Taxiride Fallout As ‘Reunion’ Tour Excludes Singer

Iconic Melbourne rock band Taxiride are embarking on a 20th-anniversary tour of their 2002 album, Garage Mahal. But the tour that hits Melbourne and Victorian towns Hepburn Springs and Belgrave this November isn't quite the happy reunion fans expect.

Taxiride are no longer performing with founding member and vocalist Jason Singh. Their current line-up consists of guitarist and vocalist Tim Watson, guitarist and backing vocalist Tim Wild, drummer Sean McLeod, bassist Andrew McIvor, and vocalist Taylor Sheridan. 

Singh has recently taken to Instagram to comment on how Taxiride have advertised the shows. "I continue to be disappointed by people I spent a lot of my life with and dedicated thousands of hours to. I continue to be shocked by their blatant disregard for both the legacy of Taxiride and the acknowledgment of the years of work I put in both with them and without them to protect the goodwill of the band," he wrote. "I have neither left the band nor been given notice."

In November 2021, Singh released a statement about the "Upcoming Shows Advertised As 'Taxiride,'" where he said, "Unfortunately, for reasons unknown, other members have recently taken it upon themselves to make decisions without my consultation or consent... This is by no means a stepping down from the band announcement - There is no Taxiride without me."

The current band members, however, seem to disagree. Today, Singh again posted on Instagram with the caption, "For the Record: I have not left Taxiride!!! It is time you all knew some facts." 

He continued, "In October 2021, Tim Watson and Tim Wild decided to go behind my back and re-register the expired Taxiride trademark WITHOUT ME. This is a fact and is on the public record at IP Australia. I am challenging this to ensure that what is right and what is fair happens - that the trademark be registered back in the names of the rightful owners: Jason Singh, Dan Hall, Tim Wild and Tim Watson. This challenge, at great expense to me, has been going on for over a year now. I have continued to be excluded from a variety of discussions and decisions, prior to and after discovering Tim and Tim's trademark antics, including not being told of or asked to participate in any shows under the name Taxiride."

Following Taxiride's 2x Platinum debut album, 1999's Imaginate, their second record, Garage Mahal, contained the band's most successful single, Creeping Up Slowly, which reached #6 in Australia. 

As well as the trio of tour dates, Taxiride are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Garage Mahal by releasing the album on vinyl for the first time. The vinyl is being released as part of AusMusic month, with Warner Music Australia issuing a limited edition t-shirt for AusMusic T-Shirt Day, with $5 from every shirt going to Support Act. 

TAXIRIDE VICTORIAN TOUR DATES

Thursday 10 November - Bird's Basement, Melbourne

Saturday 3 December - Palais, Hepburn Springs

Thursday 8 December - Sooki Lounge, Belgrave