Band Members:-
Andre De Moller – Vocal, harmonica & guitar
John Eddy – Guitar
Ken Kramer – Bass
Garry Lynn – Drums
Record Release:-
Help Me/Walk On By (HMV EA-4672) 12-64
This Perth combo recorded the Sonny Boy Williamson cover in late 1964 and by 1965 they had broken up.
Band Members:-
John ‘Mort’ Abbott – Vocals & Drums (1964-68)
Keith Yelland – Keyboards (1965-67)
Daryl Chance – Guitar (1965-67)
Gordon Parsons – Drums (1965-68)
Jon Cooksey – Bass Guitar (1965-67)
Dave Pearson – Bass Guitar (1967-68)
Dennis James – Guitar (1967-68)
Record Releases:-
Can’t You See/The Wind Blew Into My Eyes (Act!on KE-002) c.66
Choose Who I Like (Unreleased studio track) c.67
Can't You See?
From information I have received about this band there were in fact three line-ups, John ‘Mort’ Abbott (v) helped form this band in 1964, this line-up had the image of dressing in stove pipe hats and black coats with tails. To start the show they would wheel or carry a coffin onstage and the lid would open up revealing Mort from his deep slumber, thus they were dubbed as Morticians. The band played frantic r’n'b.
Later on Keith McGowan, the top DJ from Perth’s leading radio station 6PR, offered to manage and record the group. As I (Keith Yelland) have since been told, Keith suggested to Mort that more experienced players were needed if they were going to record so thus the second line-up was born in 1965. This line-up recorded the Action single sometime in 1966 plus the unreleased track “Choose Who I Like” in early 67. The band minus Mort provided backing for Maggie Hammond on her Action records.
I’ve just had it confirmed that Keith Yelland did not play on the Maggie Hammond tracks or “Choose Who I Like” session, he (Keith Yelland) believes it was some other keyboard player who replaced him in the group, so the plot thickens.
This line-up broke up sometime around mid 67 – late 67, this is where the third line-up came into being. Gone was the bouncy r’n'b Farfisa/Vox Continental organ sound and in came the heavier Hendrix/Cream/Small Faces sound that was in force around Australia at the time. No recordings were sadly done with this line-up. This line-up lasted till 1968.
The Mark IV c.1966
Originally called the Zebecs from 1964 to 1966.
Band Members:-
Harry Allen – Lead Guitar (1966-67)
Howard Smith – Rhythm Guitar & Vocals (1966-early 68)
John Tower – Bass (1966-1967)
Alan Scupham – Drums (1966-1967)
Murray Greive – Keyboards (1967-70)
John Lemin – Lead Guitar (1967-71)
Ken Jackson – Drums (1967-69)
Geoff McAullay – Bass (1967-70)
Kevin Smith (1969-1971)
Alan Lyford – Bass (1971)
Basil Vdeli – Keyboards (1971)
Cliff Toll – Drums (late 1969-71)
Record Releases:-
Groove With What You’ve Got/It’s For You (??) ??-6?
History of the Western Australian Band Mark IV
The Zebecs c.1964
Originally called the ZEBECS from 1964 to 1966 the band played covers and consisted four members. John Crook (Lead Guitar), John Tower (Bass), Howard Smith (Rhythm Guitar) and Alan Scupham (Drums).
In 1966 John Crook was called up for national service and was replaced with Harry Allen. This was the time when the band was renamed to The Mark IV. After a short time a fifth member (keyboards) Murray Greive was added.
In 1967 with the band now it full flight, Harry Allen left the band making way for a new guitar player from Albany in John Lemin. Within a short time the band was a fully professional unit and was one of Perth’s top pub and club bands. This band was called upon to back many eastern states artists like Billy Thorpe, Bev Harrell, Johnny Farnham and Lyn Rendell etc.
At this stage the band was working six nights a week and rehearsing four days a week. Members started to become restless some changes occurred, Alan Scupham (drums) was replaced with ex DJ Ken Jackson, and John Tower was replaced with Geoff McAullay on bass. This was around Christmas of 67.
In 1968 following a dispute with their management/booking agency, The Mark IV were black-banned in Perth & Ken Jackson having worked in Kalgoorlie with his previous band The Namelous called the owner of the Albion Hotel & they were contracted for three months. At this point in time Howard Smith the last of the original members left the band and was not replaced. Upon return to Perth they had really tightened as a four piece unit & were welcomed back by various agencies. They were immediately booked at the Waldorf for its opening & the band never looked back.
Kevin Smith of the Melbourne band the Cherokees joined the Mark IV in 1969 some months later after their return from Kalgoorlie.
Ken Jackson left the band in May of 1969 to pursue a radio career. He was replaced by Cliff Toll.
It was shortly after this that the Mark IV won a local National Battle Of The Sounds & went to Sydney (1969) & actually WON the National Battle but were subjected to 2nd place because a very well known promoter of the time had arranged for a Sydney band to win and the decision was reversed. The National Hoadleys Battle Of The Sounds was officially won by The Affair. (The lead singer of the Affair at the time was a relative unknown called Kerrie Biddell). This is not conjecture, it was confirmed by the man himself some years later. Hot on the heels of their Hoadleys success the band released a record that enjoyed much airplay (in Perth), a 45 record called Groove With What You’ve Got, with a flip side It’s For You. It went to number 11 on the local charts. The tracks were produced by Pat Aulton.
They continued as a professional outfit until 1971. They then went part time again with replacement members; Alan Lyford (Bass) Basil Vdeli (Keyboard) and Cliff Toll (Drums).
The last time the band got together and played was in 1980, this was at “Pinocchio’s Night Club”. This was a nostalgic night called “The Way we Were “ featuring four of Perth’s top 60’s bands Times, Mark IV, Statesman and Troupadors. Original members still keep in touch with the exception of Murray Grieve, who unfortunately passed away in April 2008.
Band information & photos kindly supplied by Bass Guitarist’s John Tower and © 1964-2008 John Tower. Further information & corrections were supplied by Drummer Ken Jackson and © 1967-2008 Ken Jackson.