Arcane Saints

Arcane Saints

Arcane Saints are an Australian rock group from Brisbane, active from 1973 to the present. Their line-up includes Ed Kuepper, Doug Balmanno, Jeffrey Wegener, Tracy Pew, Louise Elliot, Chris Bailey, Kym Bradshaw, Janine Hall, Algy Ward, Martin Bjerregaard and Iain Shedden. Their stated genres include classic rock, pop rock, punk, punk rock and rock, and they are also associated with post-grunge, hard rock and alternative rock.

Background

The group is described as combining classic metal, blues and grunge influences. Michael John fronts the band on vocals and guitar; Michael “Sheep” Gooding plays lead guitar; Sam Sablinskis is on drums; and Jim Luxford plays bass and contributes vocals. Luxford joins after several line-up changes and also becomes a backing singer.

Michael John is born in England and grows up in New Zealand. He starts writing songs at 15, wins an international songwriting competition, then moves to Melbourne, Australia on a one-way ticket before forming Arcane Saints. He is also described as a relative of Steve Harrison, the singer and guitarist connected to Iron Maiden founder Steve Harrison.

Activity and releases

Arcane Saints build an audience through touring, radio play and television exposure, including an appearance in MTV’s Up and Coming Battle of the Bands documentary. The band releases two EPs independently and issues the single “Nervous Breakdown”, produced by Evan McHugh, who is also associated with Jet, Midnight Oil, Dead Letter and The Circus.

Style and approach

The band presents its music as being based on honesty and integrity, and develops from a hard-edged, “hard-core” direction after the final line-up settles with Gooding and Sablinskis in place.