Playing their first show in Melbourne since 1984, Laughing Clowns form part of Australian music history. The jazz-punk quintet formed in 1978 from the ashes of guitarist Ed Kuepper's seminal punk act, the Saints. Inspired by musical styles as varied as free jazz, punk, bluegrass and krautrock, their ground-breaking material is still recognised as some the most progressive music to come out of Australia. Following their surprise reformation at the end of 2008, this historic Melbourne show will comprise original members Ed Kuepper and Jeffery Wegener alongside long-time saxophonist Louise Elliott, bassist Biff Miller and keyboardist Alister Spence.

Born in Bremen, West Germany in 1955 and raised in Brisbane, Australia, Ed Kuepper is a prolific singer, musician and record producer. In 1974 he formed the band the Saints – considered to be the first and most influential punk band in the world – with schoolmates Chris Bailey and Ivor Hay. Ahead of better known punk bands the Sex Pistols and the Clash, they self-released their legendary single '(I'm) Stranded', now a punk classic worldwide.

Following the demise in 1978 of the original line-up of The Saints, guitarist Ed Kuepper returned to Australia and teamed up with his schoolyard chum and former Saints drummer, Jeffrey Wegener, embarking upon his most ambitious project to date, Laughing Clowns. Taking inspiration from such disparate genres as free-jazz, bluegrass and krautrock Laughing Clowns would polarise opinion in much the same manner as John Lydon did with his post-Sex Pistols outfit PiL. Laughing Clowns were the next musical step for Kuepper.

The Laughing Clowns' 1979 debut EP was edgy and innovative, with drums running wild over guitar chords, saxophone melodies and Kuepper's unmistakable vocals. It polarised critical opinion and was quickly branded 'punk-jazz' a term that frustrated Kuepper throughout the time the band was in existence.

Ed Kuepper (guitar/vocals)
Jeffrey Wegener (drums)
Louise Elliot (saxophones)
Les Millar (bass)
Alister Spence (saxophones)

Presented in Association with RRR