Jak Housden (born John Paul Housden on 12 June 1969) is an Australian musician. He has played guitar since he was about 10 years old. He joined his first professional band, Show Of Hands when he was just 16 years old. He is the brother of Stephen Housden lead guitarist of Little River Band and is the uncle of Paul Housden, who was part of the now defunct Pornland. Housden is currently leader of the band Paul Housden and the Futurists. He has also produced Open's latest self titled album.
Jak was the guitarist for The Badloves before becoming a full-time guitarist for The Whitlams for the release of Torch the Moon in 2002. Before this Whitlams release however, Jak made an appearance on the 2000 album Love This City. Housden released a solo album Mad About Disco in 2004 through Boffin Records, which spawned his first single "To Die For". On his album, Jak demonstrated his many musical talents and varied his musical instruments to an assortment of things such as guitar, bass, roland synthesizer, drums, electronic harpsichord, cheese machine, shaker, cowbell, cabassa, tambourine, wobble bass, mellotron, Yamaha organ, Wurlitizer electric piano, fuzz bass, and the Casio keyboard submarine sound.
Jak has also played in numerous bands including the Organ Donors - Clayton Doley (Hammond organ), Dave Hibbard (drums) and James Hazelwood. Jak currently also plays and performs in Sydney psychedlic rock band, The Dolly Rocker Movement.
Jak's music is likened to sixties and seventies disco pop with an electric vibe and influences from The Beatles, The Byrds, Rolling Stones and The Seeds.
Jak can be regularly seen on the local Australian music scene playing with his guitar, a Fender Telecaster and effects pedals such as his Big Muff.
Mad About Disco
Album Released in 2004 by Boffin Records available now through MGM Distribution
To Die For
Single released in 2005 by Boffin Records