Wolfmother are an Australian hard rock band from Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 2004, the group originally included vocalist and guitarist Andrew Stockdale, bassist and keyboardist Chris Ross, and drummer Myles Heskett. The band has since gone through many lineup changes, centred around Stockdale as the sole constant member, with the current incarnation including bassist James Wassenaar and Christian Condon (both since 2023), and touring keyboardist Julia "Juulz" Driessen (intermittently since 2019).
History 2004–2013 Andrew Stockdale, Chris Ross and Myles Heskett formed Wolfmother in 2004, after several years of jamming together. The group released their critically and commercially successful self-titled debut album in Australia in 2005, with an international release following the next year. Work soon began on a follow-up, however in August 2008 both Ross and Heskett left Wolfmother due to "irreconcilable personal and musical differences". Stockdale recorded "Back Round" with Resin Dogs drummer Dave Atkins later in the year, before unveiling the full new lineup early the next year, which also included Ian Peres on bass and keyboards, and Aidan Nemeth on rhythm guitar.
The second lineup's only album Cosmic Egg was released in 2009. After touring in promotion of the release, Atkins left Wolfmother in March 2010. The following month, he was replaced by Will Rockwell-Scott, formerly of the Mooney Suzuki. The group began working on the follow-up to Cosmic Egg in early 2011, however in February the next year it was announced that both Nemeth and Rockwell-Scott had recently quit the band. They were replaced by Vin Steele and former Vines drummer Hamish Rosser, respectively, while multi-instrumentalist Elliott Hammond was also added. Keep Moving was completed and released in 2013, credited as a Stockdale solo release.
Since 2013 Stockdale revived the Wolfmother moniker just a few months after retiring it, before Rosser left the band in June 2013. Hammond briefly took over on drums, before also leaving the next month. A third drummer in as many months, Tony McCall, lasted only a few weeks in the group. The band subsequently reverted to a trio with Steele switching over to drums, and in 2014 they released their third album New Crown. Steele had left by early 2015, with the Voidz and former Nine Inch Nails drummer Alex Carapetis taking his place for tour dates in April and May. For shows later in the year, Atkins took over on drums. For their fourth album Victorious, Stockdale and Peres were joined by session drummers Josh Freese and Joey Waronker. Carapetis returned for the subsequent Gypsy Caravan Tour.
By June 2017, Hamish Rosser had returned to the band. Long-term member Peres left Wolfmother in early 2018, committing to tour dates with Xavier Rudd instead. For their appearance at Mojo Burning Festival in April, the band played with Dave Atkins on rhythm guitar, Hobo Magic bassist Jake Bennett and an extra keyboardist. Starting in May, the band toured with bassist Brad Heald and keyboardist Lachy Doley, the latter of whom was replaced later in the year by Katie McGurl. In the summer of 2019, Juulz Driessen joined the band as a touring keyboard player. She contributed to several live shows in 2019 and again in 2022. From late 2019, the band's touring lineup comprised Stockdale, bassist and keyboardist Bobby Poulton, and drummer Brett "Wolfie" Wolfenden. In early 2021, Rosser returned again while bassist Alex McConnell joined the band. McConnell was replaced by a returning Poulton in November 2021.
In 2023, the rhythm section was replaced by James Wassenaar (bass) and Christian Condon (drums). From 2026 onward, Juulz Driessen became the band’s touring keyboard player again. James Wassenaar joined on bass guitar in 2022.
Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsAndrew Stockdale2004–presentall Wolfmother and Andrew Stockdale solo releasesBrett "Wolfie" WolfendendrumsJuulz Driessen2026–present keyboardsJames Wassenaar2023–presentbassnone to date
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsChris Ross2004–2008all Wolfmother releases from Wolfmother (2004) to Please Experience Wolfmother Live (2007)Myles HeskettdrumsDave Atkins2008–2010Ian Peres2009–2018all Wolfmother and Andrew Stockdale releases from Cosmic Egg (2009) to "Happy Wolfmother's Day" (2018)Aidan Nemeth2009–2012rhythm guitarWill Rockwell-Scott2010–2011drums"Cheap Sunglasses" (2011) ''Keep Moving'' (2013)Vin Steele2012–2015Hamish RosserdrumsElliott Hammond2012–2013Keep Moving (2013)Bobby PoultonnoneChristian Condon 2023–2026drumsAlexx McConnell2021bassRock Out (2021)
Touring ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsDetailsTony McCall2013drumsMcCall replaced Elliott Hammond on drums in July 2013, but within a few weeks had left the band again.Alex CarapetisCarapetis replaced Vin Steele on drums for Groovin' the Moo in 2015 and returned later for the Gypsy Caravan Tour.Jake Bennett2018bassBennett performed bass at the Mojo Burning Festival in April 2018, alongside Dave Atkins on rhythm guitar.Brad Heald2018–2019Heald replaced Ian Peres in early 2018 and remained a constant member of the band for over a year.Lachy DoleykeyboardsDoley joined Wolfmother's touring lineup alongside Brad Heald in May 2018, performing on their European tour.Katie McGurl2018McGurl took over from Doley in September 2018 for the band's North American tour, which ended in November.Leo Munoz2019Munoz took over from Doley in May 2019, and later Driessen took over starting with shows in July.Juulz Driessen2019, 2026-presentJesper Albers2023Members of Paceshifters joined Andrew for the Wolfmother 2023 European Tour.Paul DokmanSeb Dokman
Timeline
Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesEarly 2004 – August 2008Andrew Stockdale – vocals, guitar Chris Ross – bass, keyboards Myles Heskett – drumsWolfmother (2005) "Pleased to Meet You" (2007) Please Experience Wolfmother Live (2007)November 2008 – January 2009Andrew Stockdale – vocals, guitar, bass Dave Atkins – drums"Back Round" (2009)January 2009 – March 2010Andrew Stockdale – lead vocals, lead guitar Dave Atkins – drums Ian Peres – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Aidan Nemeth – rhythm guitarCosmic Egg (2009) "Fell Down a Hole" (2010) iTunes Live from Sydney (2010)April 2010 – November 2011Andrew Stockdale – lead vocals, lead guitar Ian Peres – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Aidan Nemeth – rhythm guitar Will Rockwell-Scott – drums"Cheap Sunglasses" (2010) Keep Moving (2013)December 2011Andrew Stockdale – lead vocals, lead guitar Ian Peres – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Aidan Nemeth – rhythm guitar Dave Atkins – drums noneFebruary 2012 – June 2013Andrew Stockdale – lead vocals, lead guitar Ian Peres – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Vin Steele – rhythm guitar Elliott Hammond – keyboards, harmonica Hamish Rosser – drumsKeep Moving (2013)June – July 2013Andrew Stockdale – lead vocals, lead guitar Ian Peres – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Vin Steele – rhythm guitar Elliott Hammond – drums, percussionJuly – August 2013Andrew Stockdale – lead vocals, lead guitar Ian Peres – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Vin Steele – rhythm guitar Tony McCall – drums noneAugust 2013 – April 2015Andrew Stockdale – lead vocals, guitar Ian Peres – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Vin Steele – drums"Highway" (2013) New Crown (2014)April 2015Andrew Stockdale – lead vocals, guitar Ian Peres – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Vin Steele – rhythm guitar Alex Carapetis – drums noneApril – May 2015Andrew Stockdale – lead vocals, guitar Ian Peres – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Alex Carapetis – drums September – December 2015Andrew Stockdale – lead vocals, guitar Ian Peres – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Dave Atkins – drums February 2016 – May 2017Andrew Stockdale – lead vocals, guitar Ian Peres – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Alex Carapetis – drums June 2017 – early 2018Andrew Stockdale – lead vocals, guitar Ian Peres – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Hamish Rosser – drums "Freedom Is Mine" (2017) "Happy Wolfmother's Day" (2018)April 2018Andrew Stockdale – vocals, lead guitar Hamish Rosser – drums Dave Atkins – rhythm guitar Jake Bennett – bass Unknown musician – keyboards noneMay – July 2018Andrew Stockdale – vocals, guitar Hamish Rosser – drums Brad Heald – bass Lachy Doley – keyboards September – November 2018Andrew Stockdale – vocals, guitar Hamish Rosser – drums Brad Heald – bass Katie McGurl – keyboards December 2018 – April 2019Andrew Stockdale – vocals, guitar Brad Heald – bass Hamish Rosser – drums May – June 2019Andrew Stockdale – vocals, guitar Hamish Rosser – drums Brad Heald – bass Leo Munoz – keyboards July 2019 – October 2019Andrew Stockdale – vocals, guitar Hamish Rosser – drums Brad Heald – bass Juulz Driessen – keyboards October 2019 – early 2021Andrew Stockdale – vocals, guitar Bobby Poulton – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Brett Wolfie – drums "Higher" (2019) "Chase the Feeling" (2019) Rock'n'Roll Baby (2019) "High on My Own Supply" (2020)Early 2021 – late 2021Andrew Stockdale – vocals, guitar, bass Alexx McConnell – bass Hamish Rosser – drumsRock Out (2021)Late 2021 – late 2023Andrew Stockdale – vocals, guitar Hamish Rosser – drums Bobby Poulton – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Juulz Driessen - keyboardsnoneJanuary 2023 (with Paceshifter)Andrew Stockdale – vocals, guitar Seb Dokman – guitar, backing vocals Paul Dokman – bass, backing vocals Jesper Albers – drums, backing vocalsEarly 2024 – presentAndrew Stockdale – vocals, guitar James Wassenaar – bass Christian Condon – drums Juulz Driessen - keyboardsnone to date
References
External links Wolfmother official website