Regular John
Encyclopedia
Regular John are a four piece rock band based in Sydney, Australia. Guitarist Ryan Adamson and bassist Caleb Goman met as children in the town of Manilla, NSW, going to school together before Adamson met with drummer Ryan Mcdonald and original guitarist Brock Tengstrom in Griffith, NSW. The four members began jamming together before moving to Sydney in 2005.
The group cemented their sound in Marrickville, Sydney where they lived in a share house known as the 'Ivanhoe house'. It was there that the group recorded and wrote their early releases the E.P 'Marrickville 2204' and the single 'Devils Melody' in 2007. These were released independently on Chatterbox Records
and showcased their energetic, chaotic sound and vintage rock influences. The releases brought the group international attention and landed them tours with The Bronx
, Helmet
, Monster Magnet
and Dinosaur Jr
amongst others.
In 2009 they released their debut album 'The Peaceful Atom is a Bomb' which received critical acclaim, landing in Rolling Stone
Magazine's Top 50 albums of 2009. Produced by Tim Powles
(The Church
) and recorded at his Spacejunk Studios, the album saw the group expanding their sound and songwriting, incorporating elements of punk, prog, pop and psychedelia. The group were named Rolling Stone
's Best Rock Act in 2009. The album spawned the singles 'Language', 'We Spell Love' and 'Transmitter' which featured on the soundtrack for the game Need For Speed: Shift
In mid 2010 Tengstrom left the group and new guitarist Miles Devine was recruited. Regular John are currently working on their second album which Goman claims will be a 'motherfucker'. During early 2011, Regular John appeared at the Big Day Out
and shortly afterward toured nationally with Motörhead.
The group has stated that their musical influences are far too varied to list and claim to be just as influenced by film, literature and philosophy. Goman has credited the works of Bill Hicks
, Terrence McKenna, David Lynch
, Philip K. Dick
, Arthur C. Clarke
, Stanley Kubrick
, Aleister Crowley
and Robert Anton Wilson
as being especially influential.
EP
The group cemented their sound in Marrickville, Sydney where they lived in a share house known as the 'Ivanhoe house'. It was there that the group recorded and wrote their early releases the E.P 'Marrickville 2204' and the single 'Devils Melody' in 2007. These were released independently on Chatterbox Records
Chatterbox Records
Chatterbox Records was an independent record label based in Sydney, Australia, founded in 1997 by musician Nik Tropiano and Sebastian Chase of Phantom Records. The label boasts an eclectic mixture of artists across various genres. Its first release was a vinyl EP from Sydney electro-goth band Cult 45...
and showcased their energetic, chaotic sound and vintage rock influences. The releases brought the group international attention and landed them tours with The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, Helmet
Helmet
A helmet is a form of protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries.Ceremonial or symbolic helmets without protective function are sometimes used. The oldest known use of helmets was by Assyrian soldiers in 900BC, who wore thick leather or bronze helmets to protect the head from...
, Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet is an American stoner rock band. Hailing from Red Bank, New Jersey, the group was founded by Dave Wyndorf , John McBain and Tim Cronin...
and Dinosaur Jr
Dinosaur Jr
Dinosaur Jr. is an American alternative rock band formed in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1984. Originally called Dinosaur, prior to legal issues that forced the group to change their name, the band disbanded in 1997 until reuniting in 2005...
amongst others.
In 2009 they released their debut album 'The Peaceful Atom is a Bomb' which received critical acclaim, landing in Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
Magazine's Top 50 albums of 2009. Produced by Tim Powles
Tim Powles
Tim Powles is a music producer and artist originally from New Zealand, and though now an Australian resident, he is of English/Irish descent. Also known as timEbandit Powles, his main instrument and first love was the drum kit and tuned percussion. In the 70's he won a scholarship to join the New...
(The Church
The Church (band)
The Church is an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980. Initially associated with new wave and the neo-psychedelic sound of the mid 1980s, their music later became more reminiscent of progressive rock, featuring long instrumental jams and complex guitar interplay...
) and recorded at his Spacejunk Studios, the album saw the group expanding their sound and songwriting, incorporating elements of punk, prog, pop and psychedelia. The group were named Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
's Best Rock Act in 2009. The album spawned the singles 'Language', 'We Spell Love' and 'Transmitter' which featured on the soundtrack for the game Need For Speed: Shift
In mid 2010 Tengstrom left the group and new guitarist Miles Devine was recruited. Regular John are currently working on their second album which Goman claims will be a 'motherfucker'. During early 2011, Regular John appeared at the Big Day Out
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...
and shortly afterward toured nationally with Motörhead.
The group has stated that their musical influences are far too varied to list and claim to be just as influenced by film, literature and philosophy. Goman has credited the works of Bill Hicks
Bill Hicks
William Melvin "Bill" Hicks was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, satirist, and musician. His material largely consisted of general discussions about society, religion, politics, philosophy, and personal issues. Hicks' material was often controversial and steeped in dark comedy...
, Terrence McKenna, David Lynch
David Lynch
David Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
, Philip K. Dick
Philip K. Dick
Philip Kindred Dick was an American novelist, short story writer and essayist whose published work is almost entirely in the science fiction genre. Dick explored sociological, political and metaphysical themes in novels dominated by monopolistic corporations, authoritarian governments and altered...
, Arthur C. Clarke
Arthur C. Clarke
Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, CBE, FRAS was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, famous for his short stories and novels, among them 2001: A Space Odyssey, and as a host and commentator in the British television series Mysterious World. For many years, Robert A. Heinlein,...
, Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career...
, Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
and Robert Anton Wilson
Robert Anton Wilson
Robert Anton Wilson , known to friends as "Bob", was an American author and polymath who became at various times a novelist, philosopher, psychologist, essayist, editor, playwright, poet, futurist, civil libertarian and self-described agnostic mystic...
as being especially influential.
Members
- Ryan Adamson - guitar, vocals
- Caleb Goman - bass, vocals
- Ryan McDonald - drums
- Miles Devine - guitar
Discography
Album- The Peaceful Atom Is A Bomb (Difrnt Music, 2009)
EP
- Marrickville 2204 (2007) - (R-Minor/Chatterbox)