When you hear the name John Reynolds in a city like Nashville, things get a little confusing. Fast. You’ve got the legendary Adelaide drum shop owner, the Irish producer who basically crafted Sinéad O’Connor's signature sound, and the rising indie songwriter Jon Reynolds who’s currently making waves in the Tennessee scene. It’s a bit of a "Music City" identity crisis.
But if we’re talking about the institution that actually carried the name John Reynolds Music City, we have to look toward Australia. Specifically, a former church on Waymouth Street in Adelaide that became a global pilgrimage site for the world’s greatest drummers.
Honestly, it’s one of those "if these walls could talk" situations. From 1968 until its final days, this place wasn't just a shop; it was the heartbeat of a community.
The Drummer Who Built a Kingdom
John Reynolds wasn't just a guy behind a counter. He was a monster on the kit. Back in his prime, he played for bands like The Dominoes and Frank Sebastian Review. He even set a world record by drumming for 82 hours straight. Imagine that. No sleep, just rhythm for over three days.
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When he opened John Reynolds Music City in 1968, he did it with a specific vibe in mind. He wanted a place where drummers weren't just customers, but peers. For years, if you walked in with a busted kit, Reynolds or his staff—like the long-tenured John Stephens—would often fix it for free. You don't see that kind of soul in modern retail anymore.
The shop eventually grew into the biggest drum store in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s wild to think that a single shop in Adelaide was mentioned in the same breath as the massive music hubs of London or New York.
Why the Biggest Stars Flocked to Adelaide
You might wonder why guys from the world’s biggest bands would end up at a shop in South Australia. It came down to the clinics. John Reynolds Music City wasn't just selling Zildjian cymbals and Ludwig kits; it was providing an education.
Some of the names that walked through those doors for clinics include:
- Chester Thompson (Genesis)
- Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
- Simon Phillips (The Who)
- Gregg Bissonette (David Lee Roth Band)
- Dave Weckl
These weren't just "meet and greets." They were intensive sessions where the world’s best shared their secrets with local kids. It turned Adelaide into a legitimate destination for percussionists.
The Confusion with the "Other" John Reynolds
Here is where the SEO wires usually get crossed. If you’re searching for "John Reynolds Music City" while sitting in a coffee shop in Nashville, you might actually be looking for two different people.
First, there’s John Reynolds the Producer. He’s the Irish musician who was married to Sinéad O’Connor. He produced The Lion and the Cobra and I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got. He’s a legend in his own right, working with U2, Brian Eno, and Björk. While he has deep ties to the global music industry, his "Music City" isn't a physical shop in Nashville—it’s the BIG TREE studio in Ireland.
Then you have Jon Reynolds (no 'h'). He’s a Nashville-based artist who moved to Tennessee in 2015. He leads the band Jon Reynolds and The Aches. His music is this ethereal, verby mix of modern pop-rock. He’s very much a part of the current Nashville "Music City" landscape, often collaborating with artists like Ben Cramer of Old Sea Brigade.
It’s easy to see why the names get tangled. You have a legendary shop owner, a world-class producer, and a rising Nashville indie star all sharing a name that is synonymous with music history.
The End of an Era on Waymouth Street
The story of the physical John Reynolds Music City shop has a bit of a bittersweet ending. In 2006, John sold the business to the national chain Allans Music. It became a Billy Hyde store, but things went south when that chain hit massive financial trouble.
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In a move that showed his true character, John Reynolds actually came out of retirement in 2012 to buy the store back. He wanted to save the jobs of the 14 people working there. He kept the lights on for a few more years, battling the rise of online shopping and a changing live music scene.
Ultimately, the store went into administration in 2017. By 2020, the iconic building was demolished to make way for a $100 million apartment complex called The Cullinan.
It’s a familiar story in many cities—history being traded for high-rises. But for the drummers who spent their Saturday afternoons in that old church, the name John Reynolds Music City still represents the gold standard of what a music community should look like.
Actionable Takeaways for Musicians Today
Whether you’re a drummer in Adelaide or a songwriter in Nashville, the legacy of these different "John Reynolds" figures offers some real-world lessons:
- Community Over Transactions: The Adelaide shop thrived because it offered free repairs and world-class education. If you're building a brand in music, look for ways to give value before you ask for a sale.
- Diversify Your Skillset: The Irish John Reynolds survived and thrived by being a drummer, then a writer, then a producer. Versatility is the only real job security in the arts.
- Authenticity Wins: As Jon Reynolds of Nashville famously noted, "Sometimes it takes a long time to sound like yourself." Don't rush the process of finding your unique voice.
- Preserve the History: If you have a local independent music shop, support it. Once those physical spaces are gone, the "clinics" and the "free repairs" go with them, replaced by an impersonal "Add to Cart" button.
The name John Reynolds will always be tied to "Music City"—it just depends on which city’s history you’re currently standing in.