Reef
Sat 09 Jun ,
Alternative,
Book Early,
Gigs,
Music,
Reunion/Retro,
Reef bassist Jack Bessant talks about reuniting and preparing to disband, again
First published on . Updated on 2 Apr 2012.
It seems that for every new band breaking into the mainstream of late, there’s an old one dragging their amps down from the attic and reforming. And while there is inevitable cynicism from many music fans towards what is often seen as “cashing in”, the demand is enough that the folks are coming out for all sorts of reformations – even if the bands are only reforming briefly. Which brings us to Reef...
Forming in 1993, the four-piece from Glastonbury enjoyed a decade-long run of success amidst the frenzy of Britpop and the glory days of good old-fashioned guitar music – they stood out for sing-a-long indie anthem, ‘Place Your Hands’. But the pace started to slow at the turn of the millennium, and they called it a day in 2003. “I think it was the natural end to a great run,” says Reef’s bassist, Jack Bessant. “We were artistically and mentally burnt out anyway, so it was nice to have that break. It was pretty constant and tiring, but we’re thankful, as not many bands get that opportunity.”
The original line-up got back together in 2009 for a UK tour, and will return to Australia for the first time in twelve years this June. “Our manager from back in the day, Tank [Gilks], approached us with the idea. We agreed, and it went really well. He ended up moving to Australia last year and got us some gigs there as well,” says Bessant. “[Since the split] we’ve all done different music projects, so when he came to us with the idea we were all ready. It sounded good back then and it still sounds good now.”
To celebrate their achievements, the band has released a retrospective box set containing – amongst other things – a re-worked copy of Lucky #5, which is their unofficial fifth album, featuring tracks recorded shortly before the band originally parted ways. It was hoped these tracks would form part of a new full-length release, but record company difficulties led to a less preferable use. “We did a ‘Best of’ album before we disbanded and re-recorded some of the new songs we had as part of it. [The box set shows] what those tracks would’ve sounded like if we’d have released them as an album back then.”
Reef was understandably displeased with releasing a compilation album when they still had new things to offer. But their recent gigs have been solely about playing “the hits”. “We’ve all had the chance to go away, find out who we are as individuals again, and play music with whoever we choose to,” Bessant tells us. “We’ve been doing other projects and recording new music [Bessant performs alongside Reef front man, Jack Stringer, as the acoustic duo StringerBessant], so it feels fine to just get together and bash out these great songs from the past.”
The side projects have given the band a new perspective on writing. “We got caught in the trap of writing a really great song with ‘Place Your Hands’, and then trying to recreate it again. So it’s been nice to get away from that and just make music that creates an atmosphere, rather than trying to write this perfect three-minute pop song.”
So was the success of ‘Place Your Hands’ both a blessing and a curse? “Possibly, but I’m so proud of it even now. It still gets played in the clubs a lot. It’s a great song,” reflects Bessant.
Fans of Reef on this side of the world will no doubt be pleased to relive their youth when the band arrive in Sydney. But they might also be a touch disappointed: after waiting patiently for so long, it may be the last time they see Reef on stage. “After Australia, that will probably be it for Reef for a while,” says Bessant. “It’s been really good playing those songs again, and I think our fans there will love it. But sadly there’s little chance that we’ll get together and write new stuff because we all live so far apart nowadays. It wouldn’t feel like we were a real band.”
Forming in 1993, the four-piece from Glastonbury enjoyed a decade-long run of success amidst the frenzy of Britpop and the glory days of good old-fashioned guitar music – they stood out for sing-a-long indie anthem, ‘Place Your Hands’. But the pace started to slow at the turn of the millennium, and they called it a day in 2003. “I think it was the natural end to a great run,” says Reef’s bassist, Jack Bessant. “We were artistically and mentally burnt out anyway, so it was nice to have that break. It was pretty constant and tiring, but we’re thankful, as not many bands get that opportunity.”
The original line-up got back together in 2009 for a UK tour, and will return to Australia for the first time in twelve years this June. “Our manager from back in the day, Tank [Gilks], approached us with the idea. We agreed, and it went really well. He ended up moving to Australia last year and got us some gigs there as well,” says Bessant. “[Since the split] we’ve all done different music projects, so when he came to us with the idea we were all ready. It sounded good back then and it still sounds good now.”
To celebrate their achievements, the band has released a retrospective box set containing – amongst other things – a re-worked copy of Lucky #5, which is their unofficial fifth album, featuring tracks recorded shortly before the band originally parted ways. It was hoped these tracks would form part of a new full-length release, but record company difficulties led to a less preferable use. “We did a ‘Best of’ album before we disbanded and re-recorded some of the new songs we had as part of it. [The box set shows] what those tracks would’ve sounded like if we’d have released them as an album back then.”
Reef was understandably displeased with releasing a compilation album when they still had new things to offer. But their recent gigs have been solely about playing “the hits”. “We’ve all had the chance to go away, find out who we are as individuals again, and play music with whoever we choose to,” Bessant tells us. “We’ve been doing other projects and recording new music [Bessant performs alongside Reef front man, Jack Stringer, as the acoustic duo StringerBessant], so it feels fine to just get together and bash out these great songs from the past.”
The side projects have given the band a new perspective on writing. “We got caught in the trap of writing a really great song with ‘Place Your Hands’, and then trying to recreate it again. So it’s been nice to get away from that and just make music that creates an atmosphere, rather than trying to write this perfect three-minute pop song.”
So was the success of ‘Place Your Hands’ both a blessing and a curse? “Possibly, but I’m so proud of it even now. It still gets played in the clubs a lot. It’s a great song,” reflects Bessant.
Fans of Reef on this side of the world will no doubt be pleased to relive their youth when the band arrive in Sydney. But they might also be a touch disappointed: after waiting patiently for so long, it may be the last time they see Reef on stage. “After Australia, that will probably be it for Reef for a while,” says Bessant. “It’s been really good playing those songs again, and I think our fans there will love it. But sadly there’s little chance that we’ll get together and write new stuff because we all live so far apart nowadays. It wouldn’t feel like we were a real band.”
Words by Stuart Holmes
