John Needham played guitar in Sydney band 'The Minutemen', and decided early on the only way to put out a record was to 'do-it-yourself'. John formed legendary label, Citadel Records, that quickly became one of the leading Indie labels around. After seeing Died Pretty live, John was so impressed he funded the band's first single, 'Out Of The Unknown'. 'Mirror Blues' and the classic, 'Next To Nothing EP', soon followed.

In 1986, after three ‘Single of the Week’ features in UK's Melody Maker , Died Pretty released their debut album 'Free Dirt'. Not content to stand still, the band set out to prove that they were great at more than just eight minute musical storms. 'Free Dirt' moved Melody Maker to write, 'with disturbing ease we slipped into this whirlpool of sound, becoming lost in these musical rapids, compliant, consenting, never once resurfacing... this album is superb'. Much touring in Europe and the US followed, where the band attracted growing critical acclaim for their live shows.

'Lost' was released in 1988 on Citadel's Blue Mosque. It showed a further evolution in the band's approach, with a pop punch balancing their epic tendencies. These two extremes are no longer separate - they are often one and the same. Tracks such as 'Winterland' showcased their ability to be eerily hummable whilst still bringing your blood to the boil. Again the critics hail the album as a triumph. The attention being given to the band prompted their signing to UK label, Beggars Banquet, for all world territories excluding Australia. The album reached #3 on the Italian pop charts, further solidifying their European fan base.

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