Steriogram was formed in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1999 by frontman Tyson Kennedy, guitarist Brad Carter, rhythm guitarist Tim Youngson, bassist Jake Adams and drummer Jared Wrennall. The group began as a four‑piece melodic rock act before adding Kennedy as a front‑man and rapper, which gave the band a distinctive high‑energy style. Their early releases included the Soccerstar EP (1999) and the White Trash single (2001), which helped secure a contract with Capitol Records in 2002. In 2004 the debut album Schmack! was issued, featuring the international hit "Walkie Talkie Man", which entered the UK Singles Chart at number 19 and was used in an iPod advertisement and several video games; the single also earned MTV nominations. The follow‑up album This Is Not the Target Market was released in 2007, after the band self‑released the record following a split with Capitol; it saw tours with Rise Against and Die Ärzte and a U.S. release by Rock Ridge Music. A third studio effort, Taping the Radio, arrived in 2010. Steriogram’s work remains a notable example of New Zealand punk‑rock crossover, with "Walkie Talkie Man" continuing to feature in media compilations and retrospectives.
