Tame Impala Biography: Members, Net Worth, Albums, Songs, Formation, Tours, Awards

Tame Impala is a psychedelic music project led by Australian musician Kevin Parker. In the studio, Parker is responsible for all aspects of the music, including writing, recording, performing, and producing.

However, when performing live, Tame Impala expands to include other members, such as Dominic Simper, Jay Watson, Cam Avery, and Julien Barbagallo. This expansion allows for a fuller and more dynamic live sound, showcasing the collaborative nature of music.

Profile

• Members’ Real Name: Kevin Parker, Dominic Simper, Jay Watson, Cam Avery, Julien Barbagallo
• Stage Name: Tame Impala
• Active From: 2017
• Conception: Perth, Western Australia, Australia
• Active Until: Present
• Nationality: Australian
• Occupation: Musicians
• Net Worth: $10 Million

Early Life & Members

Tame Impala is a well-known psychedelic music project created by talented Australian singer and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker. With complete control over the recording process, Parker writes, records, performs, and produces all of the project’s music.

In live performances, Tame Impala consists of Parker along with band members Dominic Simper, Jay Watson, Cam Avery, and Julien Barbagallo, forming a cohesive group in 2017

Kevin Parker

• Date of Birth: 20 January 1986
• Age: 39 years old
• Place of Birth: Sydney, Australia
• Ethnicity: Australian
• Religion: Christian
• Parents: Jerry Parker, Rosalind Parker
• Siblings: 2, Timothy Shawn Parker, Dewayne Anthony Parker
• Education: Attended John XXIII

His early life was marked by a passion for music, which began with his father, a musician who played in cover bands, and was further fueled by his early experimentation with recording music on his father’s tape recorder. He also spent a lot of time listening to and studying music from a variety of genres, which helped shape his musical style and influences.

After moving to Western Australia with his family as a child, his parents’ separation had a significant impact on him, as he split his time between his mother’s and father’s homes in Perth.

Jay Watson

• Date of Birth: 27 May 1990
• Age: 35 years old
• Place of Birth: Carnarvon, Australia
• Ethnicity: Australian
• Religion: Christian
• Parents: Mr and Mrs Watson Siblings: unknown
• Education: Attended Northam Senior High School

He grew up in Northam, a town in Western Australia. Watson’s nickname, Gumby, which later inspired his solo project’s name, GUM, was given to him in his youth and was a reference to the clay animation character from a TV show.

Despite his fondness for his hometown, Watson eventually moved to the city to pursue his music career. However, he still holds onto his childhood memories and incorporates them into his music, creating a unique and personal touch to his work.

Cam Avery

• Date of Birth: 21 April 1988
• Age: 37 years old
• Place of Birth: Town of East Fremantle, Perth, Australia
• Ethnicity: Australian
• Religion: Christian
• Parents: Julie Avery, David Avery
• Siblings: 3, Jack Avery, Hope Avery, Paige Avery
• Education: Cam Avery attended Collier Primary School

He spent his early childhood moving around the Perth area, including a period in Broome until age 6 and then in Como. Despite this constant change, his musicality was evident early on, with his mother recalling him singing as a toddler.

He attended Collier Primary School, where he often felt like he didn’t fit in. However, this didn’t stop him from pursuing his passion and honing his musical skills.

Dominic Simper

• Date of Birth: January 2, 1986
• Age: 39 years old
• Place of Birth: Perth, Australia
• Ethnicity: Australian
• Religion: Christian
• Parents: Mr and Mrs Simper
• Siblings: unknown
• Education: unknown

He grew up in Perth, Australia, like several of his bandmates. This city, located on the west coast of Australia, is known for its beautiful beaches and laid-back lifestyle. It is also home to a thriving music scene, which likely influenced his passion for music.

Perth is also known for its diverse population, with a mix of indigenous Australians, British settlers, and immigrants from various countries. This diverse background may have shaped his perspectives and contributed to the unique sound of his band.

Julien Barbagallo

• Date of Birth: May 9, 1986
• Age: 39 years old
• Place of Birth: France
• Ethnicity: French
• Religion: Christian
• Parents: Mr and Mrs Barbagallo
• Siblings: unknown
• Education: unknown

He is a French citizen who currently resides in Australia.

Formation

Tame Impala is a musical project by Australian musician Kevin Parker, known for its psychedelic sound. In the studio, Parker takes on all roles, from writing and recording to performing and producing the music.

However, as a touring act, Tame Impala consists of a full band, including Parker on vocals and guitar, Dominic Simper on guitar and synthesiser, Jay Watson on synthesiser, vocals, and guitar, Cam Avery on bass guitar, vocals, and synthesiser, and Julien Barbagallo on drums and vocals. This formation came together in 2017.

Career

In 2007, Parker had originally conceived the Tame Impala project in Perth. After releasing a series of singles and EPs, their debut studio album, Innerspeaker, was released in 2010. It was certified gold in Australia and received positive reviews from critics.

Parker followed up with Lonerism in 2012, which also received critical acclaim and reached platinum status in Australia. The album was even nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. In 2015, Tame Impala released their third album, Currents, which won ARIA Awards for Best Rock Album and Album of the Year.

The lead track from the album, “Let It Happen”, also won Parker an APRA Award for Song of the Year in 2016. Most recently, the band’s fourth studio album, The Slow Rush, was released in February 2020. At the 2020 ARIA Music Awards, Tame Impala took home five awards.

The band’s name, Tame Impala, has been a topic of speculation for many years. Some believe it represents a balance between untamed creativity and refined artistry, while others have interpreted it as a reflection of the music’s psychedelic and dream-like themes.

Regardless, the band’s origins can be traced back to the Perth music scene, where musician Kevin Parker played in various bands before creating Tame Impala as a home-recording project. After generating interest on Myspace, Parker enlisted the help of Dominic Simper and Jay Watson to bring his recordings to a live setting.

Ultimately, the band signed with the independent record label Modular Recordings in 2008 and has since become a well-known and highly acclaimed band in the music industry.

In 2008, following their signing to Modular, Tame Impala released their self-titled EP in September. The EP quickly rose to the top of the Australian Independent Record Labels Chart, reaching number 1, and also made an appearance on the ARIA Physical Singles Chart, coming in at number 10.

The EP featured popular songs such as “Desire Be, Desire Go”, “Half Full Glass of Wine”, and “Skeleton Tiger”, which received significant airplay on the Triple J radio station. Tame Impala’s touring schedule for 2008 included performances at major festivals such as Southbound, Meredith Music Festival, and Falls Festival, as well as supporting big names like You Am I, The Black Keys, Yeasayer, and MGMT.

They also embarked on national headline tours to promote their EP. The following year, Tame Impala continued to tour with sold-out headline shows and a UK tour, including performances at festivals like V Festival and Nevereverland UK.

Tame Impala’s debut single, “Sundown Syndrome”, was recorded at Toerag Studios in London, UK, with recording engineer Liam Watson. However, the band was not actually in the UK in March 2009, as previously claimed. The song was not even premiered on Triple J until Sunday 10 May 2009, contradicting previous reports.

Despite this controversy, “Sundown Syndrome” was still well-received and released in July 2009 on vinyl and digitally with a cover of “Remember Me” by DJ Blue Boy. The band then went on to headline the inaugural “Rottofest” in August 2009, followed by a national tour through September and October to support the single.

“Remember Me” even made it onto Triple J’s Hottest 100 for 2009, at number 78.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @tameimpala
• Facebook handle: Tame Impala

Kevin Parker

• Height: 5’10” (178 cm)
• Marriages: Sophie Lawrence (m. 2019)
• Children: Peach Parker

Kevin Parker, the musician behind Tame Impala, has had a notable dating history, primarily known for his relationship with Melody Prochet and his marriage to Sophie Lawrence. He collaborated with Prochet on her dream pop project, Melody’s Echo Chamber, and later married Lawrence in 2019.

However, in recent years, Parker has been known for his preference for privacy and avoiding the public eye, especially when it comes to his personal life. Despite this, his marriage to Lawrence has been a source of inspiration for his music, specifically for the fourth Tame Impala album, The Slow Rush.

The couple has since relocated from Parker’s hometown of Perth, Australia to Los Angeles.

Jay Watson

• Height: 1.91 m
• Marriages: Not Married
• Children: Jack Watson

In December 2019, he and his girlfriend, Lucy, welcomed a son named Jack. However, in a recent interview, he mentioned that he has only had one girlfriend and has never experienced a breakup.

This could mean that he has been in a long-term, stable relationship with Lucy since the beginning and has never had to go through the pain of a breakup.

Cam Avery

• Height: 1.91 m
• Divorced: Alyssa Miller (m. 2018–2018)
• Children: None

Cam Avery has been in a relationship with Camille Rowe since 2015. However, this is not the only significant relationship he has had in the public eye. Avery was previously married to model Alyssa Miller in 2018, but the couple separated later that same year on November 29th.

While his relationship with Rowe may be his most recent, Avery’s dating history has been a topic of interest for fans and media alike.

Dominic Simper

• Height: 1.85 m
• Married: unknown
• Children: None

However, it is known that Dominic Simper is an Australian musician and songwriter, best known for being the bassist and guitarist of the psychedelic rock band Tame Impala. He has not publicly shared any information about his dating history, indicating that he values privacy when it comes to his personal life.

Julien Barbagallo

• Height: 1.91m
• Married: Brigid Barbagallo
• Children: 1, Paloma Rose Barbagallo

Julien Barbagallo is a happily married man, who has been married to his wife, Brigid Barbagallo, for ten years. Together, they have a beautiful daughter named Paloma Rose Barbagallo, who is the light of their lives.

They enjoy spending time together as a family, going on adventures, and making memories that they will cherish forever.

Net Worth

Tame Impala is a successful and lucrative music project, with an estimated net worth of $30 million. This impressive wealth has been accumulated through a combination of album sales, touring, and licensing deals.

The band consists of five members, each with their net worth: Kevin Parker, the lead singer and multi-instrumentalist, has a net worth of $5 million; Dominic Simper, guitarist and synthesiser player, has a net worth of $3 million; Jay Watson, on synthesiser, vocals, and guitar, has a net worth of $2 million; Cam Avery, on bass guitar, vocals, and synthesiser, has a net worth of $3 million; and Julien Barbagallo, on drums and vocals, has a net worth of $2 million.

Together, they have achieved great success in the music industry and continue to be a highly respected and influential band.

Discography

Studio Albums:

• Innerspeaker (2010)
• Lonerism (2012)
• Currents (2015)
• The Slow Rush (2020)

Live Albums:

• Live Versions (2014)

Extended Plays (EPs):

• Tame Impala (2008)

Tame Impala has also released numerous singles and has appeared on several collaborations and compilation albums.