Rubicon (New Zealand band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1999 in Auckland, New Zealand |
| Founder | Paul Reid |
| Defunct | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Auckland , New Zealand |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Rubicon was a pop punk ensemble from New Zealand, recognized primarily for their early 2000s hits "Bruce" and "Funny Boy."
History
Established in 1999 in Auckland, Rubicon was founded by drummer, bassist, and vocalist Paul Reid, who had previously been involved with Loves Ugly Children and The D4. The lineup also featured guitarist and vocalist Gene Bennett along with bassist and drummer Jon Corker, both of whom were Reid’s schoolmates. Their track "California" attracted significant attention after securing second place in a demo contest hosted by Auckland’s radio station 96.1. This exposure led to a recording deal with Wildside Records, which handled distribution across New Zealand, Australia, and Japan.
In 2001, their single "Funny Boy" achieved a peak position of #46 on the New Zealand charts, followed by the 2002 release "Bruce," which climbed to #22. Their debut album, Primary, reached number 16 on the charts. Over time, the band received ten separate $5,000 grants from NZ On Air to produce music videos, in addition to a $50,000 grant allocated for the recording of Primary.
By 2004, Bennett and Corker left the group to explore other ventures, prompting Reid to move to Los Angeles. He then recruited New York-based musicians Scott Zant (bass/vocals) and Frank Zumo (drums), while assuming guitar and vocal duties himself. The subsequent album, The Way It Was Meant To Be, released in 2005, did not achieve the same commercial impact as their earlier work.
Rubicon dissolved by 2006. Following this, Reid returned to New Zealand and created The Thing, a now-defunct online directory comparable to Craigslist. As of 2012, he holds the position of managing director at Iconicity, an Auckland real estate company later renamed The Icon Group.
Albums
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| NZ | ||
| 2002 | Primary
|
16 |
| 2005 | The Way It Was Meant To Be
|
— |
References