Lash (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Defunct | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Perth , Australia |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Lash was a female-led alternative and punk rock ensemble originating from Perth, Western Australia. The lineup consisted of Belinda-Lee Reid (vocals, guitar), Jaclyn Pearson (drums), Jessicca Bennett (lead guitar), and Micaela Slayford (vocals, bass), who all connected while attending Santa Maria College, Perth. Their discography includes one studio album, The Beautiful and the Damned, released in 2002.
1996–2003: From Exteria to Lash
The band originally performed under the name Exteria and gained recognition by winning the Open Youth Category at the 1996 West Australian Music Industry Awards with their track "Aloha Mr Hand," which attracted the attention of manager Andrew Klippel.
In 2001, they adopted the name Lash and secured a deal with Festival Mushroom Records. Their debut single, "Take Me Away", launched in March 2001, climbed to number 33 on the ARIA Charts. The subsequent single, "Beauty Queen", achieved a peak position of number 31. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2001, "Take Me Away" earned a nomination for Breakthrough Artist – Single.
That same year, Lash was honored as Best New Australian Artist on Commercial Radio at the Commercial Radio Australia Awards.
In 2002, Lash supported tours alongside Eskimo Joe, The Living End, Motor Ace, and Ash. They released "Don't Ever Make My Mind Up" in February, followed by their debut album The Beautiful and the Damned in April, which reached number 74 on the ARIA Charts. Additionally, they represented Australia at Romania's Golden Stag Festival that year.
Their song "Beauty Queen" appeared in the 2003 movie Freaky Friday and its official soundtrack. Another track, "Take Me Away," was included as a cover performed by Christina Vidal’s character’s band in the film.
The group officially disbanded in 2003.
2004–present: Activities after Lash
Belinda-Lee Reid: Following Lash’s breakup, Reid embarked on a solo path. She was featured in the documentary series The Hit Game, which aired on ABCTV in October 2005; it depicted her demo recording sessions with Palmer, supported by Pearson and Bennett. Reid openly discussed her dissatisfaction with being stereotyped within the industry as part of a 'failed' band.
Although Reid announced her solo EP The Road from Lillyfield for release in 2005, it never materialized. In 2006, she established The Silver Scene and offered a self-titled EP freely via Triple J Unearthed. By 2014, Reid had shifted careers to work as a real estate agent.
Jessicca Bennett and Jaclyn Pearson: After Lash ended, Bennett and Pearson became members of The Preytells (active from 2004 to 2009), who won the National Campus Band Competition in 2005.
Jaclyn Pearson currently works as a microbiologist at Melbourne’s Hudson Institute of Medical Research and is a mother of three.
Since 2016, Jessicca Bennett has managed Love Shack Studios located in Footscray, Victoria.
In 2025, Christina Vidal's rendition of "Take Me Away" from the Freaky Friday soundtrack was featured in the sequel film Freakier Friday. Bennett and Pearson attended the Los Angeles premiere held in July 2025; meanwhile, Reid and Bennett were present at the Australian premiere in Sydney during August 2025.
Albums
| Album Title | Details | Highest Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| The Beautiful and the Damned |
|
74 |
Singles
| Single Title | Release Year | Highest Chart Positions | Associated Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| "Take Me Away" | 2001 | 33 | The Beautiful and the Damned |
| "Beauty Queen" | 31 | ||
| "Don't Ever Make My Mind Up" | 2002 | 86 |
ARIA Music Awards
Since 1987, the Australian Recording Industry Association has hosted the annual ARIA Music Awards to honor outstanding achievements in the Australian music scene.
! |- |2001 | "Take Me Away" | Breakthrough Artist - Single |
WAM Song of the Year
Initiated in 1985 by the Western Australian Rock Music Industry Association Inc. (WARMIA), the WAM Song of the Year awards celebrate notable accomplishments within Western Australia's music industry.
(only wins listed)
|- | 1996 | | Grand Prize |