot as one of Australia's most successful rock outfits.

After not being entirely happy with their last album the band decided to do things differently this time around.

"We wanted to change our song writing habits," singer Bernard Fanning tells NZPA.

On The Golden Rule the five-piece tried a different approach in terms of how songs are structured and the process of putting a song together.

"From a lyrical point of view I was trying to be more economical, to say more with less if possible, which on some songs I completely failed and ended up with total verbal diarrhoea," he says.

The band formed in 1989 in Brisbane and since 1992 their line-up has remained steady with Fanning on vocals, Darren Middleton and Ian Haug on guitars, John Collins on bass, and Jon Coghill on drums.

They have sold more than two million albums, won 16 Aria Music Awards, and are a fixture at the top of the Australian charts.

Being around for such a long time leads often to speculations about the demise of a band.

A couple of weeks ago the Australian media was abuzz with rumours about an imminent split-up of the band, but Fanning dismisses those rumours.

"That happened for our last three records, so that's nothing new.

"Part of the idea is probably we're not too involved in show business.

"We're pretty successful in Australia but we're not the kind of band that goes to movie premieres or society parties and I'd say that gives people reason to speculate," he says.

Powderfinger repeatedly caught attention with taking a stance on political and social issues.

They performed at WaveAid in the aftermaths of the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, raised funds for breast cancer victims and in 2007 teamed up with Aussie mates Silverchair for the Across the Divide tour, promoting Reconciliation Australia.

But all the same Fanning says it was a misconception Powderfinger was a political band.

"It's just a matter of writing of things you observe and what's on your mind while writing the songs.

"On this record there is nothing in particular that has a political bend, it's more about the politics of relationships between people rather than party politics or anything like that," he says.

Another project Powderfinger have committed themselves to is Movember, growing facial hair for men's health.

"Everybody is looking particularly disgusting at the moment.

"I was confident that I had more hair on certain parts of my face but that didn't work out that way."

But after all it was not about looking stylish, but about making people think about men's health.

It was "fabulous timing" for looking slightly ridiculous too, as the band on Thursday performed their album release gig from their rehearsal studio in Brisbane, streamed live via the internet worldwide.

Fanning wasn't sure if there were plans to put the footage up for download.

"I'd say if you missed the live version, there will certainly be an opportunity for you if you know your way around in Google," he hints.

The Golden Rule will be the first album released as an iTunes LP by an Australia band.

"It's the album, people would normally buy or download plus a couple of bonus tracks, some outtakes plus a whole lot of links to the history of the band, discography, lots of photos, video footage from the studio, that wouldn't feature anywhere else," he explains.

The first chance for Kiwis to see the band play live will be at the Big Day Out but Powderfinger are also planning a tour for the middle of next year.

"We think it's the best record we've made for a really long time and we're really pleased to have made something we're really happy to go out with and play."

He says on their last tour in 2007 they played a lot of old songs, as well as some from their new record.

"This time around our main focus will be on playing stuff that is newer, which is more exciting for us and more exiting for people that have seen us playing a few times."

* The Golden Rule will be out on Nov 23