Playing hot-rodded pop with potent hooks and a healthy supply of rock & roll energy, DM3 were founded by singer, guitarist, and songwriter Dom Mariani, who had already established himself as one of the movers and shakers on the Australian garage rock and power pop scene. Born in Fremantle in Western Australia in 1958, Mariani first achieved nationwide recognition with the band the Stems, whose fusion of garage rock and power pop made them cult heroes during their original run from 1983 to 1987. Shortly after the Stems ran their course, Mariani joined the alternative rock band the Someloves, whose relatively brief career lasted until 1990. In 1992, Mariani returned with a new combo, DM3, in which he handled vocals and guitar alongside Ian Campbell on lead guitar and backing vocals, Toni Italiano (a fellow Someloves alumni) on bass and vocals, and Pascal Bartolone (formerly of the Summer Suns) on drums. The band's tight, energetic sound made them an instant hit with critics and Mariani's fans, and in 1993 the band released their debut LP, One Time, Two Times, Three Red Light, which was mixed by American producer Mitch Easter, best known for his work with R.E.M. and as leader of Let's Active. In 1995, after touring with the band in Australia and Europe, Campbell left DM3, and the group continued as a trio, with Mariani handling lead guitar work. This leaner edition of DM3 was heard on 1996's Road to Rome, also mixed by Easter, which received more rave reviews, and the band once again hit the road in Europe and Scandinavia. Their profile in the United States was boosted by a 1997 collection from Bomp Records, Dig It the Most, which offered an overview of the band's work to date. In 1988, DM3 released Rippled Soul, a more eclectic effort that also introduced the group's new bassist, Julian Matthews, formerly of the Stems. That release was quickly followed by two compilations of rare and unreleased material, Garage Sale and Italian Style! Garage Sale, Vol. 2. In 1999, Mariani disbanded the DM3, joining the band the Stoneage Hearts in 2002, and the following year he assembled Dom Mariani & the Majestic Kelp, an instrumental group. In 2013, Live (Roskilde Festival 1994), a recording of DM3's set at Denmark's famed music festival, received belated release, and 2015 saw the release of West of Anywhere, another "best-of DM3" collection. ~ Mark Deming