Biography
Melbourne, Australia, witnessed the assembly of Rebecca's Empire in 1994, when several seasoned players already established in the local scene came together primarily from session work. At the center stood Rebecca Barnard handling lead vocals and guitar, following prior engagements alongside Stephen Cummings, the Black Sorrows, and Chris Wilson. Guitar duties fell to Shane O'Mara, whose résumé featured collaborations with Stephen Cummings and Deborah Conway, while Michael DenElzen took bass after stints in Schnell Fenster and Tim Finn's band, and Peter Luscombe supplied drums as a former Black Sorrows member.
The band's first single, "Atomic Electric," appeared in 1994 and rapidly gained airplay with its blend of refined guitar pop and Barnard's girly vocals, an approach reminiscent of Belly. The following year brought the Take a Look at Happiness EP, fronted by the single "Empty" yet also containing an atypical version of Pearl Jam's "Alive" alongside a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Tangerine."
Rebecca's Empire achieved its breakthrough in 1996. Critical acclaim greeted the debut album The Way of All Things, which registered modest commercial traction in Australia and spawned the singles "In Deep," "So Rude," and the title track. Restricted touring, prompted by Barnard's pregnancy, curtailed further momentum, leading to a two-year break during which DenElzen departed; Bill McDonald, whose credits encompassed work with Deborah Conway, Frente, Paul Kelly, and Michael Hutchence's short-lived project Max Q, stepped in on bass. The group resurfaced in 1998 with the single "Medicine Man," previewing the 1999 album Welcome that yielded two additional singles, "Big Smoke" and "Bad Blood."
The band's first single, "Atomic Electric," appeared in 1994 and rapidly gained airplay with its blend of refined guitar pop and Barnard's girly vocals, an approach reminiscent of Belly. The following year brought the Take a Look at Happiness EP, fronted by the single "Empty" yet also containing an atypical version of Pearl Jam's "Alive" alongside a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Tangerine."
Rebecca's Empire achieved its breakthrough in 1996. Critical acclaim greeted the debut album The Way of All Things, which registered modest commercial traction in Australia and spawned the singles "In Deep," "So Rude," and the title track. Restricted touring, prompted by Barnard's pregnancy, curtailed further momentum, leading to a two-year break during which DenElzen departed; Bill McDonald, whose credits encompassed work with Deborah Conway, Frente, Paul Kelly, and Michael Hutchence's short-lived project Max Q, stepped in on bass. The group resurfaced in 1998 with the single "Medicine Man," previewing the 1999 album Welcome that yielded two additional singles, "Big Smoke" and "Bad Blood."
Albums