View source for The Datsuns

[http://www.thedatsuns.com/ http://www.thedatsuns.com/]


==History==
In 1995, while still at school, Dolf de Borst (vocals, bass), Phil Somervell (guitar),  and Matt Osment (drums) formed a band under the name Trinket. Christian Livingstone joined the band in 1997 as a second guitarist. They entered and won the 1999 89FM Battle of the Bands competition in [[Hamilton, New Zealand]].

By 2000 the band had renamed themselves 'The Datsuns'. In August 2000 they released their first single, "Super Gyration!," on [[Extended play|7 inch vinyl]] only. In July 2002, after featuring several times on [[John Peel]]'s programme on the [[United Kingdom|UK's]] [[BBC Radio 1]] and being hailed as "the future of rock" by the British music press, the band signed with the [[V2 Records|V2]] record label. Their [[The Datsuns (album)|self-titled debut album]] made a strong impression in the UK, as well as in Australia and New Zealand. The Datsuns toured Australia in 2002 with Melbourne band The Specimens and [[The Casanovas]] as well as playing a live to air on PBS radio.

The Datsuns won numerous awards over this period, including ''[[NME]]'' 's 'Best Live Band' and New Zealand Music Awards for 'Best Album', 'Best Group' and 'Breakthrough Artist'.

They played [[Ozzfest]] in 2003 on the mainstage alongside the likes of [[Ozzy Osbourne]], [[Marilyn Manson (band)|Marilyn Manson]], [[Korn]] and [[Disturbed (band)|Disturbed]]. They also played the main stage of the 2004 and 2009 [[Big Day Out]] festival and opened for [[Metallica]] in their Australian tour in 2004. Metallica drummer [[Lars Ulrich]] had previously praised The Datsuns on the revival debut of ''[[Headbangers Ball]]'' before playing their [[music video|video]] for "In Love." Their second album, ''[[Outta Sight, Outta Mind]]'', was produced by [[Led Zeppelin]]'s [[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]]. It did not receive the same praise as the first, as critics gave it only a lukewarm response.

In October 2006, the Datsuns came back with ''[[Smoke & Mirrors (The Datsuns album)|Smoke & Mirrors]]'', heralded as a return to form in Australia and New Zealand. The album was met with generally positive reviews, although it was not reviewed as widely as the band's first two efforts. After the release of the third album, drummer Matt Osment was replaced by Ben Cole.<ref name="ODT_Road_again"/>

The Datsuns went on a New Zealand tour with [[Shihad]] during the Christmas/New Year's period 2006/07.

The band then completed a tour of Europe to promote ''Smoke & Mirrors''. Although playing mostly locations the band had not previously visited, The Datsuns still managed to sell out the majority of the European dates.

The band's fourth album, ''[[Head Stunts]]'' (an anagram of The Datsuns), was released on 6 October 2008. The band recently toured New Zealand, Australia and America to try out new songs such as "Eye Of The Needle", "Human Error", "So Long", "Hey Paranoid People What's In Your Head", "Your Bones" and the limited edition single "Highschool Hoodlums".

To coincide with the release of ''Head Stunts'', the quartet embarked on a tour of the UK and Europe.<ref name="ODT_Road_again"/>

The Datsuns are currently mixing their fifth studio album, which was produced by former Hellacopters frontman Nicke Andersson. The yet-to-be-named album was recorded at Gutterview Recorders in [[Stockholm]], and is due for release by end of 2011.