The Living End is an Australian punk rockabilly band from Melbourne, formed in 1994. Since 2002, the line-up consists of Chris Cheney, Scott Owen, and Andy Strachan (drums). The band rose to fame in 1997 after the release of their EP Second Solution / Prisoner of Society, which peaked at No. 4 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart. They have released eight studio albums, two of which reached the No. 1 spot on the ARIA Albums Chart: The Living End and State of Emergency. They have also achieved chart success in the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
Left to right: Chris Cheney, Andy Strachan, Scott Owen in Germany, 2009
Chris Cheney performing in 2009. He founded the band in 1994 as their singer-songwriter and lead guitarist. In September 2001, he had been injured in a car accident and was hospitalised for two months. In October 2006, he told other group members that he wanted to quit as he had writer's block; however, he returned to songwriting and performing with the band by April 2007.
Scott Owen during The Living End's 2007 United Kingdom tour. He co-founded the group with Cheney in 1994 and cites Lee Rocker of Stray Cats as his main influence: Owen mimicked Rocker's right hand movements on the upright bass when he first learned how to play.
Andy Strachan behind his kit in 2008. He joined in April 2002 by replacing previous drummer Travis Demsey. In 2006, Strachan won the Jack Award for Best Drummer. In November 2007, he reflected on the group's ambition, "we have no qualms about going back [overseas] and living on a bus for months at a time ... I think we still have a really good shot of it over there. We just have to get to the next level. It's about having the right song at the right time".
Christopher John Cheney is an Australian rock musician, record producer, and studio owner. He is the founding mainstay guitarist, songwriter, and lead vocalist of the rockabilly band The Living End, which was formed in 1994 with schoolmate Scott Owen. Cheney wrote the group's top 20 hits on the ARIA Singles Chart: "Second Solution" / "Prisoner of Society" (1997), "All Torn Down" (1999), "Pictures in the Mirror" (2000), "Roll On" (2001), "One Said to the Other" (2003), "What's on Your Radio" (2005), "Wake Up" (2006), and "White Noise" (2008). In 2004, Cheney joined the supergroup The Wrights which put out a cover version of Stevie Wright's epic 11-minute track, "Evie" as a single. At the 2009 APRA Music Awards, Cheney won Song of the Year for writing The Living End's track, "White Noise". In 2005, he married his girlfriend Emma; the couple has two daughters and are co-owners of a recording facility, Red Door Sounds. In 2011, the Cheney family relocated to Los Angeles.
Performing at Nibe Festival 2009, in Denmark
