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Axle Whitehead
Self-shot image of Axle Whitehead at home in 2015.
Self-shot image of Axle Whitehead at home in 2015.
Background information
Birth nameAxle Whitehead
Born (1980-12-16) 16 December 1980 (age 43)
Warrnambool, Australia
GenresAlternative rock
Occupation(s)Actor, singer, musician
Years active2003–present
LabelsSony Music Entertainment Australia

Axle Whitehead (born 16 December 1980) is an Australian TV host, singer, musician, and actor. He was a host on Video Hits. In 2008, he released his first studio album Losing Sleep which debuted outside the ARIA top 50.[1] He also played Liam Murphy in Channel Seven's Home and Away and was the host of The World's Strictest Parents. In 2015, Whitehead began playing the role of Davis, a musician, in the Showtime series, Shameless.[2] He formerly hosted the game show The Wall.

Career

Music

In 1999 Whitehead was accepted into the Victorian College of the Arts to study Jazz Improvisation, then toured Australia and China with various bands. He was originally a contestant on the first series of Australian Idol in 2003. He failed to win the competition but made it into the top twenty. After being spotted on Idol, he was hired to host the television music show, Video Hits on Network Ten, hosting from 2004 to 1 November 2006. He traveled the world interviewing artists such as Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Oasis and Duran Duran. In October 2006, Whitehead was sacked as TV presenter of Video Hits after exposing himself on stage during the ARIA Music Awards.[3]

Whitehead's debut single "I Don't Do Surprises" was released on radio during January 2008,[4] debuting at No. 8 on the ARIA Charts in Australia on 17 March 2008.[5] It also received airplay on Nova radio and surfaced on TV advertisements for popular Channel 10 shows House and Women's Murder Club, and Channel 7's Home and Away, being described as a cross between Coldplay and Robbie Williams.[6] His debut album, Losing Sleep was mixed by UK mixer, David Treahearn and released through Roadshow Music on 22 August 2008. Whitehead made his return to Video Hits on 24 February 2008, and to Australian Idol on 5 September 2008, though only as a guest to promote his debut album. The third single off Losing Sleep, Satellite has received significant play on Channel V and Video Hits.

Acting

Whitehead's first acting roles were minor parts in the television series The Secret Life of Us, and the 2003 film, Ned Kelly.[7] After taking acting lessons for eighteen months, Whitehead auditioned for a role in Home and Away, which he described as "such a great place to learn and hone your skills". He joined the cast for fifteen episodes as rocker Liam Murphy,[8] and later signed to be a regular cast member. Whitehead based his portrayal of the rocker on experiences of close friends, and said "you have to find a balance between putting yourself into it and not being too cheeky."[9]

Whitehead hosted Seven Network's The World's Strictest Parents.[10] In 2010, Whitehead was short-listed to host The X Factor Australia, but lost out to fellow Home and Away colleague Luke Jacobz.[11]

Whitehead departed Home and Away in late 2012 to expand his acting career. He filmed his final scenes along with colleague Luke Mitchell (Romeo Smith).[12] Whitehead moved to Los Angeles. After 18 months as an out of work actor, he landed a role in season 5 of the series Shameless.[13][14] He played an Australian rock singer named Davis, a love interest of Fiona Gallagher (Emmy Rossum). He appeared in the first 4 episodes of season 5 and a brief appearance in episode 8.[15]

In 2014, Whitehead was the runner-up for the Heath Ledger scholarship.[16] In 2016, he played J. T. James / Hellfire, a recurring role in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.[13] This role reunited him with Home and Away star Luke Mitchell.

In 2017, Whitehead began hosting Australian game show The Wall, which is based on the U.S. show of the same name.[13] From 24 January 2020, Whitehead played the guest role of Zenin Alexio in Neighbours.[17]

In 2021, Whitehead appeared on season three of The Masked Singer Australia making it to the Grand Finale and finishing in third place as "Mullet".

Cleo Bachelor of the Year

On 22 April 2009, Whitehead was announced Cleo Bachelor of the Year, beating competition from sportsmen, actors and other personalities.[18] Sarah Oakes, Cleo Editor-in-chief denied the claims that Whitehead won as a direct result of a self-marketing ploy; "[He] is that perfect combination of good looks, charm, charisma and the kind of guy you'd be really happy to take home and introduce to your mum."[19]

Discography

Axle Whitehead discography
Studio albums1
EPs1
Singles3
Music videos3
Guest appearances2

Whitehead competed in the third round on the first season of Australian Idol in 2003. His debut extended play, The Axle Whitehead Band, was released as a collaboration in 2003 with jazz fusion band, the Axle Whitehead Band (feat. Steve Sedergreen, piano & keys). The release failed to rank on national charts. Whitehead released his debut studio album, Losing Sleep, in 2008 on Roadshow Music. The album peaked at number 68 on the Australian Top 100 Albums Chart.[20] The lead single "I Don't Do Surprises" debuted at number eight on the Australian Top 100 Singles Chart and received gold certification by the Australian Recording Industry Association.[21][22] The album's subsequent singles "Anywhere" and "Satellite" did not make the top 50.[21]

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
[20]
Losing Sleep
  • Released: 25 August 2008
  • Format: CD, digital download
  • Label: Roadshow Music (#3014382)
 68

Extended plays

List of EPs, with selected details
Title EP details
The Axle Whitehead Band
  • Released: 2003
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Independent

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
AUS
[21][23]
"I Don't Do Surprises" 2008 8 Losing Sleep
"Anywhere" 77
"Satellite" —
"Sister Sunshine" 2011 — Non-album single
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Music videos

Year Song Director
2008 "I Don't Do Surprises" Grant Marshall
"Anywhere" Bart Borghesi
"Satellite"
2011 "Sister Sunshine"

Guest appearances

Year Song Other performer Album
2004 "Scatbox"[24] Joel Turner Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets
2005 "Silent Night"[25] The Axle Whitehead Band (feat. Steve Sedergreen, piano & keys). The Spirit of Christmas 2005

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2010 We of the Walls Mr. Lester Short film
2010 Storm in a teacup Edward Short film
2016 Run Aussie bartender Short film, post production
2016 Brock Colin Bond Television film, filming
2017 Craftique Bucky Pre-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2004 The Secret Life of Us Guy at bar 1 episode
2009–2013 Home and Away Liam Murphy 682 episodes
2009–2012 The World's Strictest Parents Himself Narrator
2015 Shameless Davis 5 episodes
2015 The Doctor Blake Mysteries Len Webster 1 episode
2016 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. J. T. James / Hellfire 6 episodes
2017 The Wall Himself, presenter 6 episodes
2020 Neighbours Zenin Alexio Recurring role

References

  1. ^ "Bunny Axle Resurfaces". Herald Sun. 8 March 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2007.
  2. ^ "Shameless: Don't Miss the Final Season Only On Showtime | Stream Now, Catch Up on Past Seasons, Learn More about Cast & Characters - Official Series Site | SHOWTIME". sho.com/sho/shameless/home
  3. ^ "ARIA flasher Axle sacked". Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Axle Whitehead Returns To Music". Sony BMG. 12 November 2007. Archived from the original on 7 May 2008. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
  5. ^ "ARIA Charts 18th March 2008". Australian Recording Industry Association. 16 March 2008. Archived from the original on 15 March 2008. Retrieved 16 March 2008.
  6. ^ "Music Reopens Door for Axle Whitehead". The Daily Telegraph. 12 January 2008. Archived from the original on 13 January 2008. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
  7. ^ "Reference at www.dailytelegraph.com.au".
  8. ^ "Reference at www.heraldsun.com.au".
  9. ^ "Axle Whitehead's career still spinning despite private exposure". The Daily Telegraph. 17 April 2009.
  10. ^ "Weight-loss dance contest, unruly teens in new TV line-up". The Age. Melbourne. 10 July 2009.
  11. ^ "Aussie stars compete for 'X Factor' job – X Factor Australia News – Television – Digital Spy".
  12. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (4 November 2012). "'Home and Away' stars Axle Whitehead, Luke Mitchell leave show". Digital Spy. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  13. ^ a b c Rutherford, Karlie (16 September 2017). "Former Home and Away actor Axle Whitehead reveals Hollywood isn't all it seems as he 'ran out of money'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  14. ^ "Axle Whitehead joins the cast of the US remake of British series, Shameless". January 2015. theage.com.au
  15. ^ "Shameless: Don't Miss the Final Season Only On Showtime | Stream Now, Catch Up on Past Seasons, Learn More about Cast & Characters - Official Series Site | SHOWTIME".
  16. ^ "Reference at australiansinfilm.org". Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015. australiansinfilm.org/latest_news/3049935
  17. ^ Lee, Jess (14 January 2020). "Neighbours casts former Home and Away star Axle Whitehead in mysterious guest role". Digital Spy. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  18. ^ AAP (23 April 2009). "Axle Whitehead is Cleo bachelor of the year". The Age. Melbourne. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  19. ^ AAP (22 April 2009). "Axle Whitehead named Cleo Bachelor of The Year". The Australian. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
  20. ^ a b "ARIA Report" (PDF) (968 ed.). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) (published 22 September 2008). 15 September 2008: 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2008. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  21. ^ a b c "Axle Whitehead discography". Australian charts portal. australian-charts.com. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  22. ^ a b "2008 ARIA singles certification". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
  23. ^ "ARIA Report" (PDF) (966 ed.). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) (published 8 September 2008). 1 September 2008: 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2008. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  24. ^ Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets (Liner). Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets. Dream Dealers. 2004.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ^ The Spirit of Christmas 2005 (Liner). various artists. Sony BMG. 2005.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axle_Whitehead