The Superjesus Reform, Plan Special Once-Off Show

After a long hiatus, and years of constant requests from their fans, the multiple ARIA award winning rock band The Superjesus have announced they will reform for one night only to perform where it all began, in their hometown of Adelaide.

Best known for their smash hit singles including ‘Gravity’, ‘Down Again’ and ‘Shut My Eyes’, The Superjesus quickly became one of Australia’s more famous rock bands, but quietly called it a day back in 2004 as frontwoman Sarah McLeod pursued a solo career and the touring schedules slowed to a trickle.

A press release for the reunion show boasts it will feature the Jet Age lineup of McLeod, drummer Paul Berryman, bassist Stuart Rudd, and guitarist Tim Henwood, hitting the stage at Adelaide’s The Governor Hindmarsh on February 1, 2013, presented by Triple M.

Life after The Superjesus has seen each of the lineup focus on their own musical and personal journeys both here and overseas.

Since their disbandment, McLeod has been bunkered down in her home studio knocking out tracks for independent releases and touring the country playing to adoring fans with her highly acclaimed acoustic set.

Meanwhile guitarist Tim Henwood’s inclusion to the lineup marks the first time he’ll play with the group since departing in 2002 to focus on ‘Do It With Madonna’ side-project The Androids. Henwood then joined dance-oriented outfit Rogue Traders in 2006 during production on their second album before leaving during the creation of the third album to focus on other projects, then rejoining with the group, releasing their fourth studio album The Sound of Drums in 2011.

Speculation over the reformation of the quartet has been rife over the past twelve months, with McLeod hinting last year that the band “never really broke up. It’s more of a hiatus. I was able to exercise all my musical curiosity, and that part was good for me. Lots of soul searching, really. There were a few mistakes made that cost me big time.”

Apparently she played a one off gig in the Adelaide Hills and said that it was Superjesus bassist Stuart Rudd had inspired her decision to reform. “It was fantastic,” McLeod says. “There were a few tears. We hadn’t rehearsed and, yes, you remember everything… I’ve had personal things going on, [but] I’ve smoked down my embers. The fire department came in and cleared it up. It took many years. But I’m free! I’m going to have fun.”

At time McLeod estimated that it would take a year to reform as guitarist, Chris Tennent, would be the most difficult to convince that it would be worth getting up on stage. According to McLeod, “he’s not been playing at all… there are a few minor hurdles. It’ll be a long road but worth it.”

She may be a few months late, but we’re sure fans will forgive her as for the first time in a long time, the band are finally hanging in the same place – leading to the decision to come together for ‘one night only’ in Adelaide where their loyal fans can catch the band’s first show in almost 10 years.

“It’s something we’ve always wanted to do but with Paul [Berryman] living in Washington all these past years it never seemed possible,” says McLeod. “Once he returned and we started to entertain the thought the energy came flooding back within the four of us and it was clear that it was ON!”

Fans shouldn’t hold their breath that the one-off will lead to a fully-fledged reformation tour, but assuming it’s a success, there’s no certainty it’ll be the last every show either.