Laughing Clowns

Laughing Clowns

Laughing Clowns, often mistakenly referred to as The Laughing Clowns, emerged from Sydney's post-punk scene in 1979. Over a five-year period, the band released a significant body of work, including three full-length LPs, two mini-albums, and a collection of singles and compilations. Their distinctive sound drew heavily from free jazz, bluegrass, and krautrock influences. Vocalist and guitarist Ed Kuepper and drummer Jeff Wegener were the only consistent members throughout the band's initial run.

Disbandment and Legacy

The group disbanded in 1985, after which Ed Kuepper continued his musical career, recording and performing under his own name. The band's impact was recognized with the release of a compilation album, Golden Days: When Giants Walked the Earth, by the Hot label in 1995.

Reunion and Later Releases

In 2004, Kuepper and Wegener reunited musically, performing together as part of Ed Kuepper's MFLL project, which featured live soundtracks to short films. They subsequently toured Australia as a duo. A comprehensive anthology of Laughing Clowns' material, titled Cruel but Fair, was released on October 3, 2005, by the Hot label. This 3-CD set encompassed all of the band's previously released studio recordings.

Live Performances and New Material

In early 2009, Laughing Clowns, featuring Kuepper and Wegener alongside Louise Elliott on saxophone, Biff Millar on upright bass, and Alister Spence on keyboards, played a limited number of live shows. A notable performance took place at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art, marking their first full show in the city in over two decades. A live recording capturing elements of this performance was later released. The same lineup returned for a few live shows in early 2010, including a set at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival where they recreated their 1984 compilation album, History of Rock n Roll Vol 1.