The John Reed Club (band)

The John Reed Club were an Australian indie rock band formed in Sydney in 1996 by James Roden (vocals, bass), Cameron Emerson-Elliot (guitar, vocals), Peter Lusty (guitar) and Richard Weinman (drums).
Prior to the band’s formation, Roden played in a number of local bands in Canberra including The Smart and The Morticians, the latter of which also included Lusty.
Moving to Sydney, the duo eventually linked up with Emerson-Elliot and Weinman to form The John Reed Club.
Playing shows around Australia, the band attracted music industry attention with their brash live shows. The seven inch Destroyer single saw a release in late 1997. It was the first title released by Ivy League Records, in which Lusty is a partner.
A major label with EMI Music Australia followed and The John Reed Club released the EP Death Metal in late-1998. It was also around this time that the band performed the track ‘Stamp Duty’ on ABCTV music programme Recovery. Their performance was later included on the show's 20th anniversary CD/DVD box set.
In their short life, The John Reed Club also contributed a version of 'Seen Your Video' to the compilation I'm in Love... With That Song, a tribute album to American band The Replacements.
Weinman left The John Reed Club in late-1998, being replaced by Shane Melder of fellow Sydney-based, Canberra transplants Sidewinder. In 1998, the band played the annual Homebake festival.
After releasing Death Metal, the band toured Australia. Demos were recorded for an album but acrimony within the group lead to The John Reed Club splitting in December 1998.
Following the band’s break up, Roden formed The City Lights, releasing three studio albums between 2004 and 2012, before announcing their split in 2014. Emerson-Elliot joined Sydney indie rock band Youth Group in 2004, reuniting him with former schoolmate Toby Martin. More recently, he began fronting the band Community Radio. Lusty stepped away from playing music to focus on being one of three partners in the Ivy League Records label and the Winterman & Goldstein band management agency.
Discography
EPs
* Destroyer, 1997
* Death Metal, 1998

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