History
Asteroid B-612 began playing its brand of hard-edged Detroit-inspired `sonic rock action' around Sydney during 1992. Without falling prey to the pitfalls of such an established form, the band overlayed its bedrock of raunchy 12 bar blues with textbook riffs and searing, dual lead guitar workouts. Asteroid B-612 played it lean and mean without sounding tired or regressive in the process. Reference points included MC5, Radio Birdman and Sonic's Rendezvous Band.

The above line-up recorded the band's 1993 self-titled debut album. Asteroid B-612 shared a single, `I've Had You', with fellow Sydney outfit Brother Brick. In late 1994, Stewart `Leadfinger' Cunningham replaced Gibbons and Ben Fox replaced Pierce. Canadian label Lance Rock issued the single `I've Had You'/`Gimme Some Truth' in 1995. Asteroid issued the album Forced into a Corner before signing to Melbourne label Au-go-go for the CD EP Teen Sublimation Riffs (1995). Cunningham left Asteroid B-612 while the band was on tour across the USA with Gashuffer in late 1996. He nevertheless appeared on the band's third and best album, Not Meant for This World, which came out during October. Ken `Killer' Watts (ex-Valvolux) replaced Cunningham and the band recommenced touring in early 1997. A new single, `September Crush', appeared in November.

By late 1997, the Asteroid B-612 line-up comprised Scott Nash, Ben Fox, John Spittles and his brother Graham (vocals). With Bruce Tatham (ex-Decline of the Reptiles) guesting on organ, that line-up contributed a cover of Died Pretty’s ‘Mirror Blues’ (which segues into Pere Ubu’s ‘Final Solution’) to the Various Artists mini-album, Storming the Citadel Vol. 2, issued by French label Divine Rites in 1998. The band’s next CD EP, Different Licks for Different Chicks (February 1999), featured previously recorded material like ‘So Long Goodbye’ and ‘Mirror Blues’. The CD EP came out on the Sydney-based independent label Ramblin’ Records. Asteroid B-612 recorded a new album in 1999 (provisionally titled Readin’ Between the Lines), for release during 2000.

After leaving Asteroid-B612 in 1996, Stewart Cunningham linked up with Ian Underwood (ex-Kryptonics) in Challenger 7. In the meantime, Cunningham has continued to work with his own band, Brother Brick. The 1998 line-up comprised Cunningham, Jay Curley (bass; on loan from Tumbleweed) and Craig Jackson (drums) who was replaced by Nick Rieth (also on loan from Tumbleweed). As well as issuing three 7-inch singles, the band’s debut, full-length album, A Portable Altamont, came out in late 1999 on French label, Hellfire Club.