John Willsteed
Encyclopedia
John Willsteed is an award winning Australian musician and sound designer. As a musician, he is best known as a member of the iconic Brisbane band The Go-Betweens
, in which he played bass guitar from 1987–1989, most notably on the album 16 Lovers Lane
. As a sound designer he won Australian Film Institute
awards for his work on The Beat Manifesto (1996), Vietnam Nurses
(2005, as composer) and Rare Chicken Rescue (2008). He is a lecturer in Sound Design at Queensland University of Technology
, Brisbane.
and Brisbane visual artist Gary Warner. Willsteed became the bass player, replacing former member Catharine Hunt. He remained a member of the band until 1985. Over this period the name, nature and line-up of Zero changed considerably as the original punk covers band evolved into an avant-pop duo. Xiro released two cassette EPs in 1981 (Religious Wars, Half the Profits), and, as Xero, a 12 inch vinyl EP (Lust in the Dust on MSquared) in 1982.
His move to Sydney in 1985 heralded a period of musical expansion. Over the next three years Willsteed played bass in a number of Sydney bands ranging from country (Tender Mercies) to quirky pop (Machines That Walk).
It was also in this period that Willsteed contributed to film soundtracks for the first time. His long relationship with Gary Warner, then with the Sydney Super 8 Film Group, drew him into the work of filmmaker Ross Gibson (Camera Natura, Wild, Dead to the World), and he contributed as a musician to the scores of these films and others.
in Tender Mercies – and through this social connection was invited to join the band. Almost immediately they went into pre-production for their sixth studio album 16 Lovers Lane. Willsteed’s work on this album as both guitarist and bass player has been credited with being an important part of the band’s increasing musical sophistication. With 16 Lovers Lane, The Go-Betweens achieved their greatest commercial success to date, both in Australia and internationally. The song 'Streets of Your Town' remains the best known of The Go-Betweens’ catalogue. They toured extensively in Australia and overseas in 1988-89 supporting R.E.M.
on their Green World Tour. At the end of the tour Willsteed was sacked from the band for unspecified reasons. Willsteed has continued to play in Australian bands, including Plug Uglies, The Drunk, The Monk and the Spunk, and Disgraceland. He has also contributed to recording projects by The Apartments
and Ed Kuepper
among others.
and The Rage In Placid Lake
– and over 60 television documentaries and short films. Willsteed has won three Australian Film Institute Awards for Sound Design (Vietnam Nurses, The Beat Manifesto and Rare Chicken Rescue). He has also been nominated for two IF Awards (Angst, The Rage in Placid Lake) and is the recipient of the International Wildlife Film Festival Sound Award (for Hypsi, the Forest Gardener). Willsteed is currently a partner in Brisbane sound post-production facility LCR Film Sound.
The Go-Betweens
The Go-Betweens were an indie rock band formed in Brisbane, Australia in 1977 by singer-songwriters and guitarists, Robert Forster and Grant McLennan. They were later joined by Lindy Morrison on drums, Robert Vickers on bass guitar and Amanda Brown on violin, oboe, guitar, and backing vocals,...
, in which he played bass guitar from 1987–1989, most notably on the album 16 Lovers Lane
16 Lovers Lane
16 Lovers Lane was the sixth album by Australian indie pop group The Go-Betweens, released in 1988 by Beggars Banquet Records. Prior to the recording of the album, longtime bassist Robert Vickers left the band when the other group members decided to return to Australia after having spent several...
. As a sound designer he won Australian Film Institute
Australian Film Institute
The Australian Film Institute was founded in 1958 as a non-profit organisation devoted to developing an active film culture in Australia and fostering engagement between the general public and the Australian film industry...
awards for his work on The Beat Manifesto (1996), Vietnam Nurses
Vietnam Nurses
Vietnam Nurses is a 2005 television documentary directed by Polly Watkins. It tells the story of six Australian Army nurses who served in a field hospital in Vietnam between the years 1962 and 1972.-Interviewees:* Diane Badcock * Anne Healey...
(2005, as composer) and Rare Chicken Rescue (2008). He is a lecturer in Sound Design at Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology is an Australian university with an applied emphasis in courses and research. Based in Brisbane, it has 40,000 students, including 6,000 international students, over 4,000 staff members, and an annual budget of more than A$750 million.QUT is marketed as "A...
, Brisbane.
Early career
Terence John Willsteed was born in Brisbane, Australia. In 1978, and with little formal musical training, John became a member of Brisbane feminist punk group Zero (later Xiro) after a chance meeting with drummer Lindy MorrisonLindy Morrison
Belinda "Lindy" Morrison is an Australian musician originally from Queensland. She was the drummer in indie rock group The Go-Betweens from 1980 to 1989, appearing on all the band's releases from their first LP in 1981 until the band's first break up on 26 December 1989...
and Brisbane visual artist Gary Warner. Willsteed became the bass player, replacing former member Catharine Hunt. He remained a member of the band until 1985. Over this period the name, nature and line-up of Zero changed considerably as the original punk covers band evolved into an avant-pop duo. Xiro released two cassette EPs in 1981 (Religious Wars, Half the Profits), and, as Xero, a 12 inch vinyl EP (Lust in the Dust on MSquared) in 1982.
His move to Sydney in 1985 heralded a period of musical expansion. Over the next three years Willsteed played bass in a number of Sydney bands ranging from country (Tender Mercies) to quirky pop (Machines That Walk).
It was also in this period that Willsteed contributed to film soundtracks for the first time. His long relationship with Gary Warner, then with the Sydney Super 8 Film Group, drew him into the work of filmmaker Ross Gibson (Camera Natura, Wild, Dead to the World), and he contributed as a musician to the scores of these films and others.
The Go-Betweens
In 1986 the Australian band The Go-Betweens lost their bass player Robert Vickers, moved to Sydney from London, and began searching for a replacement. Willsteed had played with two members - Lindy Morrison in Zero and Amanda BrownAmanda Brown (musician)
Amanda Gabrielle Brown is an Australian composer, classically trained musician, singer and songwriter, renowned for her role as the violinist of the band The Go-Betweens and more recently a session musician and soundtrack composer....
in Tender Mercies – and through this social connection was invited to join the band. Almost immediately they went into pre-production for their sixth studio album 16 Lovers Lane. Willsteed’s work on this album as both guitarist and bass player has been credited with being an important part of the band’s increasing musical sophistication. With 16 Lovers Lane, The Go-Betweens achieved their greatest commercial success to date, both in Australia and internationally. The song 'Streets of Your Town' remains the best known of The Go-Betweens’ catalogue. They toured extensively in Australia and overseas in 1988-89 supporting R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
on their Green World Tour. At the end of the tour Willsteed was sacked from the band for unspecified reasons. Willsteed has continued to play in Australian bands, including Plug Uglies, The Drunk, The Monk and the Spunk, and Disgraceland. He has also contributed to recording projects by The Apartments
The Apartments
The Apartments was an Australian indie band that first formed in 1978 in Brisbane, broke up in 1979, and reformed several times since.-History:...
and Ed Kuepper
Ed Kuepper
Ed Kuepper is an Australian guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He co-founded the seminal punk band The Saints, the experimental post-punk group Laughing Clowns and later the grunge-like The Aints...
among others.
Film sound design
Willsteed studied Sound at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, graduating in 1996. He moved to Brisbane, and began working professionally as a sound designer for film and television projects. He has worked on a number of Australian features - including AngstAngst
Angst is an English, German, Danish, Norwegian and Dutch word for fear or anxiety . It is used in English to describe an intense feeling of apprehension, anxiety or inner turmoil...
and The Rage In Placid Lake
The Rage In Placid Lake
The Rage in Placid Lake is a 2003 Australian film starring Ben Lee and Rose Byrne. It features Placid Lake , a seventeen-year-old boy who has led a suburban hippie life with his neurotic, free loving parents...
– and over 60 television documentaries and short films. Willsteed has won three Australian Film Institute Awards for Sound Design (Vietnam Nurses, The Beat Manifesto and Rare Chicken Rescue). He has also been nominated for two IF Awards (Angst, The Rage in Placid Lake) and is the recipient of the International Wildlife Film Festival Sound Award (for Hypsi, the Forest Gardener). Willsteed is currently a partner in Brisbane sound post-production facility LCR Film Sound.