Prime Circle
[[South Africa|South African]] rock band
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Prime Circle are a South African rock band, based in Johannesburg. The band has released 8 studio albums[1] and achieved either gold or platinum status in South Africa. The band has expanded its audience to England and Europe where they are represented by a German agent and have signed an international recording deal,[2] performing at festivals and their own shows in Germany.[1]
Prime Circle | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | David Gresham Records, EMI, Universal Music, Electro Mode, Virgin Records |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
| Website | www |
Early years
Prime Circle was formed in the mining town of Witbank, Mpumalanga in December 2000.[3] The band signed with independent local label, David Gresham Records in 2002, whose first two albums are considered to have defined the band's signature sound and style.[3] In 2008, Prime Circle signed to EMI Music South Africa.[4] From 2014 Prime Circle release Let The Night in, If you Don't you Never Will and Live World through with Electro Mode.
Career landmarks
2016
- The single, 'Ghosts', reached the Top 150 of Germany's weekly airplay charts.[5]
- Performed at Rock im Revier[6] and Rockavaria[7] in Germany.
- Performed alongside Iron Maiden and Iggy Pop at Rock in Vienna[8] in Austria as part of their 30-day tour to promote their first official European release, Let the Night In (Deluxe Edition).[9]
- Headlined at Kieler Woche, Hamburg Harley Days,[10] (the biggest annual Harley Davidson gathering in Germany) and the UEFA Champions League Festival in Milan.[11]
- Booked from July to September, to open as special guests for The BossHoss at a series of German festivals.[12]
- Invited to headline the Rock Auf Der Burg Königstein[13] and the Pflasterfest[14] in Hameln, Germany.
Awards and nominations
Prime Circle have won several South African Music Awards for their albums and music videos, including Best Music Video of the Year at the SAMA XXI category as well as nominated for the MTV Africa Music Awards for Best Pop & Alternative Act and Best Music Video of the Year for their single DOORS off their album Let The Night In. The band was also nominated for Best Artist in African Rock at the All Africa Music Awards.
In 2023 Afri-Indie awarded Prime Circle the Highest Honour: Rock Royalty Award
Concert tours
2007: Dubai Desert Rock Festival, Dubai.
Headliners for Dubai Desert Rock Festival included the likes of Iron Maiden, Stone Sour, In Flames, Incubus, Prodigy, The Bravery and more.
2010: Rock 'n India, India.
2011: Reload Festival , Germany.
Headliners ranged from Dropkick Murphys, Slash feat. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators, Guano Apes, Puddle of Mudd and more.
2012: Homelandz Festival , UK.
2014: Graspop Metal Meeting, Belgium.
Played on the main stage alongside headliners Black Sabbath, Carcass and Napalm Death.
2016: Stage was shared with the likes of Rammstein, Slayer, Anthrax, Babymetal, Iggy Pop, Biffy Clyro, Monster Truck, Nightwish, Shinedown, and Iron Maiden.
- 2016 UEFA Champions League Final, Milan.
- Live from the official football festival of the UEFA Champions League.[dead link]
- Rock im Revier Festival , Dortmund.
- Rockavaria Festival , Munich.
- Rock in Vienna , Austria.
2017: O2 Academy Islington, London.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Organisation | Award | Nominated | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Johannesburg Choice Award | Johannesburg Choice Award | Prime Circle | Won |
| FHM | FHM Awards | Prime Circle | Won | |
| 2009 | SAMA Awards | Record of the Year | "She always gets what she wants" | Nominated |
| Best Rock Album – English | All or Nothing | Nominated | ||
| 2010 | SAMA Awards | Record of the Year | "Consider Me" | Nominated |
| Best Global Chart Live DVD | All or Nothing LIVE DVD | Nominated | ||
| 2011 | SAMA Awards | Record of the Year | "Breathing" | Nominated |
| Album of the Year | Jekyll & Hyde | Won | ||
| Best Duo or Group | Prime Circle | Nominated | ||
| Best Rock Album | Jekyll & Hyde | Nominated | ||
| Best Producer | Theo Crous: Jekyll & Hyde | Nominated | ||
| Best Album Packaging | Jekyll & Hyde | Nominated | ||
| MK | International Break Through Act | Prime Circle | Won | |
| 2012 | SAMA Awards | Record of the Year | "Turning in my sleep" | Nominated |
| 2013 | SAMA Awards | Best Rock Album | Evidence | Nominated |
| Best Video | "Evidence" | Nominated | ||
| Best Producer | Theo Crous: Evidence | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | Short&Sweet Music Video Awards[15] | Best Rock Video | "Doors" | Won |
| SAMA Awards[16] | Best Rock Album | Let The Night In | Nominated | |
| Best Producer of the Year | Denholm Harding: Let The Night In | Nominated | ||
| Best Engineer | Brendyn Rossouw: Let The Night In | Nominated | ||
| Music Video of the Year | "Let The Night In" | Won | ||
| MTN Africa Music Awards | Video of the Year | "Doors" | Won | |
| Best Pop & Alternative | Prime Circle | Nominated[17] | ||
| All African Music Awards[18] | Best African Rock | Prime Circle | Nominated | |
| 2018 | SAMA Awards | Best Rock Album | "If you don't you never will" | Nominated |
| Duo/Group of the year | Prime Circle | Nominated | ||
| 2025 | Afri indi Awards | Best Rock Album | "The World We Know" | Won |
| Duo/Group of the year | Prime Circle | Won | ||
| 2025 | SAMA Awards | Best Rock Album | "The World We Know" | Nominated |
| Duo/Group of the year | Prime Circle |
Band members
- Current members
- Dale Schnettler – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2008-present)
- Marco Gomes – bass, backing vocals (2000-present)
- Dirk Bisschoff – guitars (2000-present)
- Neil Breytenbach – keyboards (2007-present)
- Gavin Edwards – lead vocals, guitars (2024-present)
- Former members
- Gerhard Venter – drums, backing vocals, percussion (2000-2008)
- Ross Learmonth – lead vocals, guitars (2000-2023)
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
- Hello Crazy World (2002)
- Live This Life (2005)
- All or Nothing (2008)
- Jekyll & Hyde (2010)
- Evidence (2012)
- Let the Night In (2014)
- Let the Night In (Deluxe Edition) (2016)
- If You Don't You Never Will (2017)
- The World We Know (2024)
Compilations, special releases, Live Albums and DVD releases
- Hello Crazy World (Special Edition) (2003)
- Hello Crazy World (Double Disk Edition) (2004)
- Living in a Crazy World (Live DVD) (26 June 2006)
- Living in a Crazy World (CD/DVD) (2007)
- The Best of Prime Circle (5 October 2007)
- All or Nothing (Live DVD) (20 March 2009)
- All or Nothing (International Release) (19 June 2009)
- The Ultimate Prime Circle (1 September 2010)
- Live World (29 November 2019)