The Paradise Motel

The group formed in Hobart, Tasmania in the early 1990s, with Bickford, Aulich and Bailey where they played one concert, before relocating to Melbourne in 1995. They found their new lead singer, Merida Sussex, working in the St Kilda Public Library. They were soon signed by Mushroom Records. The band later relocated to London, though did not record again anything after their relocation, and broke up in 2000. In January 2008 recording began on the band's third studio album 'I Still Hear Your Voice At Night', completed at the end of 2008. Longtime violinist and co-arranger Campbell Shaw became a full-time member of the band after recording, bass guitarist Esme MacDonald joined shortly before recording as did drummer Damien Hill. In December 2008 drummer Damien Hill took his own life and the album was not released until January 29th 2011, the date Hill's daughter was born shortly after his death. Work on a fourth studio record, Australian Ghost Story began mid-2009, again produced by the band, this time with overdubs in London by Jason Breckenridge and mastering by Casey Rice. The album was released on the 30th anniversary of her birth, June 11, 2010.