Brisbane music legend The Saints continues to receive honour in Brisbane. In Oxley, a local park was renamed in honour of the band’s former member Ed Kuepper.
Oxley local Maurice Murphy petitioned for the park to be named after Kuepper. He made a petition that quickly garnered over 800 signatures. Thus, the Brisbane City Council approved the park’s name change.
Kuepper took to Twitter to thank Murphy and everyone who made the park renaming possible.
thanks Moz and everyone that supported this and help bring it to fruition …I’m both humbly flattered and honoured …thank you one and all.. now about that three story statue … https://t.co/LbIB1j7DUQ
— Ed Kuepper (@EdKuepper) February 18, 2018
Punk Legacy
After migrating from Germany at the age of four, Kuepper lived in Oxley and co-founded The Saints with singer Chris Bailey and drummer Ivor Hay in 1973. Their single (I’m) Stranded, along with the album of the same name in 1976, was recognised as a cornerstone of the punk movement. The band split in 1978 and Kuepper continued as a solo performer. He is currently touring under the name The Aints.
This wasn’t the only move made to honour The Saints. Back in 2017, John Willsteed, best known for his stint as bassist of The Go-Betweens, sought state government funding to mark the band’s second rehearsal place.
A similar honour had been made for The Go-Betweens via the Go Between Bridge linking South Brisbane and Milton. Willsteed believed it was time for The Saints to receive the same honour.
Willsteed succeeded in seeking to honour The Saints and a mural was unveiled along Upper Roma Street in December 2017 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band’s iconic debut album, (I’m) Stranded.
Keupper was at the unveiling of the mural to witness the impact of his band’s music 40 years later.
