Laughing Clowns | Artist

Laughing Clowns were an Australian post-punk band formed 1979 in Sydney by Ed Kuepper (vocals, guitar), Jeffrey Wegener (drums), Ben Wallace-Crabbe (bass), Chris Abrahams (piano) and Bob Farrell (saxophone). After leaving The Saints, Kuepper formed Laughing Clowns with friends Wegener and Farrell, because he wanted to make "less commercial, more cerebral" music than his former band. Taking their name from an unreleased Saints song, Kuepper and co. released a self titled mini album in 1980, which won many fans for its artful moody sound that was different from anything else at the time. The band's lineup underwent changes in '81, with Louise Elliot replacing Farrell on sax, Leslie Millar on bass and Peter Doyle coming in on Trumpet. Their first full length album Mr. Uddich-Schmuddich Goes to Town was released in '82. It was infused with Millar's jazz bass playing and Kuepper's improvisational elements, drawing stylistic comparisons with Captain Beefheart. In total, the band released three excellent studio albums, four equally excellent EP's and several live albums, before disbanding in 1984. Kuepper carried on with a successful solo career and Abrahams co-founded The Necks. Outstanding albums include Mr. Uddich-Schmuddich Goes to Town, Law of Nature and Ghosts of an Ideal Wife, and the EP's: The Laughing Clowns and Everything That Flies. The 2005 compilation Cruel But Fair: The Complete Clowns Recordings is also highly recommended.

Founding member and bass player Ben Wallace-Crabbe died in 1986 at the age of 27, tragically joining that illustrious group of brilliant yet ill-fated artists known as the "27 Club"

Artist Website: facebook.com/laughingclowns wikipedia/Laughing_Clowns

Featured Albums: Laughing Clowns

Related Artists: Ed Kuepper, The Saints, Chris Abrahams, The Necks, The Aints

Collections: 27 Forever