User:Dan arndt/sandbox/Jackson Code

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The Jackson Code
Origin Flag of Australia Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Genre(s) Rock
Years active 1989 - 1996
Label(s) Waterfront records
RooArt
Citadel Records
Associated acts Chad's Tree
Decoder Ring
The Blackeyed Susans
Love Me
Wemo
Former members
see main list

The Jackson Code are an Australian rock band, formed in Perth in 1989.

Contents

[edit] Biography

The Jackson Code formed in 1989 and released their first album, Del Musical Del Mismo Nombre on the Waterfront label (available only on vinyl). The main influence was songwriter Snarski's trip to Spain. Thus the title which when translated means "From the Musical of the Same Name". This was followed a few years later in 1993 by the band's second album, Strange Cargo. 1993 also saw the band sign to RooArt and produce one of that years finest, Draggin' The River. The last studio album was The Things You Need in 1995. After touring with American crime writer James Ellroy in 1996, Snarksi left Australia for Europe finally settling in Madrid.

'There was this one afternoon where I'd dropped everyone off and I was carting this amp up the stairs of - what's that theatre we played in St Kilda? I just put it down and decided, I've had enough of this.'[1]

The Jackson Code's drummer Mark Dawson plays with the Blackeyed Susans (he also worked with Ed Kuepper). Kenny Davis Jr and Kathryn Wemyss also played, abiet briefly with the Blackeyed Susans. Wemyss later performing with Midnight Oil at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics in 2000, since then she has formed her own band called Wemo. Davis went on to join Decoder Ring. Barry Turnbull and Mandy Pearson went on to form their own band, Love Me[2].

The Jackson Code's retrospective album of 1998, The Second Greatest Story Ever Told, is a lasting reminder of their lost brilliance. In 2003 Del Musical Del Mismo Nombre was re-issued on a CD format by Citadel Records.

In June, 2006 Snarksi travelled to Belgium to sing with a specially reformed Triffids lineup for ‘An Evening With The Triffids’ – an exhibition and show in remembrance of lead singer David McComb[3].

[edit] Trivia

  • Jackson Code is a variation of the term Johnson Code, which was the code of honour amougst outlaws and bums in the American west when much of the country was outside the reach of the law. William Burroughs refers to it in his novel, The Place of Dead Roads, which was originally titled The Johnson Family.
From the forward of the book:

The original title of this book was The Johnson Family. "The Johnson Family" was a turn-of-the-century expression to designate good bums and thieves. It was elaborated into a code of conduct. A Johnson honors his obligations. His word is good and he is a good man to do business with. A Johnson minds his own business. He is not a snoopy, self-righteous, trouble-making person. A Johnson will give help when help is needed. He will not stand by while someone is drowning or trapped under a burning car.

[edit] Members

  • Mark Snarski - vocals, electric & acoustic guitar
  • Kathryn Wemyss - vocals, trumpet, castanets
  • Mark Dawson (aka Bongo Fury) - drums
  • Jason Kain - electric & acoustic guitar
  • Kenny Davis Jr - piano, hammond organ, accordian
  • Barry Turnbull - electric & acoustic bass
  • Mandy Pearson - vocals, percussion

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

  • Del Musical Del Mismo Nombre - Waterfront Records (1989)[5][6]
  • Strange Cargo - Citadel Records (1993)[7]
  • Draggin' The River - RooArt (1993)[8]
  • The Things You Need - RooArt (1995)[9]
  • The Second Greatest Story Ever Told - Citadel Records (1993) - (compilation album)[10][11]

[edit] Singles

  • "Bring Yourself Home To Me"

[edit] Contributions

  • Rockin' Bethlehem (1989) - "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"[12]
  • RockArt: The History of rooArt Records RooArt (2001) - "Who Cares Anyway?"[13]

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Age (September 2, 2005)
  2. ^ Love Me website
  3. ^ Australian Times (November 26, 2007)
  4. ^ Heartbreak High music listing
  5. ^ Rate Your Music - Del Musical Del Mismo Nombre
  6. ^ Citadel Records - Del Musical Del Mismo Nombre
  7. ^ Citadel Records - Strange Cargo
  8. ^ Oz Indie Music - Draggin' The River
  9. ^ Tag Tuner - The Things You Need
  10. ^ CD Database
  11. ^ Music Australia
  12. ^ Rate Your Music - Rockin' Bethlehem
  13. ^ Rate Your Music - RockArt

[edit] External links