DM3

Playing hot-rodded pop with potent hooks and a healthy supply of rock & roll energy, DM3 were founded by singer, guitarist, and songwriter <a href="spotify:artist:00w3xZNIDS5v04FlKmhr1l">Dom Mariani</a>, who had already established himself as one of the movers and shakers on the Australian garage rock and power pop scene. Born in Fremantle in Western Australia in 1958, <a href="spotify:artist:00w3xZNIDS5v04FlKmhr1l">Mariani</a> first achieved nationwide recognition with the band <a href="spotify:artist:0aJ02dgmmONlBUAeQzyFsc">the Stems</a>, whose fusion of garage rock and power pop made them cult heroes during their original run from 1983 to 1987. Shortly after <a href="spotify:artist:0aJ02dgmmONlBUAeQzyFsc">the Stems</a> ran their course, <a href="spotify:artist:00w3xZNIDS5v04FlKmhr1l">Mariani</a> joined the alternative rock band <a href="spotify:artist:2cJY27Fh9fI7p5SMvxgTua">the Someloves</a>, whose relatively brief career lasted until 1990. In 1992, <a href="spotify:artist:00w3xZNIDS5v04FlKmhr1l">Mariani</a> returned with a new combo, DM3, in which he handled vocals and guitar alongside Ian Campbell on lead guitar and backing vocals, Toni Italiano (a fellow <a href="spotify:artist:2cJY27Fh9fI7p5SMvxgTua">Someloves</a> alumni) on bass and vocals, and Pascal Bartolone (formerly of the Summer Suns) on drums. The band's tight, energetic sound made them an instant hit with critics and <a href="spotify:artist:00w3xZNIDS5v04FlKmhr1l">Mariani</a>'s fans, and in 1993 the band released their debut LP, One Time, Two Times, Three Red Light, which was mixed by American producer <a href="spotify:artist:27tICP1Y2IuLqCpORpfNxF">Mitch Easter</a>, best known for his work with <a href="spotify:artist:4KWTAlx2RvbpseOGMEmROg">R.E.M.</a> and as leader of <a href="spotify:artist:6HRtcKFPKPw6FtbGpvQviZ">Let's Active</a>. In 1995, after touring with the band in Australia and Europe, Campbell left DM3, and the group continued as a trio, with <a href="spotify:artist:00w3xZNIDS5v04FlKmhr1l">Mariani</a> handling lead guitar work. This leaner edition of DM3 was heard on 1996's Road to Rome, also mixed by <a href="spotify:artist:27tICP1Y2IuLqCpORpfNxF">Easter</a>, which received more rave reviews, and the band once again hit the road in Europe and Scandinavia. Their profile in the United States was boosted by a 1997 collection from <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Bomp+Records%22">Bomp Records</a>, Dig It the Most, which offered an overview of the band's work to date. In 1988, DM3 released Rippled Soul, a more eclectic effort that also introduced the group's new bassist, Julian Matthews, formerly of <a href="spotify:artist:0aJ02dgmmONlBUAeQzyFsc">the Stems</a>. That release was quickly followed by two compilations of rare and unreleased material, Garage Sale and Italian Style! Garage Sale, Vol. 2. In 1999, <a href="spotify:artist:00w3xZNIDS5v04FlKmhr1l">Mariani</a> disbanded the DM3, joining the band the Stoneage Hearts in 2002, and the following year he assembled <a href="spotify:artist:00w3xZNIDS5v04FlKmhr1l">Dom Mariani & the Majestic Kelp</a>, an instrumental group. In 2013, Live (Roskilde Festival 1994), a recording of DM3's set at Denmark's famed music festival, received belated release, and 2015 saw the release of West of Anywhere, another "best-of DM3" collection. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi