Prime Circle are a South African rock band, based in Johannesburg. The band has released 7 studio albums and achieved either gold or platinum status in South Africa. The band has expanded its audience to England and Europe where they are represented by a German agent and have signed an international recording deal, performing at festivals and their own shows in Germany.
Early years
Prime Circle was formed in the mining town of Witbank, Mpumalanga in December 2001. The band signed with independent local label, David Gresham Records in 2002, whose first two albums are considered to have defined the band's signature sound and style. Since 2008, Prime Circle has been signed to EMI Music South Africa.
Band members
Current band members
Ross Learmonth – vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, songwriter
Marco Gomes – bass, songwriter
Dale Schnettler – drums, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion, songwriter
Dirk Bisschoff – lead guitar, acoustic guitar, songwriter
Neil Breytenbach – keyboards, songwriter
Past band members
Gerhard Venter
Career landmarks
2016
The single, 'Ghosts', reached the Top 150 of Germany's weekly airplay charts. Performed at Rock im Revier and Rockavaria in Germany. Performed alongside Iron Maiden and Iggy Pop at Rock in Vienna in Austria as part of their 30-day tour to promote their first official European release, Let the Night In (Deluxe Edition). Headlined at Kieler Woche, Hamburg Harley Days, (the biggest annual Harley Davidson gathering in Germany) and the UEFA Champions League Festival in Milan. Booked from July to September, to open as special guests for The BossHoss at a series of German festivals. Invited to headline the Rock Auf Der Burg Königstein and the Pflasterfest in Hameln, Germany.
Awards and nominations
Prime Circle have won several South African Music Awards for their albums and music videos, including Best Music Video of the Year at the SAMA XXI category as well as nominated for the MTV Africa Music Awards for Best Pop & Alternative Act and Best Music Video of the Year for their single DOORS off their album Let The Night In. The band was also nominated for Best Artist in African Rock at the All Africa Music Awards.
Acts performed with
Queen
Annie Lennox
Katie Melua
Will Smith
Seether
Metallica
Collective Soul
Rasmus
Linkin Park
Iron Maiden
Incubus
In Flames
Robert Plant
The Prodigy
Peter Gabriel
GooGoo Dolls
Live: November 2003: Opening act for the Birds of Pray tour to South Africa. Korn Limp Bizkit W.A.S.P. Skillet Black Sabbath Soundgarden Avenged Sevenfold Volbeat Sabaton Muse Hugh Masakela Chris Cornell Good Charlotte Thirty Seconds To Mars Kaiser Chiefs Simple Plan 3 Doors Down Dropkick Murphys Slash Guano Apes Soulfly August Burns Red Puddle Of Mudd Richard Marx Megadeth Rob Zombie Alice in Chains Anthrax Slayer Bring Me the Horizon Steel Panther Black Label Society Sepultura Mastodon Trivium K's Choice Billy Talent Feeder Ugly Kid Joe Stone Sour Beth Hart Johnny Clegg The Bravery Jamiroquai Alter Bridge Garbage The BossHoss Iggy Pop Rammstein The Subways Royal Republic Nightwish In Extremo Kreator Gojira Powerwolf Zakk Wyle Shinedown Scott Strapp Biffy Clyro
Albums
Hello Crazy World (2002)
Their July 2002 debut album, "Hello Crazy World" was a success in South Africa with the first single, "Hello" topping the national charts for 28 weeks.
This was followed in 2003 and 2004 by "Let Me Go", "As Long As I Am Here", "My Inspiration" and "Same Goes For You" all topping the charts in 2003 and 2004. The album achieved platinum sales status. The follow-up album, "Live This Life" was already in the making and was released in 2005.
Live This Life (2005)
Their second album "Live this Life" (October 2005 release) reached gold status early in 2006 and "Miracle", "Maybe Wrong" and "Way It Could Be" joined the title track of the album in chart success through to 2007 with a remake of "As Long As I Am Here" following on their heels. The two albums cemented their position as the biggest selling South African rock act of 2003/2004/2005/2006.
In 2007 the band performed internationally at the Dubai Desert Rock Festival with names like Prodigy, Iron Maiden and Robert Plant and later that year sharing the second 46664 stage with acts like Peter Gabriel, Live and GooGoo Dolls.