JFK AND THE CUBAN CRISIS

John Kennedy formed his first band, JFK & The Cuban Crisis, with former school friend James Paterson in Brisbane in 1980. Adding John Downie (bass) and Steven Pritchard (drums), they quickly established themselves on the small Brisbane scene with their smart UK Squeeze influenced pop. After releasing two cassette albums and playing support spots with the Pretenders and Ian Dury and the Blockheads, the band moved to Sydney in 1982. After recruiting a new rhythm section, Greg Hall on bass and Paul Rochelli on drums the band started performing live in Sydney in late '82 playing a residency at the Southern Cross Hotel in Surry Hills. Hall left the band and was replaced by Oscar Beath.

A four song EP, 'Careless Talk Costs Lives', recorded in Brisbane in early '82 became the band's first release in Sydney. The EP was the first release on the new Waterfront Records label and featured the song, "The Texan Thing", which received a lot of attention and alternative radio play. JFK established themselves on the Sydney inner city live scene along with contemporaries like the Triffids. However musical differences were already appearing, and personality clashes followed. JFK broke up in 1984 after releasing the album 'The End Of The Affair' and its related single, ''The Ballad of Jackie O''.

Members

John Kennedy (vocals, guitar), James Paterson (guitar, keyboards), Greg Hall (bass), Paul Rochelli (drums), Steven Pritchard (drums), Oscar Beath (bass), John Downie (bass), Paul Hardman (keyboards)

SINGLES
''Am I A Pagan? / That Alarming Sound'' 1981 Two Possibilities
''Gotham City / Quite Like Love'' 1983

 ''The Ballad Of Jackie-O / Jackson / The Texan Thing (Live Version)'' 1984 Waterfront

EPs

'Careless Talk Costs Lives ...' 1982 Waterfront

ALBUMS
'Over The Underpass + Under The Overpass' 1981
'Down And Out In Brisbane And Sydney' 1982 
'The End Of The Affair' 1984 Waterfront Records

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kennedy_%28Australian_musician%29