Rebecca's Empire (also written as the variant Rebeccas Empire) were an Australian indie pop-rock band formed in 1994. Their mainstay members were Rebecca Barnard on lead vocals and her then-domestic partner, Shane O'Mara on lead guitar. They released two full-length albums, Way of All Things (1996) and Welcome (1999) before disbanding in 2000.
History
1989–2000: Career
In 1989 Rebecca Barnard, a singer-songwriter, and her then-domestic partner, Shane O'Mara on lead guitar, recorded a cover version of TISM's track, "The Judeo-Christian Ethic", which was released on that group's 1991 single, "Let's Form a Company" (see Hot Dogma). Barnard and O'Mara had worked together (since 1986) and separately in various groups and as session or backing musicians for other artists. They recorded a cover version of Pearl Jam's "Alive" for an album by Performers Releasing Information about Clean Syringes (P.R.I.C.S.), Do It Safe (1994).
The band signed with Polydor's newly created Eternity label and the duo were expanded to a four-piece by the addition of Peter Luscombe on drums (ex-Stephen Cummings Band, Black Sorrows) and Bill McDonald on bass guitar (ex-Hot Half Hour, Deborah Conway Band).
Early in 1995 Michael den Elzen on bass guitar replaced McDonald, who joined Frente!.
The band's breakthrough occurred in July 1996, when their first full-length album, Way of All Things, was released to relative critical acclaim. It was produced by O'Mara.
The album was successful in indie circles, and had some minor success on the mainstream charts. It provided three singles, "In Deep", "So Rude" and "Way of All Things". while "Way of All Things" polled at No. 94 in the 1997 list.
Way of All Things was followed by a two-year relative hiatus, although they played some concerts in this time.
On 12 November 2022, Barnard performed her cover of "The Judeo-Christian Ethic" at the Croxton Bandroom in the Melbourne suburb of Thornbury, shortly before TISM took to the stage for the first time in eighteen years.
Members
- Rebecca Barnard – lead vocals, guitar (1994–2000)
- Shane O'Mara – lead guitar (1994–2000)
- Peter Luscombe – drums (1994–2000)
- Bill McDonald – bass guitar (1994, 1998–2000)
- Michael den Elzen – bass guitar (1995–1998)
Discography
Studio albums
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Details
! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| AUS<br/>
|-
! scope="row"|Way of All Things
|
- Released: July 1996
- Label: Eternity, Polydor <small>(527 980-2)</small>
- Format: CD
| 75
|-
! scope="row"|Welcome
|
- Released: August 1999
- Label: Festival <small>(D24132)</small>
- Format: CD
| 102
|}
Extended plays
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of extended plays, with selected details and chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Details
! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| AUS<br/>
|-