The Superjesus
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Adelaide , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Sarah McLeod (lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar), Stuart Rudd (bass) |
| Products | Albums, singles, EPs |
The Superjesus is a rock ensemble originating from Adelaide, Australia, established in late 1994. Their first full-length record, Sumo (released February 1998), climbed to No. 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart. This was followed by Jet Age in October 2000, which reached No. 5, and Rock Music in May 2003, peaking at No. 14. Their singles that entered the Top 40 include "Down Again" (1997), "Now and Then" (1998), "Gravity" (2000), and "Stick Together" (2003). At the ARIA Music Awards of 1997, they secured Best New Talent for Eight Step Rail as well as Breakthrough Artist – Single for "Shut My Eyes". The group disbanded in 2004 but reformed in 2013. Core members as of 2024 remain lead singer Sarah McLeod and bassist Stuart Rudd, joined by lead guitarist Cam Blokland and drummer Ben Todd.
Early years: 1994–1996
Initially formed under the name Hell's Kitchen in Adelaide during late 1994, the band consisted of drummer Paul Berryman, lead vocalist and guitarist Sarah McLeod, bassist Stuart Rudd, and lead guitarist Chris Tennent. The members dedicated significant time to rehearsing before making their live debut. Rudd and Tennent had a prior working relationship, with Tennent also acting as McLeod’s guitar instructor and being a well-known figure within Adelaide’s music community.
In January 1996, just before performing at the Big Day Out festival in Adelaide, the band adopted the name the Superjesus. This moniker, created by Tennent, was intended as a satirical nod to the trend of '90s bands incorporating "Jesus" into their names. Their initial EP, Eight Step Rail, containing five tracks, was released in August 1996 through Aloha Records.
Peak period: 1997–2004
By February 1997, Eight Step Rail had entered the ARIA Singles Chart Top 50. The lead track "Shut My Eyes" received extensive airplay on national youth alternative station Triple J, ranking No. 81 on its Hottest 100 for that year. Critic Jonathan Lewis from AllMusic emphasized their distinctive "wall of guitar noise" combined with McLeod’s captivating vocal delivery as instrumental to their swift rise on Australian radio. Jasper Cooper of Oz Music Project identified "Shut My Eyes" as pivotal in establishing their unique sound.
Touring along Australia’s eastern seaboard, they supported groups such as Clouds, Hoodoo Gurus, and UK’s Bush. Songwriting duties were mainly shared between Tennent (music) and McLeod (lyrics), who were also romantically involved. The band appeared at the Big Day Out festival in January 1997 before traveling to Atlanta to record their debut album, Sumo, with producer Matt Serletic and engineer Jeff Tomei. During that year’s ARIA Music Awards of 1997, they earned accolades for Best New Talent with Eight Step Rail and Breakthrough Artist – Single for "Shut My Eyes". Later in 1997, Tennent temporarily departed; Aaron Tokona from Weta substituted during New Zealand dates but declined a permanent position.
Following Tennent’s return, Sumo was released in February 1998 under EastWest/Warner Music Australasia, achieving No. 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart and receiving platinum certification for shipping over 70,000 copies. The album’s success warranted a US release featuring a modified tracklist. Lewis praised McLeod’s vocal performance while noting limited diversity in style. An expanded edition titled Sumo II, which included live recordings, was issued in October. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1998, Sumo garnered nominations for Best Group, Breakthrough Artist – Album, and Best Cover Art.
After performing again at Big Day Out in January 1999, Chris Tennent officially exited mid-year. The band subsequently moved to Melbourne in November and incorporated guitarist Tim Henwood (formerly of Jen Anderson Band and Supermann). Henwood partnered with McLeod as primary songwriters. Their sophomore album, Jet Age, produced by Ed Buller and released in October 2000, reached No. 5 on the charts. Reviewer Louise Buckingham characterized it as an energetic progression highlighted by the successful single "Gravity". Amazon.com described it as both "intelligent" and "mature." At the ARIA Music Awards of 2001, Jet Age received nominations for Best Rock Album and Best Cover Art.
Henwood departed midway through 2001 to establish The Androids before joining Rogue Traders. Faced with this change, McLeod contemplated ending the band but instead assumed lead guitar duties for their third studio effort as a trio. Released in May 2003, Rock Music, produced by Marc Waterman, peaked at No. 14. Patch Brown briefly replaced Henwood before Jason Slack took over due to creative differences. Critics applauded McLeod’s vocal strength alongside the band’s robust rock sound that balanced energetic riffs with melodic ballads.
In June 2004, the Superjesus parted ways with Warner Music Australasia as members pursued individual projects. McLeod launched a solo career releasing Beauty Was a Tiger and later fronted Sydney-based trio Screaming Bikini.
Reformation, Love and Violence, and Touring: 2012–2021
On 27 November 2012, McLeod revealed on the radio station Triple M that The Superjesus would come together again for a single performance scheduled for 1 February 2013. The reunion was sparked by drummer Paul Berryman's return to Australia from Seattle, which gave the band a chance to reconnect musically. Following the positive reception of this show, they played at the Stone Music Festival in Sydney in April alongside Van Halen and Aerosmith, then embarked on their first nationwide tour in a decade—The Resurrection Tour—during May and June.
In early 2015, The Superjesus participated in the She Who Rocks Tour alongside the Baby Animals, fronted by Suze DeMarchi. That June, they released "The Setting Sun," their first single in over ten years, followed by "St. Peters Lane" in November and a supporting tour named after the former. December saw guitarist Chris Tennent exit the band, with former member Jason Slack stepping in as his replacement. By April 2016, drummer Paul Berryman departed due to family obligations overseas. Meanwhile, McLeod spent three months in New York City crafting new songs intended for a fourth studio album.
The EP Love and Violence was released in August 2016 through Golden Robot Records, accompanied by a national tour commencing in October.
In March 2017, The Superjesus gained induction into the South Australian Music Hall of Fame. They celebrated the 20th anniversary of their album Sumo in 2018 with a deluxe reissue featuring bonus tracks and a nationwide tour.
January 2019 saw The Superjesus join the 'Under the Southern Stars' concert series across five states, sharing the stage with artists such as Hoodoo Gurus, Eskimo Joe, and You Am I. In November of that year, they performed in Brazil and were featured in a documentary honoring the ABC TV music program Recovery, hosted by Dylan Lewis.
The Superjesus: 2022–present
In September 2022, The Superjesus announced they would headline an Australian tour set for January 2023 to promote their forthcoming single, Money. They confirmed plans to release their fourth studio album within 2023, recorded at Studio 85 located in the Blue Mountains and produced by drummer Murray Sheridan. By December 2022, lead guitarist Cam Blokland and drummer Murray Sheridan had been officially integrated into the band's lineup.
Between August and December 2023, The Superjesus toured across Australia to support their single "Lights Out". Their self-titled fourth studio album was released on 21 March 2025.
Band members
Current members
- Sarah McLeod – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1994–2004, 2013–present), lead guitar (2001–2004)
- Stuart Rudd – bass (1994–2004, 2013–present)
- Cameron Blokland – lead guitar (2022–present)
- Ben Todd – drums (2024–present)
Former members
- Chris Tennent – lead guitar (1994–1999, hiatus 1997)
- Paul Berryman – drums (1994–2004, 2013–2016)
- Tim Henwood – lead guitar (1999–2001, 2013–2015)
- Jason Slack – lead guitar (2015–2022; touring 2001–2004)
- Travis Dragani – drums (2016–2022)
- Murray Sheridan – drums (2022–2024)
Former touring musicians
- Aaron Tokona – lead guitar (1997; died 2020)
- Danny Leo – drums (2024)
Timeline
Studio albums
| Album Title | Album Information | Highest Chart Positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| Sumo |
|
2 |
|
| Jet Age |
|
5 |
|
| Rock Music |
|
14 | |
| The Superjesus |
|
10 |
Re-issues
| Title | Album Information | Highest Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| Sumo II |
|
34 |
| Sumo 20th Anniversary |
|
— |
Extended plays
| Title | EP Details | Peak Chart Position |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| Eight Step Rail |
|
47 |
| Love and Violence |
|
— |
Singles
| Single Title | Year Released | Highest Chart Position Achieved | Associated Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| "Down Again" | 1997 | 23 | Sumo |
| "Saturation" | 42 | ||
| "Now and Then" | 1998 | 40 | |
| "Ashes" | 66 | ||
| "Gravity" | 2000 | 35 | Jet Age |
| "Secret Agent Man" | 2001 | 43 | |
| "Enough to Know" | 42 | ||
| "Second Sun" | 2002 | 107 | |
| "Stick Together" | 2003 | 35 | Rock Music |
| "Over and Out" | 53 | ||
| "So Lonely" | 2004 | 45 | |
| "The Setting Sun" | 2015 | — | Love and Violence |
| "St. Peters Lane" | — | ||
| "Love and Violence" | 2016 | — | |
| "The Impossible" | 2019 | — | Template:Non-album single |
| "Money (We're Only in It for Love)" | 2023 | — | The Superjesus |
| "Lights Out" | — | ||
| "Dancing with Myself" | — | ||
| "We Won't Let Go Until It's Over" | 2024 | — | |
| "Something Good" | — | ||
| "Diamonds" | 2025 | — |
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards are held annually to celebrate outstanding achievements and creativity within Australia's diverse music scene. The Superjesus earned three wins out of eight total nominations.
|- | rowspan="2"| 1997 | rowspan="2"| Eight Step Rail | Best New Talent | |- | Breakthrough Artist – Single | |- | rowspan="4"| 1998 | rowspan="4"| Sumo | Best Group | |- | Breakthrough Artist - Album | |- | Best Cover Art | |- | Best Rock Album | |- | rowspan="2"| 2001 | rowspan="2"| Jet Age | Best Rock Album | |- | Best Cover Art | |-
South Australian Music Awards
Since 2012, the South Australian Music Awards have honored and highlighted exceptional talent within South Australia's modern music community.
|- | 2017 | The Superjesus | Hall of Fame | |-
External links
- Articles with short description
- ARIA Award winners
- Australian alternative rock groups
- Australian post-grunge groups
- Australian hard rock musical groups
- Australian musical trios
- Musical groups established in 1994
- Musical groups disestablished in 2004
- Musical groups reestablished in 2013
- Musical groups from Adelaide
- 1994 establishments in Australia
- 2004 disestablishments in Australia
- Warner Music Group artists