John Kennedy

John Francis Kennedy (born John Kennedy 1 July 1958) is an English-born Australian musician and singer-songwriter–guitarist. He has been the leader of a number of groups including JFK & the Cuban Crisis (1980–84), and John Kennedy's Love Gone Wrong (1984–88). In 1984 he described his music as "urban and western". Kennedy took the confirmation name, Francis, when he was ten and – as his middle name – it completes the famous JFK initials. Kennedy grew up in Acacia Ridge, where he developed a preference for country-influenced music, especially Elvis Costello's debut album, My Aim Is True (July 1977). He later recalled that "My parents listened to a lot of popular country – people like Burl Ives, Tom Jones, who was doing country then, and Johnny Cash... It was quite sophisticated country music – big vocals and a big production sound."

JFK & the Cuban Crisis

John Kennedy, on lead vocals and guitar, formed his first band, JFK & the Cuban Crisis, with former school friend James Paterson on vocals and guitar in Brisbane in October 1980. They established themselves on the local scene, taking up a residency at 279 Club, Kennedy had started writing it as "Take Something", which was a "jaunty keyboard-driven song". Alongside Kennedy were Graham Lee on guitar., In August 1988 Love Gone Wrong disbanded after Armiger left to join The Johnnys and Kennedy resumed his solo career. He undertook the Out of Town Farewell Tour of the nation before moving to the US, then United Kingdom before settling in Berlin. Before moving to London 1997 he recorded Kennedy Town, He moved back to Australia in late 1999.

In the following year he released a retrospective album, Inner West: Greatest Bits and Pieces, Back in Australia Kennedy formed John Kennedy and the Lone Gunmen. Then he formed John Kennedy's '68 Comeback Special in 2003, a band which included former members of Love Gone Wrong.

Band members

JFK & the Cuban Crisis John Kennedy – lead vocals, guitar (1980–84) James Paterson – guitar, vocals (1980–83) Paul Hardman – keyboards John Downie – bass guitar Stephen Pritchard – drums Greg Hall – bass guitar Paul Rochelli – drums Oscar Beath – bass guitar

John Kennedy's Love Gone Wrong John Kennedy – vocals (1984–88) Graham Lee – guitar Peter Kennard – bass guitar, keyboards Peter Timmerman – drums Colin Bloxsom – guitar Barry Turnbull – bass guitar Mark Dawson – drums Margaret Labi – harmony vocals Cory Messenger – guitar, harmony vocals Wayne Connolly – guitar Vincent Sheehan – drums Michael Armiger – bass guitar

John Kennedy and the Honeymooners John Kennedy – lead vocals Sven Kuester - drums Christopher Blenkinsop – bass guitar, accordion Michael "Moe" Jaksch – double bass, guitar Hans Rohe – guitar

John Kennedy and the Lone Gunmen John Kennedy – lead vocals, guitar Steve Broughton – bass guitar Jason Walker – guitar Osama Mustafa – drums

John Kennedy's '68 Comeback Special John Kennedy – lead vocals, guitar Peter Timmerman – drums Jeff Pope – guitar, dobro, pedal steel Glen Pye – harmony vocals, harmonica Smithy – bass guitar Steve Broughton – bass Colin Bloxsom – guitar JD Love – guitar Murray Cook – guitar Megan Heyward – harmony vocals Paul Scott - bass Phil Hall - bass Matt Galvin - guitar John Kennedy And The New Originals John Kennedy – lead vocals, guitar Peter Timmerman – drums Murray Cook – guitar Phil Hall - bass Matt Galvin - guitar

Discography

Albums

JFK & the Cuban Crisis Over the Underpass and Under the Overpass - Cassette album (1981) Down and Out in Brisbane and Sydney - Cassette album (1982) The End of the Affair (1984) – Waterfront Records (DAMP 6)

John Kennedy's Love Gone Wrong From Woe to Go (compilation, October 1986) – Red Eye (RED 11) Always the Bridegroom (1987) – Mighty Boy (MBLP 7001)

Solo Have Songs Will Travel (compilation, 1990) – Red Eye (RED CD 20, RED MC 20), Furnace Fiction Facing Facts (1993) – Twang!/PolyGram (TCD 5900) Kennedy Town (2000) – Urban and Western (U&W CD 001), (LORCD 058) Inner West: Greatest Bits and Pieces (2001) – Laughing Outlaw (LORCD 023) Someone's Dad (2007) – Regal Records Is This Not Paris? (2009) – Foghorn Records Sons Of Sun (Vol.1) (2011) – Foghorn Records Sons Of Sun (Vol.2) (2012) – Foghorn Records JFK and the Midlife Crisis (2017) – Popboomerang Records Second Best – Greatest Bits Vol.2 (2018) – Foghorn Records Raining Treasure – Australian Indie Gold Covers Vol.1 (2019) – Foghorn Records Raining Treasure – Australian Indie Gold Covers Vol.2 (2022) – Foghorn Records

John Kennedy and the Honeymooners The Honeymooners (1994) - Exile Records

John Kennedy's '68 Comeback Special Someone's Dad (2007) – Regal Records Is This Not Paris? (2009) – Foghorn Records Sons of Sun-Vol.1 (2011) – Foghorn Records Sons of Sun-Vol.2 (2012) – Foghorn Records

John Kennedy And The New Originals John Kennedy And The New Originals (2023) – Foghorn Records

Extended plays

JFK & the Cuban Crisis Careless Talk Costs Lives (1982) – Waterfront Records (DAMP 1) The Ballad of Jackie O (1984) – Waterfront Records (DAMP 4)

John Kennedy and the Honeymooners The Honeymooners (1991) Exile (EX 10 EP 7)

Singles

JFK & the Cuban Crisis "Am I a Pagan" (1982) – Two Possibilities

Solo "Forget"/"The End of the Affair" (1984) – Waterfront (DAMP 11) "Miracle (In Marrickville)"/"Two People" (1985) – Waterfront (DAMP 15) "To Love Somebody"/"Tourists in Heaven" (by John Kennedy and Billy Baxter) (1988) – Mighty Boy "Out of Town"/"Miracle" (1989) – Mighty Boy

John Kennedy's Love Gone Wrong "King Street"/"To Forget" (November 1985) – Red Eye (RED 7) "A Time for Giving" (December 1985) "Big Country"/"You Brought It All Back To Me" (1986) – Red Eye (RED 10) "Run Rudolph Run"/"Rudolph's Talking Christmas Blues" (1986) "Singing City"/"Love Gone Wrong" (1987) – Mighty Boy "World Upside Down"/"Better Days" (1988) – Mighty Boy