Band History

  
Just Jinjer officially formed in 1996 and after gaining a reputation as an amazing live act, the band recorded their first album called 'All Comes Round'. The day before the album was released, they performed with Def Leppard and won the hearts of 45 000 cheering fans.

'All Comes Round' flew off the shelves, becoming the biggest selling rock album in South African history and the band experienced unheard of chart success. They suddenly found themselves drawing huge audiences, sometimes in excess of 10 000 people... which had usually only happened before at festivals, not for one band!

The band entered the studio to record the second album titled 'Something For Now' which went gold in 3 weeks and platinum shortly after, providing numerous chart topping radio singles. The guys then focused their efforts on touring extensively within their home country and abroad (Germany, Australia, Canada, NY and the UK) with acts such as U2, Crash Test Dummies, Toto and co-headlined with Hootie and the Blowfish, Skunk Anansie, Stevie Wonder, Spice Girls, Chaka Khan and many more.

'Here's To You' was the band's third album and won them them critical acclaim as well as the usual chart success. They were now itching to prove themselves outside of their home borders and moved to the UK. There they recorded their fourth and final album for BMG records called 'Strange World' which produced "top 5" radio singles and sold out countrywide tours back home.

In 2002, lead singer Art Matthews boarded a plane heading for California in a quest to raise awareness on American soil... and succeeded. The band flew over through Capitol records and they have since been working the US market.

2004 saw Just Jinjer releasing their fifth record, 'Bootleg Album' which dominated the airwaves. They also performed several arena shows with the Counting Crows and completed sold out tours of London and Dubai.

Throughout 2005, the pieces were being put in place for the band to record their first international album with Grammy winner, David Bianco, in Los Angeles and it has been well worth the wait!

With such a legend behind them already, who knows what great heights lay ahead for these pioneers... watch this space!

Just Jinjer are: Art Matthews, Brent Harris, Denholm Harding and Sandy Chila.

Art Matthews

1975-1982: Lived in Kempton Park. Went to Louter Kabouter pre-primary school and spent my first year of school at Kempton Park Primary.

1983: Begged my mom to live closer to the sea so we moved to The Bluff, Durban. Stayed right on Ansteys Beach, Marine Drive and went to Bushlands Primary.

1988: was made Head Prefect (not very rock n' roll but anyway...), got offered scholarships to go to DHS or Glenwood High School.

1989: Decided to stay on the Bluff and went Grosvernor Boys High School instead.

1991: Mom decided to move back to Johannesburg... started going to Rand Park High School.

1992: Started playing drums in Christian death metal band called Abhorrence. Thought we would save the world with a message of hope delivered on a plate of rage... hmmm...

1993: Started toying with the idea of singing and playing a bit of guitar after being given an old nylon string guitar by the schools music teacher. Bought a chord book and started to learn a few songs by Cat Stevens, Rodriguez etc. Matriculated/Graduated High School... had wanted to be an attorney up to this point but didn't get the marks I would need for scholarships etc so... hmmm... what now?

1994: I know... I'll study drums for a year!!!! Attended Groove Class near Cresta centre and studied with drum guru and mentor Andre Luke (011) 678 8808. 4hrs/day and another 4 hrs of practice... for one year. Wasn't making any money however so I decided to try my hand at being a one man band. Started concentrating more on guitar and learning more songs... Got my first few gigs in local restaurants singing covers. Also started trying my hand at song writing...

1995: Wrote Shallow Waters on Jan Smuts Ave outside a gig of mine after split with High School sweetheart went bad. Decided to go to London to try get over her, and to see the world. Came back 6 months later with Abhorrence band mate Bruce Fulford after busking on the streets of London and Paris. Decided we would upgrade our street show and start playing local clubs in SA. Called ourselves 'Cat Chambers' and played all over Jhb...especially at the Randburg Waterfront.

1996: It was there that we first met/saw Brent Harris, Verny Scholts and Tuxx Mothome in their cover band called 'Tri Funk Era'. At the same time Brent used to come and watch our show where he got to hear a few of my original songs. Later that year he asked me to join the band so we could start playing original music only... Bruce moved to America to marry his fiancé and we started gigging extensively as a cover/original band under the name 'Funk Era'. Later that year renamed the band "Just Jinger" (meant to be similar to 'just dandy' or 'just fine'), got a deal with BMG Africa and recorded first album "All Comes Round"

1997: Denholm Harding joined the band. Toured the album extensively all over SA... 5-6 nights/week.

1998: Recorded and released 2nd album..."Something For Now".

1999: Recorded and released 3rd album..."Here's to You".

2000: Band relocated to London with new guitarist Danie Van Rensburg and piano player Anthony Galatis ...lived in a House in Hounslow ...ouch!!!

2001: Almost signed with Island Records ...wrote and recorded Home, Speak Your Mind and Care About Him. Best recordings of our careers at that stage...

2002: Took matters into my own hands and decided to move to Los Angeles, California to seek out a record deal for the band. Later that year arranged to play one song in Capitol Records President office ...flew the whole band out a week later for another showcase and offered us a development deal ...Alec Bridges joins band on guitar.

2003: Signed to Capitol, relocated to Springfield, Virginia for 6 months. Toured the East coast and played New York several times. In September drove across the country to LA. Took 8 days ...arrived at Highland Garden Hotel, Hollywood. Stayed there for 1 month while we looked for a more permanent place to stay, recorded She Knows at A&M Studios and started gigging around town.

2004: Let go by Capitol Records in January...reason still unknown. Alec decides to pursue his own music career - Simon Bailey replaces him on guitar. Head to SA in March to promote new album while touring with The Counting Crows. Bootleg Album in stores in SA (and on website) as of March. Played 2 record attendance gigs at Walkabout, Shepherds Bush, London. 2000 people...2 nights!! Back in LA playing 3 nights/week (see gig guide on site) ...making great contacts, writing and playing lots of new songs ...big plans for the future.

2005: ...watch this space for details!!!!!

Brent Harris

Brent Harris started playing drums at a very early age, dad Max Harris got him a kit at age five. Brent spent most of his time jamming to dad's jazz records and commercial tunes on the radio. The drum kit was a four piece Premier kit with an eighteen inch base drum.

During primary and high school Brent did various school plays and fashion shows. He went to Dunvegan primary school and Dawnview high school. In those days military service was compulsory, so Brent went to music core in Heidelberg. He hated it so much he got off... Where there's a will there's a way.

In 1988 Brent joined a cover band 'Walk This Way". He was working at a cd store at this time. The cover band recorded two cd's and played to 500 people three times a week. As Walk This Way the band supported Paul Simon, Dr Alban, Johnny Clegg and Mango Groove. Brent's parents were very supportive and believed in his talent. His mom (FAY) always put up with all the noise and generally never complained.... (Fay - best mom in the world)

Walk This Way recorded two cd's and played in JHB; DURBAN; CAPE TOWN; PE; EAST LONDON; KIMBERLEY; GRAHAMSTOWN; KNYSNA; MOSSELBAY; BLOEMFONTEIN; etc. on a regular basis. Little did he know he would end up playing these places 20 / 30 times. Walk This Way were a great live act but played dance music, not what Brent was in to... (He enjoyed bands like Toto, Al Jerreu, Rick Astley; Depeche Mode, Chick Corea... 18 yrs old and very wet behind the ears!) Walk This Way also supported PAUL SIMON at Ellis Park. There were 70 000 people there, heavy for an 18 yr old moon walker. At this concert Brent met one of his all time heroes... STEVE GADD a drumming legend, they spoke, watched each other play (if what Brent did was playing), a moment to remember forever. Steve Gadd is one of the most influential drummers of our time.

As the band played so often, calls started flowing in for sessions, even vocal sessions. Between 1990 and 1997 Brent played on over sixty albums including Lucky Dube, who has sold over 3 million albums, Soweto String Quartet (300 000 albums), Lebo M, the producer of the Lion King soundtrack, and on over twenty commercials at SABC.(To name a few).

Brent was recently chosen to play on the world summit track in Sandton (JHB)

At the South African music awards Brent was the only musician to get a long mention and thank you for his contribution on the hit album SSQ. When you look at the musicians that played on the record it was a huge compliment.

In 1994 Brent joined another band after two people killed themselves in Walk This Way. The new band played at Sun City, just two hours outside JHB. One week into the gig the band got asked to play with Joe Cocker at the superbowl...great! Sold out gig - how amazing for a band one week old. While playing at Sun City, Brent met Sting's drummer Vinnie (the legend). They jammed for 3 hours in the closed bar where Brent played at night. What a learning experience this was for Brent. He took pics and taped the whole jam. Most drummers around SA were green with envy. After Sun City the band moved back to JHB.

Brent asked bass player, Tuxx, to join. It was around this time Brent started composing songs and recorded a double album as TRI FUNK ERA. The band had a hit with Paradise in Summer Time.

Mid 1996 Brent jammed with a band CAT CHAMBERS, the vocalist was amazing, Brent promptly asked him (ART) to join his band. ART was very excited as he was a big fan. The band was now called FUNK ERA. Doing 5/6 gigs a week, released a demo and sold them all at two of the gigs. A few months later the band got signed to BMG records as JUST JINGER.

As JUST JINGER's popularity exploded, Brent was asked to play with Johnny Clegg but he had to turn it down due to unforeseen circumstances. This was a huge compliment as Johnny Cleg is a massive artist in South Africa and abroad, selling in the region of 4 million albums.

JUST JINGER released their first cd "All Comes Around". They supported Crash Test Dummies and Deff Leppard in front of 45 000 people. The cd went gold and then platinum - first rock band ever to do so. The second cd came out and went gold in 3 weeks, later going platinum. JJ also supported TOTO, HOOTIE AND THE BLOW FISH, U2 and SPICE GIRLS.....shuuush, SKUNK ANANSIE and last but not least, STEVIE WONDER.

After JJ's gig with TOTO Brent was asked to play with TOTO at their last gig for a live cd and on stage for their farewell, a huge huge privilege given how influential TOTO was to Brent. By the way the second cd was called Something For Now. Brent was very involved in the bands doings... he took peoples numbers, called them for all gigs, phoned radio stations every day, got people to request JJ songs every day, when stations didn't want to play JJ songs Brent went in and got people to phone in and vote, took pics all the time, did three album covers and inside pics as well as poster pictures.

JUST JINGER'S first hit was a song called STAND IN YOUR WAY which Brent had written previously, he wrote about 40% of the first cd and 50% of the second cd. Both Stand In Your Way and Paradise in the Summertime were written by Brent and were top ten singles. Although Brent's songs were never admired by the song writer, statistics speak for themselves and he was very very intimidated by Art because Art was the best songwriter in the country. It was such an honour cowriting with Art as well on 3 tracks (one was FATHER AND FATHER which made it to number 2 on the charts.) Wait till you hear Art's new songs...word class and getting better and better!

Third and forth cd had moderate success with 4 top ten singles. 2001 BMG released "Greatest Hits".

It was at this time that Brent decided to marry his fiancé FIONA ALISON CULLERTON after having been together for 6 years. It was the best day of his life. NOV 16 2002 was the day and his best friend Art was the best man. Amazing day, I know, I was there! People could not believe Brent would marry, or settle with one woman, but to everyone's shock Fiona HARRIS turned things around. People have never seen him happier!

2002 Art went to LA to try get the band released. In the meantime Brent, Den and this amazing guitarist, Gavin, formed a band (side project) called FLIES. Kick-ass band that played over 237 gigs in one year. Over 6/7 gigs a week. Very important DEN (DENHOLM) has been JUST JINGER'S bass player since nov 97.

During Brent's time with FLIES, he did two thirds of the singing. This was the time when the voice and chops were put to the test, six nights a week drumming and singing, doing solos 24/25 times a month - hectic. The band did really really well, got a very good following in JHB, PTA and CENTURION. I don't think Brent had ever played in a band that tight. Well oiled machine.

Art called with the good news that JJ had a deal with Capitol records. The band have moved to Washington USA... exciting times... JJ are the biggest selling rock band in South African music history. JJ have played in some amazing cities around the world... NEW YORK, TORONTO - CANADA, SYDNEY and MELBOURNE - AUSTRALIA, COLOGNE, HAMBURG and MUNICH - GERMANY, LOS ANGELES, VIRGINIA - USA and almost every city in SOUTH AFRICA.

Brent is sponsored by DRUM WORKSHOP, SABIAN CYMBALS, CROSS STICK PERCUSSION and ADIDAS. Brent's preferred drum sizes are 22 /18 bass drum, 10/8 tom, 14 / 12 tom and 16 / 14 floor toms. Brent uses 14 inch stainless steel AYOTEE snare drum with all drums with REMO coated heads. Base drum REMO pin stripe with REMO patch. You can catch Brent on the cover of the new Drum Workshop magazine across America and Europe 2003.

BRENT'S influences... STP, TOTO, DEL AMITRI, U2, BEATLES, COLDPLAY, RADIOHEAD.

BRENT'S fav drummers... Jeff Porcaro, Vinnie, Buddy Rich, Steve Gadd, Stewart Copeland, Manu Katche, Matt Chamberlain.

BRENT'S fav movies... As Good As It Gets, A Few Good Men, In the Name of the Father, Pretty Woman, Toy Story.

BRENT'S most embarrassing moment... losing his voice whilst singing in front of a packed venue, everyone laughed their heads off.

Brent's star sign is Libra and hobbies include squash, soccer, gym and photography (like to dab with Cisco systems.)

BRENT loves English premiership football and supports TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR football club and for all of you that think who? Spurs have won 8 FA cups, 3 league cups, 2 league championships, 2 UEFA cups and were the first team to win FA cup and League, and SPURS only team to win FA cup as a non League team (were not even fourth division) Spurs always had the best sportsmanship record... a few reasons why Brent has supported them since age 7. BRENT obviously hates ARSENAL - can't stand them, dirty team and how many English players does Arsenal have? This is supposed to be ENGLISH FOOTBALL???

BRENT loves to eat so he learnt to cook in London 2001 now he can eat six times a day and not just takeaways!

Some people that were important in Brent's life and career... Darren Palliello, Jax, Steve and Lindy, John Lewis, Reagan and Michelle Amazing people!

Bands to see - PAUL MCARTNEY. BUSH again. STP again. STEVIE WONDER again and MUSE again. Now you know...almost everything about Brent...almost.

ONE MORE THING...it's nice to be important but far more important to be nice! Love and respect your parents - it's VERY IMPORTANT! TO FAY, RICK AND DAD...RESPECT.

Denholm Harding

D.O.B - 5/6/78 (Gemini)

I have been a musician all my life...
My parents are both involved in music (my mom owns a music academy, teaching piano and keyboards, and my father runs the music department of Casio and is a drummer in his spare time)

I first appeared on an open-aged, nationwide television contest, in South Africa, when I was 5...and came second. I performed at carnivals, weddings, plays and clubs before I had learnt to read.

My first appearance on drums was at a street party in Cape Town, at the age of 9. I had a band that played 60's type rock and roll and it was there that I got noticed by "The K-TV Kids" band from Johannesburg. My parents sold everything and moved from Cape Town to Jo'burg to further develop my talents...what legends! The band was sponsored by M-Net and I toured up and down the whole of South Africa, playing drums and sax, from the age of 12 till I was 15. I was on the road more than I was at school, played venues that could fit thousands and some that were no bigger than a backyard...all part of paying my dues.

From the age of 15, guitar became my main instrument. I played in a corporate band ranging from weddings to backing various performers, jazz to rock to Latin to pop!

In 1996, I studied at a college called "The Grooveclass" where I got my drumming and percussion diploma.

The next year, I was asked to join a cover band on bass and started playing clubs 5-6 nights a week. This is where Art and Brent got to see me as a bassist, even though we had already been friends for years. Brent used to play at the same venues, with his group "Walk This Way", when I was in The Kids. Art went to the same drumming college, one year prior to me.

I was asked to join Just Jinger in November of 1997, while they were recording "Something for now".

I have since toured to Germany, UK, Canada, Australia and America with the group and I'm also personally endorsed by Ampeg amps and Spector Basses.

I have also recorded for Sugababes, Danny K, TK, Ed Jordan, Coleske, Kabelo, and various other projects.

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