Challenger 7

Following the breakup of Sydney indie outfit Front End Loader, bassist Richard Corey and drummer Peter Kostic joined forces in 1994 with guitarist Greg Hitchcock, formerly of You Am I, and Ian Underwood, onetime front man of Kryptonics. Forming the power-pop group Challenger 7, they cut a six-song EP before the lineup had even performed live. After just three shows the original members except Underwood had all exited, leaving him as the sole survivor. Drummer Marty Doo and bassist Dan Bell came aboard in time for the 1995 release of the EP Morris, which drew critical comparisons to Hüsker Dü and The Replacements. The 1997 addition of guitarist Stewie Cunningham, previously with Asteroid B612, led to the same-year appearance of Challenger 7’s next EP, The Great Slump Forward.