Tim Rogers formed the first version of You Am I in December 1989, releasing several EPs and singles in the early 90s, with their real breakthrough coming when Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth caught the band performing at the 1993’s Big Day Out festival. Ranaldo also produced their debut album, Sound As Ever, which went on to win the 1993 ARIA Award for Best Alternative Release.
You Am I had toured the United States beginning in the mid-’90s, including playing with Soundgarden on the Lollapalooza festival, Redd Kross, The Strokes, and Smoking Popes. (Soundgarden first came across them at the 1994 Big Day Out festival) Despite little success in The States, the band became well known throughout Australia.
Further success came with the albums Hi Fi Way and Hourly, Daily, with both picking up ARIA Awards. Hourly, Daily was the first album released on the Shock label to go to number one in the ARIA charts upon launch. These albums were marked by retro-inspired ’60s bop and folky 12 string melodies, a departure from the band’s earlier hard rock/ grunge sound.
Subtle country influences were apparent on their 1998 #4 Record, that included Heavy Heart. A heart- rending, borderline- karaoke inspired ballad… about being dumped by one’s girlfriend. In July 2009 You Am I came in at #52 with Berlin Chair in Triple J Hottest 100 of all time, voted by the Australian public.