The Veronicas
The Veronicas in 2009
Background information
Origin	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Genres	Alternative rock,[1] Synthpop, Pop rock, Pop punk,[1] New wave
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Warner Music (2004-) Sire (2004–) Rhino (2007–) London (2004–2007) Pony Canyon (2008)
Associated acts	Michael Paynter
Website	Official website
Members
Jessica Origliasso Lisa Origliasso George "Jungle George" Sherman
Past members
Ethan Roberts Josh Paul Robert J. Guariglia Vik Foxx Paulie

The Veronicas are a rock band from Brisbane, Australia, formed in 1999 by twin sisters, Jessica and Lisa Origliasso. In addition to music, the sisters market their own line of clothing which debuted in 2007.

In 2005, The Veronicas released their first studio album entitled The Secret Life of... which peaked at #2 on the Australian charts and gained an Australian ARIA certification of 4x platinum for 280,000+ sales. In total, the album spawned five singles, three of which were top ten singles in Australia.

In 2007, the duo released their second studio album, Hook Me Up, which also peaked at #2 on the Australian charts and earned an Australian ARIA certification of 2x platinum for 140,000+ sales. To date, the album has garnered four Australian top ten singles. The album's title track, "Hook Me Up", was The Veronicas' first #1 single in Australia.^[2]

Background[link]

In 2004, Lisa Origliasso and Jessica Origliasso were introduced to the Music Director of The Bell Hughes Music Group (BHMG), Hayden Bell. After producing some demo recordings with the twins, Bell invited them to sign a publishing agreement with Excalibur Productions (a subsidiary of BHMG). In the process, Bell helped facilitate their progression in musical style from acoustic pop to the more rhythmic rock pop approach that is now their trademark. On the strength of these demos, Bell took them to meet the executives at Engine Room (a subsidiary of PBL (Packer) Group) and they were immediately signed to a production deal. To further develop their song writing skills, Bell connected them with several internationally acclaimed songwriters and producers including Clif Magness (who has written with Avril Lavigne), Billy Steinberg (Madonna, Cyndi Lauper), Max Martin (Britney Spears, Katy Perry, P!nk), Eric Nova, Dead Mono and Vince DeGiorgio, where they created a catalogue of over 50 songs.^[3]

Meetings were then arranged with Warner Bros. Records in the USA. Seymour Stein and senior executives recognised that Bell had indeed discovered and developed a musical talent, signing them quickly to a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records/Sire America, for a reported sum of 2 million dollars.^[4]

Band name[link]

Regarding how they chose their name, Jess Origliasso stated: "The name is something we thought about for a short time and we wanted it to be a girl's name, but we didn't want it to be 'the Jesses.' We were very conscious of not wanting to make it a twin thing, because we don't think that's really cool." "We didn't want it to be called 'the Lisas,' either," singer Lisa Origliasso added. "So one day we saw the movie Heathers, and there's a line where Christian Slater asks, 'Are you a Heather?' and Winona Ryder's character [Veronica] answers, 'No, I'm a Veronica,' and so we went with that, because she was this kind of cool, unique chick with an attitude."^[5]

However Archie Comics launched legal action against the group for trademark infringement in relation to the character Veronica Lodge, in an attempt to stop them from using the name.^[6][7] Archie comics had asked Warner Music Group to hand over all publicity rights and to pay US$200 million in damages.^[8] Of this amount $20 million was for damages and $180 million as a penalty against Warner.^[8] In a statement with New York Times Michael I. Silberkleit, chairman of Archie Comics Publications, Inc. stated,

The importance is the image of Archie, which everybody knows is good, clean, wholesome stuff,[...] Preventing unauthorized use of the name will protect both the characters and customers who have paid for licensing rights[...]"^[8]

A settlement was reached that included a cross-promotion deal, including an appearance in an issue of Veronica Lodge's comic book.^[9] The issue (#167) featured a card with a code allowing a free download of their single "4ever" in MP3 form.^[10] A few months later, Archie and Friends (#100) featured The Archies meeting The Veronicas.^[11] The next issue of Archie and Friends (#101) also featured The Veronicas, with Archie as their biggest fan.^[12]

Music career[link]

[edit] 2005–2007: The Secret Life of... and American debut

The Veronicas performed at the 2005 NRL Grand Final^[13] days before their debut album, entitled The Secret Life of..., was released in Australia on 17 October 2005, entering the ARIA Album charts at the position of #7.^[14] Since then, it has peaked at #2 and gone 4x Platinum.^[15] Due to the success of the album, five singles were released in Australia: "4ever", "Everything I'm Not", "When It All Falls Apart", "Revolution" and "Leave Me Alone".

The Secret Life of The Veronicas spent a year in the ARIA album charts without leaving the Top 40.^[14] In September 2006, the album was nominated for three ARIA awards including; "Best Pop Release", "Highest Selling Album" and "Best Breakthrough Album".^[16] They won "Best Pop Release" but lost the other two to other nominees.^[17] The girls also performed their 2nd single "Everything I'm Not" on the night.^[18]

The Veronicas in 2006.

The album was released in the US on 14 February 2006; it debuted at #133 on Billboard 200 and #3 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.^[19] Only two singles were released in the United States off the album. A special DVD was released with the US version as a limited edition exclusive. The limited edition included two extra songs and videos, and was only available online. However, copies have been found to have been shipped to several stores in Australia as well. Other releases in the US include Sessions@AOL which features their songs "Heavily Broken" and "Revolution" live in the AOL studios,^[20] also released was The Veronicas: Mtv.com Live EP which also features live performances of their songs including a new song, entitled "Stay".^[21]

The album has also had success in other countries such as New Zealand where it debuted at #5, #75 on the Dutch Album Charts and #11 in Belgium.^[22] Due to their chart success in Belgium, they won the award for Best International New Artist at the TMF Awards of 2006. "When It All Falls Apart" spent a record of 17 weeks of MTV Asia's Pop 10 Chart, in which 7 of them were at the number 1 spot. The song was recorded in Simlish and is featured in the Sims 2 expansion pack Seasons.^[23]

Lisa and Jessica are the faces of Choice Calvin Klein^[24] and Australian hair product company nu:u.^[25] Blender magazine named included them in their list of hottest women in rock in 2006.^[26] The sisters sang the title song on the short-lived television show Related which had featured songs from their debut album. They appeared in an episode that aired 6 February 2006.^[27] In March 2006, their debut single "4ever" was featured in the Amanda Bynes comedy She's the Man. It was featured in the promotional television spots, the film itself and the soundtrack.^[28] Their song "Revolution" appeared in another Amanda Bynes film, "Sydney White", in 2007.

The girls also appeared on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody episode "The Suite Life Goes Hollywood" as guest stars and performed their song "Cry".^[29] The twins have also created a fashion line called "The Veronicas for Target" which was released in stores on 25 August 2007 in Australia.^[30][31]

On 2 December 2006 The Veronicas released a CD/DVD, entitled Exposed... The Secret Life of The Veronicas in Australia which features live performances from their Australian 2006 Revolution Tour and a DVD featuring parts of the sisters' live performances throughout 2005–2006, including footage that had previously not been seen, and their music videos.^[32] The album debuted at #6 on the ARIA DVD Charts accrediting platinum in its first week. The second week it rose to its peak of #3^[33] and was accredited Double Platinum.^[34]

[edit] 2007–2009: Hook Me Up and worldwide expansion

In early 2007, The Veronicas began work on their second album. The album was written and recorded in Los Angeles, California, with Toby Gad, Billy Steinberg and John Feldmann.^[35]

Hook Me Up was released in Australia on 3 November 2007. The album debuted at number two on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart with sales of 9,531 copies in its first week, and was certified Gold.^[36] It has since gone 2x platinum.^[37] The album became the twenty-eighth-highest selling album in Australia for 2007.^[38] Hook Me Up was released in the UK on 12 October 2009 and has peaked at number thirty-five.^[39][40]

The lead single from the album, "Hook Me Up", was added to Australian radio on 27 August 2007, but was physically released on 22 September 2007. It debuted at number five, eventually reaching number one after seven weeks on the ARIA Singles Chart, making it their first number one hit in Australia.^[41]

"Untouched" was the first single to be released from their album in the United States, Canada, Europe and New Zealand. The song reached number 2 in Australia,^[42] eventually reaching platinum accreditation.^[43] The song became their first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 first debuting at number sixty-two^[44] and eventually peaking at number seventeen making it their first top twenty hit in the United States.^[45] They became the first Australian artists to have a single certified Platinum in the U.S. with over 1,000,000 paid downloads.^[46][47] It was also their debut single in the UK, peaking at number eight and in Ireland peaking at number one, their first international number-one single^[48]

Their third and fourth singles, "This Love" and "Take Me on the Floor", were both top ten hits hits in Australia^[49] and were both certified Gold.^[43] "Take Me on the Floor" was released as their second single in the U.S. but only peaked at number eighty-one.^[50] On 11 October, their fifth single, "Popular", was released digitally in Australia. It has only gained heavy airplay and peaked at #11 on the Australian Airplay Chart.^[51]

Their debut single "4ever" was rereleased as their second single in the UK and Ireland on 21 September 2009 and has peaked at number 17 in the UK and twenty in Ireland.^[52]

In support of the album, The Veronicas embarked on their third Australian tour, The Hook Me Up Tour, in 2007. The tour, which began on 30 November and concluded on 12 December, was held in eight major cities around Australia.^[53]

On 16 October 2008, The Veronicas announced their second tour for the album, Revenge Is Sweeter tour,^[54] which was their first tour to extend into New Zealand, United States, Canada, UK and Japan beginning on 13 February 2009 in Newcastle, Australia and ending on 25 September 2009 in Manchester, UK^{[55][56][57][58][59]} as well as a European promotional tour which included France, Germany^[60] and Italy. As part of their tour in Japan they released a two disc compilation album called The Veronicas Complete featuring all their songs from their first and second albums as well as three bonus tracks on 18 March 2009.^[61] In September 2008, the nominees for the 22nd annual ARIA Awards were announced, with The Veronicas receiving four nominations. Hook Me Up received two nominations for Best Pop Release and Highest Selling Album and "Untouched" and Hook Me Up (single) received a nomination for Highest Selling Single each. The Veronicas performed their hit single "Untouched" at the event, but left with no awards.^[62]

[edit] 2010–present: LOM and other musical experiments

Writing for their third studio album had begun in December 2009, and recording in January 2010.^{[63][64][65][66][67]} The album, which cites influences by classical music, classical rock and pop genres, will be their first release in over three years.^[68] Jessica Origliasso stated that the album will be inspired by artists The Subways, The Dead Weather, Mazzy Star, Ladytron and Peaches.^[63] Lisa and Jessica Origliasso have described the album as "[...] a little different from [...] the last two records" and "[...] a pop record [with] different undertones."^[68]

Lending their vocals elsewhere, Lisa and Jessica also collaborated with Michael Paynter to record a song called "Love the Fall" for his homonymous EP.^[36] The song peaked at number nineteen on the ARIA Charts.^[69] They also revealed in February 2011 that they had recorded backing vocals for Cherie Currie's new album.^[70] Additionally The Veronicas recorded a cover version of the song "Grown-Up Christmas List", by singer Amy Grant, for the Christmas compilation album The Spirit of Christmas 2010.^[71]

Lisa also started a group called the Dead Cool Dropouts with her friend Tyler Bryant, mostly done using GarageBand on Mac. They have released an EP of songs, these songs are called: "Write You Off", "Green Eyes Make Me Blue", and "Criminal Heart".^[72] There are rumours that the two are dating. ^[73]

On an interview with Sunrise, Lisa and Jess had said the first single off the album will be released around the end of the 2011, while it was expected by the group saying the album may be released early 2012.^[74]. In February 2012, they announced that a release date for the album was "coming soon". ^[75] LOM was tagged on their Twitter's as an important phrase on May 15 2012. They also indicated the album was for sure coming in late 2012. ^{[76] [77]}

The Veronicas have shown off other tracks from and for their album during this time, including: "Dead Cool", "Cold", "Heart like a Boat", "Baby I'm Ready" and "Let Me Out" at various gigs of the last two years. ^{[78] [79]}

Philanthropy[link]

The Veronicas in 2005.

In 2006, The Veronicas joined Steve Irwin's Wildlife Warriors Worldwide, a charity that deals with the protection of animals and their natural environments.^[80] The band was also featured in an Australian public service announcement campaign against music piracy targeting schools, labeled Australian Music In Tune. Other successful Australian artists included were Powderfinger, Jimmy Barnes and Silverchair.^[81]

Work for this charity has included a texting competition to reach two-thousand text messages in the hopes of raising one thousand dollars.^[82] In January 2009, it was announced Jess would pose nude for PETA after getting attention from a member of the organization.^[83]

Lisa also marched alongside Drew Barrymore, Pete Wentz, Janice Dickinson, and other celebrities in support of gay marriage in California at a May 2009 march in Los Angeles protesting the 26 May 2009 decision of the California Supreme Court ruling upholding Proposition 8.^[84] They also joined a "Wear it with Pride" campaign to reform same-sex laws in Australia for the 85 legislative changes made in 2010 to overturn discrimination against same-sex couples and their families. The campaign involved them wearing numbered T-shirts representing each legislative change.^[85] In 2010 Lisa and Jessica were honoured as Wildlife Warriors of the year for their efforts in publicizing animal protection and conservation on a worldwide scale.^[86]

Products and endorsements[link]

The Veronicas range of endorsements have included Australian hair products Nu:U^[87] and were also chosen to be the faces of the fall 2005 promotional campaign for Choice Calvin Klein range.^[88] In 2006 they entered into a co-marketing deal with shoe brand Keds for their first US tour.^[89] The deal included web promotions and in-store acoustic performances at selected stores.^[89] On 27 January 2010 they announced via twitter that they had signed a deal with cosmetic brand Flirt!, a division of Estée Lauder, to be the faces of their "Rock-n-Rebel" fragrance.^[90][91] They became ambassadors for the fragrance with the deal to including a multi-million dollar promotion during mid-2010^[92][93] which also included giving make-up tips via the Rock-n-Rebel website and judged a beauty contest where young women were asked to submit photos of their "ultimate rock star style".^[94]

On 25 August 2007, The Veronicas launched their self-titled fashion line at Target Miranda store and is available in stores around Australia.^[95] According to the girls the fashion line was created to reflect their style which had been sought after by their younger fans and what they would like to see younger girls wear.^[96] Aimed at seven-fourteen year old girls Lisa described the fashion line as "[...]punk princess, mixed with rock 'n' roll," and Jess described it as "[...] princess and cute."^[96] The colours used for their fashion line include black and white and also features cherries, pirate motifs and love heart details.^[97] The current clothing range includes day-wear and pyjamas.^[98]

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

• The Secret Life of... (2005)
• Hook Me Up (2007)
• TBA (2012)

Awards and nominations[link]

Tours[link]

• Revenge Is Sweeter tour (2009)

References[link]