1990 - The Tea
Party consisting of Jeff Martin as lead vocals/lead guitar, Stuart Chatwood on
bass and keyboards and Jeff Burrows on drums officially forms after a marathon
jam session at Cherry Beach Rehearsal Studios on Toronto's waterfront.
1991 - The Tea
Party release their first album independently. The self-titled debut was mainly
distributed throughout Ontario and all 3500 original pressings sold out within a
year.
1992 - Ontario
club circuit tour begins. During this time the band turned down several offers
of recording contracts from major record labels in search of complete artistic
control over their records. EMI Music Canada offered The Tea Party the assurance
they were looking for and left the band's artistic fires and creativity up to
them.
1993 - Splendor
Solis is the first major label recording for The Tea Party. The music and sound
of the record is described as having a "very earthy feel". Overseas territories
such as Australia and Europe embrace the band and Jeff Martin, Stuart and Jeff
Burrows embark on their 'very successful' first overseas tour. Splendor Solis is
The Tea Party's first Gold release in Australia.
1994 - The Tea
Party win 2 Much Music Video "People's Choice" awards for "The River". In March,
the band are the first Canadian artist, the first EMI artist and among the
world's first half dozen artists to perform a live Internet only concert.
1995 - The Edges
Of Twilight (partly inspired by a book on The Celtic Spirit and Shamanism by Tom
Cowan called Fire In The Head) is released and harmoniously blends North
African, Middle Eastern and Indian exotics with heavy rock sounds and dark
mystical lyrics. Over 31 different exotic and acoustic instruments were used as
a template for the record.
The Tea Party
complete an extensive U.S. tour, earn 3 Juno Nominations and win the Much Music
Video Award for Favourite Music Video for "The Bazaar".
The 1996 EP,
Alhambra (taking its name from the Moorish Islamic palace in Grenada) is used as
a bridge between The Edges Of Twilight and the band's next release. It featured
4 beautifully intricate re-worked acoustic songs from The Edges Of Twilight and
two others, the first a song entitled, "Time" with Roy Harper on vocals and the
second a remix of "Sister Awake." The EP also featured a multimedia CD-ROM
component that the band used as a way to explain themselves, inviting fans to
explore the details of exotic instruments, song meanings and video/audio clips.
1996 - A brief
touring stint around Canada known as 'Alhambra Acoustic and Eclectic' follows
the EP's release, enabling the band to sit down with these exotic rarities and
play in an intimate setting, sharing the stories behind some of the songs and
instruments with fans.
1997 - The Tea
Party's exciting evolution from blues-rock to eastern-rock to its current hybrid
is sealed with the release of Transmission.
1998 - Jeff
Martin hosts and performs at the first ever White Ribbon Campaign (the largest
effort in the world of men working to end violence against women). In March, The
Tea Party release a limited edition four-track sampler featuring their Top 5
single, "Release", donating all profits to the White Ribbon Campaign.
1999 - Triptych
is released and is yet another evolution in the band's music. A 'set of three
artistic works hinged or tied together' is one meaning behind the albums title.
The first single from Triptych, "Heaven Coming Down" goes to 1 at radio - a
first for the band.
The success of
Triptych is followed by an extensive tour selling out theatres across Canada and
the band return to Australia and Europe again.
In 2000, The Tea
Party celebrate 10 years of musical exploration with the release of Tangents -
The Tea Party Collection. A fifteen-song collection of new, hit, rare and
re-mixed tracks. The band is the first Canadian recording artist to offer a
secured commercial digital download of their songs.
2001 - The Tea
Party are the first Canadian artist to offer 5.1 mixes of all of their videos
along with other exciting elements on their debut DVD, "Illuminations".
After four
full-length albums, one EP, a best of selling collection and a platinum selling
DVD, The Tea Party go back to the beginning with The Interzone Mantras. The
album is recorded in 20 days at Le Studio in Morin Heights, Quebec.
The Interzone
Mantras is The Tea Party's highest debut ever in Australia (6 on the ARIA
National Album Charts).
2002 - The Tea
Party embark on a 7 city Canadian tour opening for Ozzy Osbourne and then head
out on the road for a cross Canada headlining tour in April. The band receives 2
Juno Nominations for "Best Group" and "Best Recording Engineer" (Jeff Martin &
Nick Blagona).
The band
performs at the 'Big Day Out Festival' in Australia (Adelaide & Perth) with The
Prodigy, New Order, Garbage, The White Stripes, etc.in front of 40, 000+ fans
each night.
In the fall of
2002, The Tea Party joined the Du Maurier concerts collaborative concert
experience by headlining eclectic and unique concerts in Vancouver, Calgary,
Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City. The band adapt their live show to include
members from the local symphony orchestras in each city and share the stage with
cellist - Sheila Hannigan, Canadian born Kathak dancer - Joanna Das and operatic
sensation - Christine Williams.
2003 - The Tea
Party team up with the Discovery Channel for the 'Science of Rock And Roll
Uncovered' (shot in November 2002 at Quebec City's Theatre Capitole during the
Du Maurier tour.
On July 30, The
Tea Party join the Rolling Stones at Toronto's SARSfest with an afternoon
performance in front of 400, 000+ fans.
In
September/October, 2003, the band head to Hawaii to work with Bob Rock and
record 3 tracks for their new record.
2004 - The band
team up with Juno Award winning producer, Gavin Brown to record Seven Circles,
due in stores on August 17.
The Tea Party
perform at The White Ribbon Concert, once again hosted by Jeff Martin and
honouring the band's late manager, Steve Hoffman, with a stunning performance of
"Oceans".
They are one of
Canada's premiere bands, ready to prove that the journey they've shared with us
since 1990 is far from over.
2007 - The band
are releasing 1998's Much Music Intimate & Interactive concert on DVD. This DVD represents the only official live release by the band. The concert is one of the highlights of their career. It is due in stores on October 16, 2007.
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