Little River Band

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Biography

Little River Band is an Australia n rock music|rock band, formed in Melbourne in early 1975.

The group chose the name after passing a road sign leading to the Victoria (Australia)|Victoria n township of Little River, Victoria|Little River , near Geelong , on the way to a performance. Little River Band enjoyed sustained commercial success in not only Australia, but also in the United States . During its career, the band sold more than 25 million records and achieved 13 U.S. Top 40 hits - to add to awards gained in Australia.

The band's original members were: lead vocals Glenn Shorrock ; acoustic guitar & vocals Graeham Goble ; rhythm guitar & vocals Beeb Birtles ; lead guitar Ric Formosa ; bass guitar Roger McLachlan; and drummer Derek Pellicci . The music and lyrics for most of the group's compositions were contributed by Goble and Shorrock primarily — with contributions from Birtles and Briggs.

In May 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association|Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) , as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named " Cool Change (song)|Cool Change ", written by Shorrock, as one of the APRA Top 30 Australian songs|Top 30 Australian songs of all time. The 'classic line-up' of Birtles, Goble, Pellicci, Shorrock, guitarist David Briggs (Australian musician)|David Briggs and bass guitarist George McArdle, were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association|Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) ARIA Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame at the 18th Annual ARIA Music Awards of 2004 .

Early years 1970s

In Australian terms, the original lineup of LRB can be considered a " supergroup (music)|supergroup ". Glenn Shorrock had been the lead singer of leading Australian 1960s pop band The Twilights (band)|The Twilights and highly regarded early 1970s country rock band Axiom (Australian band)|Axiom . Beeb Birtles had been the bassist in the popular 1960s band Zoot (band)|Zoot (which launched the career of singer-guitarist Rick Springfield ), and Goble had led Adelaide folk rock group Alison Gros|Allison Gros before forming the harmony-country-rock band Mississippi (band)|Mississippi , which had enjoyed some chart success in Australia and built up a strong following on the concert and festival circuit; during 1971-72 the original members also recorded under the studio band pseudonym Allison Gros (band)|Drummond , scoring a national #1 hit with a novelty cover of the song " Daddy Cool (The Rays song)|Daddy Cool ".

LRB found immediate success in Australia, but individual members had greater ambitions. Like other Australian groups of the period, both Axiom and Mississippi had tried to break into the United Kingdom|UK record market without success. Axiom disbanded after moving to the UK, and Shorrock sang for a short period with the more progressive rock outfit Esperanto (progressive rock band)|Esperanto before meeting and joining forces with Birtles, Goble & Pellicci in 1974. They agreed to meet back in their homeland by early 1975. Remembering the indifferent reaction they had received in the UK, they decided their new band would focus on establishing themselves in the United States .

A key factor in their eventual success was a fellow Australian they had met while in England who became their manager, Glenn Wheatley . Wheatley had been the bassist in the highly-regarded Australian rock band The Masters Apprentices and his first-hand experiences of the rip-offs in the 1960s music scene, combined with his subsequent experience working in music management in Britain and the United States in the early 1970s, allowed him to help Little River Band become the first Australian group to enjoy consistent commercial and chart success in the United States.

Fuelled by a very successful Australian hit single "Curiosity Killed the Cat", the band began making promotional visits to the US in September 1976. This resulted in a US hit single, "It's a Long Way There" (edited down from the album track, which ran over 8 minutes long). This broke into the US Top 30 and galvanised the commitment of the band members.

Success and changes of personnel

Just before they began touring abroad, lead guitarist Ric Formosa, apparently not enthusiastic about touring outside of Australia, left the group in August 1976 to pursue other musical interests and was replaced by David Briggs (Australian musician)|David Briggs . At the same time, the group decided to replace bassist Roger McLachlan, who left to join Stars (Australian band)|Stars and was replaced by George McArdle. However, Formosa remained in touch with his former bandmates and conducted and wrote string parts for several Little River Band songs after he officially left the band.

More concert performances in the U.S. followed and in 1977 " Help Is on Its Way " ( List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1970s#1977|an Australian number one single ) and "Happy Anniversary" both narrowly missed the US Top 10. From 1978 until 1981, Little River Band achieved one gold ( Diamantina Cocktail , released in 1977) and two platinum ( Sleeper Catcher in 1978 and First Under the Wire in 1979) plus six consecutive US Top 10 singles with " Reminiscing " (#3, their biggest hit), "Lady" (#10), "Lonesome Loser" (#6), " Cool Change (song)|Cool Change " (#10), "The Night Owls" (#6) and "Take It Easy on Me" (#10). During their career the band has sold more than 25 million records and has scored 13 American Top 40 hits.

From 1976 through 1985, the group maintained a constant touring schedule which kept it in the U.S. for long periods of time and may have contributed to much of the constant shuffling of personnel. For example: The band's schedule was so busy that when drummer Derek Pellicci was severely injured in a gas grill fire in May 1978, the band brought in a substitute drummer (Geoff Cox) rather than cancel shows. Drummer Cox remained with the group through the summer of 1978 and even played alongside Pellicci after he came back until he was healed enough to continue on his own. A keyboardist, Mal Logan , was added in time for another U.S. tour in late 1978.

After finishing a U.S. tour in January 1979, bassist McArdle left after one final appearance with the band at the Nambassa Music & Alternatives Festival in New Zealand on January 29, 1979. He went on to take up Bible study, eventually pursuing a path as a Minister (Christianity)|minister . Barry Sullivan took over on bass until American Wayne Nelson , currently the group's lead singer, joined in April 1980. In 1981, he provided lead vocals for their top-10 U.S. hit "Night Owls" the debut single from their Time Exposure album and shared duties with Shorrock on the next single "Take It Easy on Me". Time Exposure had been recorded in Monserrat with famed Beatles producer George Martin . Guitarist Stephen Housden joined the band in August 1981 replacing David Briggs (who left after musical disagreements) right as Time Exposure was being released. Housden currently owns the rights to the name Little River Band. He co-wrote the band's last hit in Australia "Love Is a Bridge" in 1988.

John Farnham years 1980s

In 1982, Shorrock was forced out of the band as the other members were keen to try different musical directions. Keyboardist Logan was dropped as well. Shorrock went on to pursue a solo career but failed to make much of an impression in the U.S. He did, however, have a substantial hit in Australia with a cover version of Bobby Darin 's " Dream Lover ". "Man on Your Mind" (the third single released from Time Exposure , featuring Shorrock on lead vocal) reached #14 in the U.S.

John Farnham replaced Shorrock in February 1982 and the first single with Farnham, "The Other Guy" (one of two new offerings on their Greatest Hits album, released in November 1982), reached #11 in the U.S., while the next single, "We Two", from their album The Net , released in May 1983, reached the peak of No. 22 in the U.S. That same year, "You're Driving Me Out of My Mind" became the group's last single to reach the U.S. Top 40. Subsequent singles were only minor charters. In Australia the band continued to be popular for a little while longer and songs such as "Down on the Border" and "Playing to Win" were major hits. At this point the band sought to move towards a more "80s style sound", so they added keyboardist David Hirschfelder in September 1983.

The pressures of success and constant touring took their toll on LRB and other members gradually left. Birtles left at the conclusion of the band's U.S. tour in October 1983 because he did not like the harder, more progressive musical path the band was taking and he was not a fan of Farnham's vocal and performance style. Pellicci too was not entirely comfortable with the new direction and left in February 1984. Steve Prestwich (formerly of Cold Chisel ) was brought in as new drummer while Birtles was not replaced.

Little River Band performed four songs for the 1985 Oz for Africa concert (part of the global Live Aid program) - "Don't Blame Me", "Full Circle", "Night Owls" and "Playing to Win". It was broadcast in Australia (on both Seven Network and Nine Network ) and on MTV in the US. "Don't Blame Me" and "Night Owls" were also broadcast by American Broadcasting Company during their Live Aid telecast ("Night Owls" was only partially transmitted).

Farnham left upon completion of the group's short Australian tour (which featured drummer Malcolm Wakeford in Prestwich's place) in support of their album No Reins (May 1986). He continued to be managed by Glenn Wheatley and his solo career took off almost immediately with the release of the phenomenally successful Whispering Jack .

Shorrock's return 1990s

After Farnham's departure, LRB was pretty much in limbo until the following year when Shorrock and Pellicci returned at the suggestion of Irving Azoff , who was now the head of MCA Records and brought the band over to the label. With Shorrock and Pellicci back in the fold, along with remaining members Goble, Housden, and Nelson, the group released two LPs on MCA, Monsoon in June 1988 (from which the single "Love Is a Bridge" was a moderate Adult Contemporary radio hit in the U.S.) and Get Lucky (February 1990). (MCA released a compilation of tracks from those two LPs on their Curb Records imprint in 1991 titled as Worldwide Love ). Goble ceased touring with the group in 1989 and left altogether by 1992. Peter Beckett (formerly of Player (band)|Player ) joined in 1989 to take Goble's place and the group went through a series of keyboard players: James Roche (a.k.a. Jamie Paddle) (1988–1990), Tony Sciuto (1990–1992, 1993–1997), Richard Bryant (ex- The Doobie Brothers|Doobie Brothers ) (1992–1993), Adrian Scott (ex- Air Supply ) (1998–1999), and Glenn Reither (1999–2004), before Chris Marion arrived at the end of 2004.

Shorrock left again in 1996 and was offered the option to buy out the remaining members (he took a payment instead). Wayne Nelson also left in 1996. Hal Tupea then came in as bassist, as new frontman Steve Wade (singer)|Steve Wade was also recruited. This lineup lasted until late 1997. At that point, everyone, except Wade, was let go and Derek Pellicci left again in early 1998, leaving Housden as sole owner of the band's trademark.

Later years 2000s

Housden brought in new players Kevin Murphy (vocals, drums, percussion), Paul Gildea (vocals, guitars), and Adrian Scott (vocals, keyboards, ex- Air Supply ), and brought back Roger McLachlan, the group's original bass player, who made a surprise return after 22 years. But McLachlan's second tenure was short lived. Both he and Scott departed after a year, not accustomed to the band's heavy touring schedule abroad. Wayne Nelson then returned (in early 1999) and Glenn Reither joined as keyboardist. But the revolving door of personnel continued as Wade and Gildea were next to leave in early 2000. Greg Hind (vocals, guitars) then jumped aboard as Nelson took over most of the lead singing from this point on. The lineup of Housden, Nelson, Hind, Murphy, & Reither was stable for almost five years and appeared on three releases: Where We Started From (2000), One Night in Mississippi (2002) and Test of Time (2004).

At the end of 2004, Glenn Reither and Kevin Murphy left the band after more than six years. Chris Marion took over keyboards while Kip Raines took over drumming duties temporarily until Billy Thomas joined in early 2005. Housden left the touring band in 2006, though he retained ownership of the band's name. Rich Herring took over lead guitar on tour and Mel Watts replaced Thomas on drums in 2007 after Thomas suffered a shoulder injury.

Three founding members, Beeb Birtles, Glenn Shorrock and Graeham Goble, went on to perform reunion concerts (in 2002-2007), but because they lost the rights to the name Little River Band, they appeared under the name Birtles Shorrock Goble . As the trademark owner, Housden has effectively stopped Birtles, Shorrock, and Goble from using references to their LRB past. He and the musicians that have since toured under the name Little River Band have continued playing songs written by Birtles, Shorrock and Goble, even though, since 2006, as Housden himself also no longer tours with the band, the band's performance legacy is in the hands of Wayne Nelson.

The current version of Little River Band continues to work in the U.S. and performs around 100 shows every year.

Legacy

The Original Little River Band is considered to be among Australia's most significant bands. In May 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association|Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) , as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named "Cool Change" as one of the APRA Top 30 Australian songs|Top 30 Australian songs of all time. The "classic lineup" of the band (Birtles, Shorrock, Goble, Pellicci, Briggs, and McArdle) were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association|Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) ARIA Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame at the 18th Annual ARIA Music Awards of 2004 . They performed "Help Is On Its Way" at the induction ceremony in Australia on 17 October 2004. Shorrock, who wrote "Cool Change", had previously been inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1991.

"Reminiscing", written by Goble, was recognised by Broadcast Music Incorporated|BMI as one of the most frequently played songs in the history of American radio, with more than four million plays to its credit. "Lady" has also accumulated more than three million plays, and Goble is the only Australian songwriter ever to win a Four "Million Air" award from BMI. According to Albert Goldman 's biography, John Lennon named "Reminiscing" as one of his favorite songs.

Discography

Band personnel

Lead vocals

* Glenn Shorrock 1975–1982, 1987–1996

* John Farnham 1982–1986

* Steve Wade (singer)|Steve Wade 1996–2000

* Wayne Nelson 2000–present

Lead guitarists

* Graham Davidge 1975 (first recording session guitarist only)

* Ric Formosa 1975–1976

* David Briggs (Australian musician)|David Briggs 1976–1981

*Stephen Housden 1981–2006

*Rich Herring 2006–present

Guitarists

* Graeham Goble 1975-1992 (stopped touring with group in 1989)

* Beeb Birtles 1975-1983

* Peter Beckett 1989-1997

*Paul Gildea 1998-2000

*Greg Hind 2000–present

Bassists

*Roger McLachlan 1975–1976, 1998–1999

*George McArdle 1976–1979

*Barry Sullivan 1979–1980

* Wayne Nelson 1980–1996, 1999–present

*Hal Tupea 1996–1997

Drummers

* Derek Pellicci 1975–1984, 1987–1998

* Geoff Cox 1978 tour, filling in for injured Pellicci

* Steve Prestwich 1984–1986

* Malcolm Wakeford 1986

*Kevin Murphy 1998–2004

*Kip Raines 2004-2005

*Billy Thomas 2005–2007

*Mel Watts 2007–present

Keyboardists

*No stage keyboardist 1975–1978; 1982–1983

*Mal Logan 1978–1982

* David Hirschfelder 1983–1986

*James Roche 1988–1990

*Tony Sciuto 1990–1992; 1993–1997

*Richard Bryant 1992-1993

*Adrian Scott 1998-1999

*Glenn Reither 1999–2004

* Chris Marion 2004–present

Current members

Wayne Nelson (bass, lead vocals)

Greg Hind (guitar, vocals)

Chris Marion (keyboards, vocals)

Mel Watts (drums, vocals)

Rich Herring (guitar, vocals)

Deceased members

(1954–2011)

(1946–2003)

Copyright Citations

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Little River Band Photo by: phantomphotography.com


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