Band Members:-
Dave Yelland – vocals
Ian Nancarrow – vocals & guitar
Rick Harrison – guitar
Jeff Gurr – bass
Steve Hopgood – drums
Record Release:-
Dancing Girl / Sharade Blues (Leedon LK-1523) 10-66
Look Through My Window / Why Can She Be Mine (Unreleased tracks) c.67
Band Members:-
John Hughson
Graeme (or Graham) Sands
Hailing from the northern suburbs of Adelaide c.1967-70, this combo played at The Octagon. Apparently this group won the 1969 5AD Radio Coca Cola Battle of the Bands. There is a rumour that they recorded material and were promised airplay on radio station 5AD – was this the prize to winning the Battle of the Bands in ’69?
This band is quite obscure, can anyone provide any other information?
Band Members:-
Mike Siegele – Vocals & Organ
Bob Van Amstel – Lead Guitar
Dan Schubert – Rhythm Guitar
Rod Schubert – Bass Guitar
Brian Fechner – Drums
Record Releases:-
Is This A Dream/Let Me Down Easy (GO!! G-5044) 12-66
Just A Little Bit (unreleased live track) c.66
I’ll Go Crazy (unreleased live track) c.66
Yet another band of this name, not to be confused with the Newcastle Upon Tyne group or the American outfit, or even the other Australian band of the time in Canberra, A.C.T.
The Chosen Few started as the Outcasts in the South Australian town of Nurioopta, during 1965. They took on their new name in 1966, with a membership of Mike Siegele (vocals, keyboards), Bob Van Amstel (lead guitar), Dan Schubert (rhythm guitar), Rod Schubert (bass), and Brian Fechner (drums). The quintet regularly played clubs like the Octagon and Big Daddy’s in Adelaide, but neverr settled in the City of Churches. Influences were The Zombies, The Animals, James Brown, Wilson Pickett & The Spencer Davis Group, which the band played many covers off.
During the summer of 1966, they competed in a Battle of the Sounds in Adelaide, and didn’t win but did get a deal with the Go!! label for a single, which was a cover of the Zombies’ “Is This A Dream,” issued at the end of the year. The record, despite a tremendously energetic and bracing performance with lots of ’60s punk power, failed to chart outside of Adelaide, and the band broke up in early 1967. A live recording of I’ll Go Crazy from the Battle of the Sounds was issued with another track, Just A Little Bit on the Raven issued Live At Big Daddy’s Discotheque in 1986.
Record Releases:-
Russian Spy And I/Now It’s Time (Columbia DO-5001) 07-67
Medley (unreleased live track) c.66
An Adelaide group that released just the one single on Columbia. They must’ve been quite popular as the 45 reached number nine on the Adelaide charts in late ’67. A medley of theirs was recorded for a slated live LP for the opening of Big Daddy’s Discotheque in Adelaide in ’66, this LP which did not get a release until Raven put it out twenty years later.
Band Members:-
Tony Martin – (?1961)
Simon Paul – (?1961)
Frank Sebastyan – Vocals (late 1965-70)
Geoff Pretty – Drums (late 1965-early 70)
Phil Wooding – Guitar (late 1965-late 68)
Allan Sands – Bass (late 1965-late 67)
Peter Manuel – Organ (late 1965-70)
Steve Lada – Bass (late 1967-70
John Bywaters – Bass (1970)
Record Releases:-
Clap Your Hands/Forgive Me Darlin’ (W & G WG-S-2540) 02-66
Let This Be A Lesson/Take It Easy (W & G WG-S-2647) 05-66
I Can See My Love/More Than I Can Say (W & G WG-S-8009) 08-66
I Am Waiting/Down And Out (IN Records IN-S-8040) 12-66
‘Ow Yer Goin’/Over Under Sideways Down (IN Records IN-S-8102) 08-67
Madge’s Charity Badges/Chokko Brandy (RCA 101860) 06-69
The Ballad Of Andy Capp/Window (Gamba GA ????) ??-69
In-Sect A-Sides LP -Let This Be A Lesson/Take It Easy/I Can See My Love/More Than I Can Say/I Am Waiting/Down And Out/I Ain’t Got You/Hallelujah I Love Her So/Over Under Sideways Down/I Can’t Stop Loving You/Sloop John B/El Cumanchero ( W & G WG-25/5045) ??-67
This article appeared on pages 9 to 11 of the The Livin’ End #3, November 1984. Article was written & published by Dean Mittelhauser.
The In-Sect were originally formed in Adelaide around 1961 as Dave Thunder & The Macmen (although there was no one in the band called Dave Thunder.) The band’s early members included Tony Martin and Simon Paul (who later wrote their two classic punkers.) The band played the local dance scene for the few years, and by late 1965, their lineup had stablised at: Frank Sebastyan (vocals), Geoff Pretty (drums), Phil Wooding (guitar), Allan Sands (bass) and Peter Manuel (organ).
They released their first 45 in Feburary ’66, the dire “CLAP YOUR HANDS“. I say dire because it really was pretty bad nad it gave little hint of the wyld trakcs they were later to cut. It was about this time that they became the In-Sect, a pointed reference to the Beatles.
With their name change, they adopted a more raucous, punkier style. Even so, these guys weren’t punks. They hadn’t emerged from the garage, they’d emerged straight from the office. The In-Sect were a most unusual band. They regularly played Adelaide’s cabaret circuit, because that was where the money was – thus short hair. Despite this, they also regularly did a wild set at various local haunts around the city.
They did a couple of low-key tours to Victoria, and in June they released their first 45 under their new banner and style. The result? “Let This Be A Lesson“, a classy track, definitely as catchy or a memorable as any of the Yardbirds classics (a band they had a sneaking admiration for). The single was raved about by the influential Bob Francis (Good Old Bob!) and it shot into the Adelaide top ten. Even so, it recieved little or no airplay outside of South Australia.
As if to pove that “Let This Be A Lesson” was no fluke, in September came “I Can See My Love“, and, amazingly, it was even better. Wild guitar, clean precise production, no grunge, but boy was it hot! The B side was a passable cover of “More Than I Can Say“, which was later covered by that fuzzy haired creep, Leo Sayer. It followed “Let That Be A Lesson” into the top ten.
Because the band was chopping and changing from wild discos one night, to cabaret floor shows the next, they became quite adept at playing wild R’n'B and punk ranging right through to soft top forty and middle of the road muzak.
An oddity indeed, and as Frank Sebastyan, their vocalists, said “We used to play a lot of Mickey Mouse music.” Their incredibly rare LP “In-Sect-A-Sides“, illustrates this the best. At the time that it was released, the band had basically become the resident band at the famed Arkaba a well known nitespot. Because the repertoire called for at the Arkaba was 60/40 (60% rock/40% cabaret), they recorded the LP pretty much along those lines, in the hope of cashing in with their many fans from the Arkaba. That is why you’ll hear “Sloop John B” & “El Cumbanchero” (an an incredibly tacky version) mixing it with likes of “Let This Be A Lesson“, “I Can See My Love” or “Over Under Sideways Down“. See, it all begins to make a little sense, doesn’t it?
In December, “Down And Out” made the Adelaide top ten (the band were still virtually recognised in other states) as usual, it contained a fine guitar solo, a by now, familiar trademark of their recorded work. Around this time Peter Manuel allegedly played organ on the Loved One’s hit “The Loved One“.
Down And Out
Late in ’67, Allan Sands got married and quit the band. He was replaced by Steve Lada (ex – Ram Jam Big Band). 5KA disc jokey approached him on a song he had written,” ‘Ow Yer Goin’ “. A novelty song in Vincent’s typical style, the B side was the In-Sect’s version of the Yardbirds’ “Over Under Sideways Down“. It also made top ten (in fact all their singles made the top ten in Adelaide), and Vincent continuously plugged it in his weekly column for Go-Set.
Over the next couple of years, the band suffered quite a few unsettling lineup changes. Late in 1968 Phil Wooding left the band and moved to Sydney to join Jeff St John & the Cooperwine. He became heavily involved in the drug scene, and in ealry ’70s suicided. A sad demise for a great, unheralded guitarist. Just before he left, RCA released another single using John Vincent on vocals, “Madge’s Charity Badge’s“, this was another of Vincent’s terrible novelty songs, but the band’s raunchiness is undiminished, particularly on “Mage…”, where there is a truly fab guitar solo. It’s absolutely boss, and makes Vincent’s bad lyrics and even worse vocals almost bearable.
In 1969 came one final single, “The Ballad Of Andy Capp“, on the local Gamba label. Pretty, a virtual stalwart of the band, left early in 1970, joined the Going Thing, who recorded 45′s and an LP for Sweet Peach. Lada also left was replaced by John Bywaters (ex-Twilights). The band mutated into the Frank Sebastyan Entertainment Revue, which played the cabaret circuit right through the ’70′s until folding in 1979.
April Byron c.1965-66
Record Releases:-
He’s My Bobby/Make The World Go Away (Leedon LK-606) ?05-64
Listen Closely/What’s A Girl To Do (Leedon LK-905) ??-65
He’s A Thief/A Long Time Ago (Downunder UK-1513) 10-66
You Go Ahead Baby/See You Sam (CBS BA-221463) ??-67
The Ultimate Biography of the Bee Gees: Tales of the Brothers Gibb by Hector Cook, Melinda Bilyeu, Andrew Mon Hughes, Joseph Brennan, Mark Crohan was extensively referenced for the article. Published by Omnibus Press, 2004.
Born in Adelaide, April Elizabeth Potts was discovered by no other than Johnny O’Keefe who persuaded her to leave school early and take up her hobby as a full-time career in Melbourne. Her new manager, Horrie Dargie, patiently groomed her for stardom, and was rewarded when as April Byron, she had a big hit in May 1964 with Make The World Go Away, an Eddie Cochran cover. By the way the B side, He’s My Bobby was written by April herself. She became much in demand for television appearances, as well as live performances at discotheque dances and hotels. Her follow-up Leedon single, Listen Closely, was backed with What’s A Girl To Do which was co-written by April herself with Bill Shepherd. It was likely that it was Shepherd who introduced her to the Gibb brothers at the Hurtsville Studios.
He's A Thief
The next release was He’s A Thief backed with A Long Time Ago on the Downunder label. Produced by Ossie Byrne and Nat Kipner, side A’s He’s A Thief was co-written by Maurice Gibb & Nat Kipner, whilst side B’s A Long Time Ago was written by Barry Gibb. As with all Downunder records it sold poorly and the artists cut (which was small) probably went to Ossie Byrne to help him recover the costs in producing the record.
I don’t know much about April’s last 45 on CBS, if you know please email me. The address is on the about page.
Band Members:-
Craig Roberts – Vocals (1965-66)
Ray Dyett – ?Vocals?
Billy Fifer – Bass Guitar (1965-66)
John Stoyel – Bass Guitar (1966)
Mike Brady – Guitar
Ian White – Guitar
Keith Drage – Drums
Mark Anthony a.k.a ‘Mark Twain’ – Vocals
Record Releases:-
Leave Myself To Me/Mean Mean City (Festival FK 1122) 09-65
A Wondrous Place/I Want You Back Again (Parlophone DO 4714) 10-65
This article appeared on page 29 of the Tom Thum’ #1, December 1992. Review was written by Downliner Doug.
One of my favourite Australian 45s with original sounds from yet another Adelaide band, Mean Mean City is a slow moody song and could be autobiographical about hard, lonely times living away from home in the mean city. Yeah, this is a real weeper with mournful harp, nice guitar, vocal harmonies and added percussion from a bongo drum – a gem.
Leave Myself To Me
The other side, Leave Myself To Me, has a slightly quicker pace with a mournful harmonica and that guitar sound that makes sixties beat/r’n'b so desirable. This is a catchy song about ignoring his girl’s pleas, a song that suddenly raves up wildly for the few bars.
[Editor - this is also a personal favourite of mine!!]
Band Members:-
Roy Clayton – Guitar
Rick Coburn – Guitar
Ian Ferguson (1967)
Colin Ford – Vocals
Bob Harris – Bass Guitar
John Philips – Drums
Record Releases:-
Ability/Evergreen Tree (Columbia DO-4697) 06-66
Keep A Hold Of What You Got/Honey & Wine (Columbia DO-4723) 09-66
Land Of 1000 Dances/Dancing In The Streets (unreleased live tracks)
This band had a huge following in their native Adelaide.
Land Of 1000 Dances/Dancing In The Streets were recorded live for the slated Bigg Daddy’s Discotheque opening in ’66. These tracks were released in 1986 on the Raven label.
A Dean Mittelhauser written article appearing on page 34 of The Livin’ End Magazine #3.
Another band hailing from Adelaide, that have intrigued me for quite a while are the Mau Maus.
They toured Melbourne early in ’67, playing gigs at Garrison, amongst other. They had an allegedly wyld act and played regularly at Garrison’s “Savage Sunday.” If the gig lived up to it’s name, they must’ve been pretty wild.
Information provide by Lindy on the Mau Maus, many thanks Lindy!
Just discovered your site, pleasantly surprised to see so many familiar bands listed from a truly fantastic era! I was a high school kid back in the day and on weekends hung out with my friends at Big Daddy’s and the Octagon Theatre at Elizabeth (which, sadly, is no longer there….don’t what it’s been turned into these days). Wish i had a time-machine…
A couple of us became pretty good mates with the boys from the Mau Maus (Alex, George, Rino & Tom, who i believe hailed from the Norwood area at the time). They headed off to Melbourne by early ’67, so when a friend and i moved over there as well in May of that year, at least we knew someone….i think they had a flat in Grey St, St Kilda….wherever, they let us crash out there for a couple of weeks, until we found jobs and a place of our own up the road. We used to hang out with the guys and watch them play at the Garrison but i don’t remember them ever really being what i’d describe as ‘wild’ on stage….unless i was just desensitised by wilder bands, lol! Such a buzz to see them acknowledged, as i’ve often thought of them over the years, wondering what they’ve all up to but haven’t seen or heard anything of any of them since i left Melbourne later that same year.
Anyway….thanks for giving the lesser-known talent around the place a mention and some deserved recognition…..hopefully someone who knows more than i do about my old friends might tune in sometime….the only surname that i’m fairly sure of is Rino’s, which is Verusio, or something like it….these guys were Italian and Greek, so anglicised their names, Tom used ‘Peters’, Alex used ‘Pappas’ and damned if i can remember George’s…
Rock on,
Lindy
Band Members:-
Joe Barry – Bass Guitar (1968)
Michael Barry – Guitar
Mick Buzitell – Guitar (1967)
Kevin Clancy – Guitar
Andy Clarke – Drums (1967)
Brian Holloway – Guitar
Trevor Smith – Guitar (1968)
Chris Stewart – Drums (1968)
Dean Symonds – Drums (1967)
Peter Tillbrook – Bass Guitar (1967)
Terry Wayne a.k.a ‘Terry Daviess’ – Vocals
Running High/Blame Myself (Parlophone) 67
Mary’s Got A Daisy/Lovers Lamp Post (Phonovox) 07-67
A Dean Mittelhauser written article appearing on page 34 of The Livin’ End Magazine #3. Reprints of this issue and the other six can still be bought at this link.
Sounds of Silence were an interesting Adelaide band formed late in ’66. Although preactically unheard of outside Sth. Australia, they became one of Adelaides top bands. They released two 45′s, the first “Running High” was great the second “Mary’s Got A Daisy” on Phonovox, was patchy at best.
Members of the band included Kevin Glancy, later a solo artist with some measure of local success on independent S.A. labels Gamba & Sweet Peach, and Peter Tillbrook, en-route from the Bentbeaks to the Masters.
Terence Daviess emailed me the other day with same important info on the group, thanks to Terry for providing it.
Hi there. My name is Terence Wayne DAVIESS. I was the singer for SOS (Terry Wayne) Stage name. My wife found your site. I have complete history of band from start to finish.
I’ve kept a 20 volume scrap book of my singing career (800 pages) SOS takes up 2 volumes. home phone ** ********. Live in South Australia, Adelaide.
The 2 singles are very rare. Running High 258 copies sold, Marys got a Daisy financed by Dr Jeff Eddelson, sold more (Approx 300 copies) but we got no cash for either record.
Bad management and internal hassles amongst members broke the band up. Theres such a lot to tell. Have pics of entire era including Go mag pics,posters, ect.
The band started out as The Gnoo.
We were resident band at the 20 Plus Club. The manager there, changed our name to SOS. We won Hoadleys Battle of the Bands and went to Melbourne. 5 of us lived in a St Kilda flat.
A Geoff Linton was our manager. First gig was at Catcher. We were terrified. It was a whirl-wind 2 years of gigs. Poor as church mice.
Phone me and I’ll answer your questions, O.K. Regards Terry Wayne
PS Have not heard from anyone else, but expect they are all alive still
