The Veronicas are an Australian pop rock duo from Brisbane. The group was formed in 2004 by identical twin sisters Lisa and Jessica Origliasso.
In 2005, the Veronicas released their debut studio album, titled The Secret Life of..., which peaked at number two on the Australian Album Chart and was certified 4× platinum by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for selling over 280,000 copies. The album spawned five singles, led by "4ever", three of which were top ten singles in Australia. In 2007, the duo released their second studio album, Hook Me Up, which also peaked at number two in Australia and was certified 2× platinum for selling over 140,000 copies. The album garnered four Australian top ten singles. The album's title track, "Hook Me Up", was the Veronicas' first number one single in Australia,The Veronicas- "Hook Me Up" MTV Iggy while "Untouched" was an international top-ten hit, especially in Sweden, where it topped the chart for seven weeks.
Following a lengthy hiatus (broken only by the July 2012 release of the Australian top-40 single "Lolita" and various gigs for their fans), in September 2014, the Veronicas released "You Ruin Me", the first single from their self-titled third studio album. The song debuted at number one on the ARIA chart, becoming the women's second chart-topping single and their first to debut in the top spot. It also charted in United States and United Kingdom. The album was released both physically and digitally on 21 November 2014. In 2016, they hosted the ARIA Music Awards. They spent most of the period between 2016 and 2021 releasing gold and platinum singles in Australia, leading to the release of both their fourth and fifth albums, Godzilla and Human, in May and June 2021, respectively.
The duo's MTV reality show The Veronicas: Blood Is for Life premiered in November 2019. In 2021 the sisters competed as contestants on the fifth season of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia. On 25 February 2020, the Veronicas released a unisex, cruelty-free fragrance named after their song "Untouched". They started their first beauty brand Lemons aimed to be "allergen free and auto-immune friendly brand" due to be released in April 2025.
In November 2022, they signed with the label Big Noise. Their sixth album Gothic Summer was released in March 2024.
Background In 2004, the sisters were introduced by Gabrielle McKinley to Robin Donald Smith. Smith was a former operatic tenor who had performed overseas with the Sadler's Wells Opera and at the Sydney Opera House with the Australian Opera, who owned the recording and music publishing company Multiplay Music Australia. After meeting Joseph and auditioning Lisa and Jessica, Multiplay Music Australia offered to sign The Twins to their first recording and music publishing agreements.
After signing the Twins, the following year Smith and Bell, funded by Multiplay Music Australia, took the Twins on several world-wide songwriting trips to Britain, Sweden, Canada and the US in order for them to collaborate with top songwriters in each country to further develop their songwriting skills. These included Clif Magness (who has written with Avril Lavigne), Billy Steinberg (Madonna, Cyndi Lauper), Max Martin (Britney Spears, Katy Perry, P!nk), Eric Nova, Dead Mono and Vince DeGiorgio, where they created a catalogue of over 50 songs.
Multiplay also secured introductions and auditions for them with numerous recording companies, including Sony, EMI, Universal, BMG, and Warner Music.
On their return to Australia, Smith and Bell met with the executives at Engine Room (a subsidiary of PBL (Packer) Group). Throughout the year Multiplay then negotiated with Engine Room to contract the Twins to secure a recording contract with Warner Music.
Meetings were then arranged with Sire Records in the US. Seymour Stein and senior executives recognised that Smith and Bell had discovered and developed a musical talent, signing them quickly to a recording contract with the label, for a reported sum of two million dollars.
Band name Regarding how they chose their name, Jess Origliasso stated: "The name is something we thought about for a short time and we wanted it to be a girl's name, but we didn't want it to be 'the Jesses.' We were very conscious of not wanting to make it a twin thing, because we don't think that's really cool."
"We didn't want it to be called 'the Lisas,' either," singer Lisa Origliasso added. "So one day we saw the movie Heathers, and there's a line where Christian Slater asks, 'Are you a Heather?' and Winona Ryder's character [Veronica] answers, 'No, I'm a Veronica,' and so we went with that, because she was this kind of cool, unique chick with an attitude."
Relationship with Archie Comics
When it learned about the group, Archie Comics launched legal action against them for trademark infringement in relation to popular character Veronica Lodge – who is also known for being a female character with an attitude – in an attempt to stop them from using the name. Archie Comics had asked Warner Music Group to hand over all publicity rights and to pay US$200 million in damages. Of this amount, $20 million was for damages and $180 million as a penalty against Warner. In a statement with The New York Times Michael I. Silberkleit, chairman of Archie Comics Publications, Inc. stated, The importance is the image of Archie, which everybody knows is good, clean, wholesome stuff ... Preventing unauthorized use of the name will protect both the characters and customers who have paid for licensing rights[...]
A settlement was reached that included a cross-promotion deal, including an appearance in an issue of Veronica's series. The issue (Veronica #167, released on 1 March 2006) featured the Veronicas in the feature story, What's in a Name?, in which they meet Lodge, perform in Riverdale and spend a day there, as well as a card with a code allowing a free download of their single "4ever" in MP3 form. A few months later, Archie and Friends (No. 100) featured the Archies meeting the Veronicas.Archie Comics No. 100. The Veronicas Join With Archie comicbookresources.com. Retrieved 26 December 2009. The next issue of Archie and Friends (No. 101) also featured the Veronicas, with Archie as their biggest fan.Archie Comics No. 101. Archie And Friends No. 101 comicbookbin.com. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
Music career
2005–2006: The Secret Life of... The Veronicas performed at the 2005 NRL Grand Final days before their debut album, titled The Secret Life of..., was released in Australia on 17 October 2005, entering the ARIA Album chart at No. 7.Australian Charts The Secret Life Of... Charts Accessed 5 October 2008 Since then, it has peaked at No. 2 and gone 4× Platinum.ARIAThe Secret Life Of... Accreditations Accessed 5 October 2008 Due to the success of the album, five singles were released in Australia: "4ever", "Everything I'm Not", "When It All Falls Apart", "Revolution" and "Leave Me Alone".
The Secret Life of the Veronicas spent a year on the ARIA album chart without leaving the Top 40. In September 2006, the album was nominated for three ARIA awards including; "Best Pop Release", "Highest Selling Album" and "Best Breakthrough Album".Access-All-Areas The Veronicas nominated 3 ARIAs and goes 4 times Platinum! . Retrieved 5 October 2008. They won "Best Pop Release" but lost the other two to other nominees. The girls also performed their second single "Everything I'm Not" on the night.The Daily Telegraph ARIA or Angry: The Veronicas Accessed 5 October 2008
The album was released in the US on 14 February 2006; it debuted at No. 133 on Billboard 200 and No. 3 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.Billboard.com [ The Veronicas Chart History on Billboard.com]. Retrieved 5 October 2008. Only two singles were released in the United States off the album. A special DVD was released with the US version as a limited edition exclusive. The limited edition included two extra songs and videos, and was only available online. However, copies have been found to have been shipped to several stores in Australia as well. Other releases in the US include Sessions@AOL which features their songs "Heavily Broken" and "Revolution" live in the AOL studios,Sessions@AOL EP. AOL Sessions Live by The Veronicas Yahoo! Music. Retrieved 3 November 2009. also released was The Veronicas: Mtv.com Live EP which also features live performances of their songs including a new song, titled "Stay".Mtv.com Live EP. The Veronicas: Mtv.com Live EP celebcards.com. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
The album has also had success in other countries such as New Zealand where it debuted at No. 5, No. 75 on the Dutch Album Chart and No. 11 in Belgium. Due to their chart success in Belgium, they won the award for Best International New Artist at the TMF Awards of 2006. "When It All Falls Apart" spent a record of 17 weeks of MTV Asia's Pop 10 Chart, in which 7 of them were at the number 1 spot. The song was recorded in Simlish and is featured in the Sims 2 expansion pack Seasons.
Lisa and Jessica are the faces of Choice Calvin Klein and Australian hair product company nu:u. Blender magazine included them in their list of hottest women in rock in 2006. The sisters sang the title song on the short-lived television show Related which had featured songs from their debut album. They appeared in an episode that aired 6 February 2006. In March 2006, their debut single "4ever" was featured in the Amanda Bynes comedy She's the Man. It was featured in the promotional television spots, the film itself and the soundtrack. Their song "Revolution" appeared in another Amanda Bynes film, Sydney White, in 2007.
The girls also appeared on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody episode "The Suite Life Goes Hollywood" as guest stars and performed their song "Cry". The twins have also created a fashion line called "The Veronicas for Target" which was released in stores on 25 August 2007 in Australia.
On 2 December 2006, The Veronicas released a CD/DVD, titled Exposed... the Secret Life of The Veronicas in Australia which features live performances from their Australian 2006 Revolution Tour and a DVD featuring parts of the sisters' live performances throughout 2005–2006, including footage that had previously not been seen, and their music videos. The album debuted at No. 6 on the ARIA DVD Charts accrediting platinum in its first week. The second week it rose to its peak of No. 3ARIA Top 100 Chart Issue No. 876. Pandora.nla.gov.au (23 August 2006). and was accredited Double Platinum.
2007–2009: Hook Me Up and worldwide expansion In early 2007, The Veronicas began work on their second album. The album was written and recorded in Los Angeles, California, with Toby Gad, Billy Steinberg, Greg Wells, Shelly Peiken and John Feldmann.Sally Browne "The Veronicas take to the road with their new album" . Herald Sun. Retrieved 13 November 2007.
Hook Me Up was released in Australia on 3 November 2007. The album debuted at number two on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart with sales of 9,531 copies in its first week, and was certified Gold.Cashmere, Paul, (12 November 2007). "Eagles Long Road Out of Eden Increases Sales in Australia" . Undercover. Undercover Media Pty Ltd. Retrieved 13 November 2007. It has since gone 2× platinum.ARIA certifications – Albums 2008 . Aria.com.au (31 December 2008). The album became the twenty-eighth-highest selling album in Australia for 2007."ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 2007" . Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 29 June 2008. Hook Me Up was released in the UK on 12 October 2009 and has peaked at number thirty-five.The Veronicas Re-release Hook Me Up . Tommy2.net (8 May 2009).Hook Me Up UK charts. Chart Stats – Veronicas – Hook Me Up OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved 1 November 2009.