2020.
"LIKE
SHIPS IN THE NIGHT."
( Part 1 )
My earliest memory of meeting someone more important than myself was at the age of 16.
I was the drummer for my brother Grahams band "The Limit" & we were booked to play at a private party for the Labour Party in Penrith.
The function was just 100 yards from where we lived and was an open air, backyard affair.
During the evening we were introduced to the two Special Guests who were Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke.
Hawke
Whitlam
They would both later become the Prime Minister of Australia.
It was around the same time when I experience my next encounter with fame.
It was 1966 & I was sitting on the lawns of Moore Park with my brother Graham and 3 friends when a bunch of guys walked up to us and asked if we were attending the concert at the Sydney Show ground Pavillion featuring Roy Orbison and The Rolling Stones?
We said yeah and then realised it was The Rolling Stones we were talking with.
We were in awe and made idle chatter for a few minutes before they took off towards the venue.
Under my thumb
Between 1965 & 1969 , the band The Limit shared gigs with many Singers and Bands.
I fondly remember sharing a gig with The Easybeats at the Penrith Bowl. They were electrifying and awesome to watch.
Sorry.
Our band became the most popular band in the Penrith area and even won the local Hoadleys Battle of the Bands. We won a contract with a Booking Agent and began working around 5-6 bookings a week. Meantime I was holding down a Monday to Friday daytime job.
On the weekends female fans would gather and sit on the front fence of my parents home in Fisher St, Penrith.
I remember sharing a concert gig with The late Johnny Okeefe.
It was held on this island near Walacia and we were escorted around by security guards.
Shout
During this period, The Limit became the support act for many established bands/Artists of the day, including
The loved one's
Normie Rowe
The Masters Apprentices
It was a wild ride and hard work and the band burnt itself out over a period of 4 years.
THE 1970s.
I was 20 and moved to Bondi in 1970.
I lived in a rented room off Bondi road and the great Wendy Saddington was my neighbour.
Wendy Saddington.
We often chatted and I admired her talent and her openness.
Every time I hear Wendy sing this song I get all choaked up and tearful. She was such a beautiful soul.
It was at this time I befriended a young school girl whom became an Australian Icon a few years later.
One night I was playing bass guitar for a band my brother Grraham was in at a local venue called The Cask Winebar in Bondi road, when my schoolgirl friend walked in.
She sat on the floor as she was only 16 & underaged to be on the premises.
During a break she asked if she could get up on stage and sing the song "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess.
The band agreed and she blew us all away with a gutsy, soulful rendition.
This awesome young schoolgirl was none other than Rene Geyer.
Rene Geyer
As I was only working Part time as a bass player,I was offered a job as a roadie for the band Rosco.
I had moved from Bondi to Randwick to share a 2 bedroom flat with the Bands lead singer who was a friend at the time.
I remember Rosco playing a gig at the Macquarie University and were the support act for a band called Sherbet.
Sherbet
After the gig on the way home our van was involved in a serious car accident which left myself and others bleeding from cuts to our faces and upper body from the shattered windscreen.
The members from Sherbet were in the van behind us and immediately came to our aid.
A number of ambulances arrived and took us to the nearby hospital, where I received stiches to my chin and given something to overcome the shock and trauma. After a few hours at the hospital we were sent on our way.
One Saturday afternoon , myself and my flatmate headed to the Led Zeppelin concert at Randwick racecourse. We took a couple of joints with us and before we went in we dropped a tab of acid (LSD).
The concert was awesome and finished around sunset.
We walk home and at 9pm we made our way to the Whiskey A Go Go club in William St, Kings Cross where Rosco had a gig that night.
I was sitting at a table reserved for the band watching the band perform when 4 individuals were ushered to my table and asked to sit down. As they took their seats I realised it was the four members of Led Zeppelin. I introduced myself and shared a good chat over a couple of beers.
The guys from Rosco got a big surprise when they came off stage and found me sitting there with Zeppo. My flatmate was in awe and lost for words.
What an amazing day that was, seeing Led Zeppelin play live and meeting them later that evening.
Led Zeppelin
A few months later I decided I needed a change and made a move to Hobart, Tasmania.
When possible, during the day I picked Apple's and in the evening I worked in a late night Nightclub in Hobart. I helped the owner run the place, I was part Barman and part DJ.
There was a small stage with a PA and each evening I would perform with just an acoustic guitar.
I sang songs by Cat Stevens, Neil Young, Stones/ Beatles/ CSNY/ Bowie and Yes to name a few.
Once word got out, local musicians would visit for late night drinks and somewhere to chill.
Some nights other musicians would join me on stage for a jam and I got to know many of the folks from the local music scene.
Within a couple of months I found 4 local musicians and formed my own band "Nobodys Funeral".
I was their Front man, the lead singer.
We rehearsed for a month and due to my many connections the band soon had 2 - 3 gigs every weekend.
I remember playing a gig one evening at a local school dance and we were the support act for a chart band called Spectrum.
Spectrum
I remember Phil Rudd and Bill Putt fondly . They were an awesome band. We shared a few gigs together and they were a fine bunch of blokes.
Early one morning, around 5am I managed to book a few hours at a local recording studio called Spectangle.
During the session we recorded 2 self penned compositions titled "One night girl" and "It ain't funny".
After the session I had several pressings made and immediately gave a copy to a radio announcer at Radio 7HT.
That evening she played both songs on her evening program and received a huge public response.
After her shift had finished she phone me and said the singer "Ross Ryan" asked for me contact him at the Hobart Casino.
I immediately phone him and arranged to meet for lunch the next day.
Ross Ryan.
The next day I met with Ross and shared some lunch and spent all afternoon in his room jamming and chatting.
That evening he invited me as his guest to a concert he was giving and he was the support act for the legendary ( I am Woman) "Helen Redding.
The concert was brilliant and after the concert I went out with Helen Redding and her band plus Ross for drinks .
Wow, I seemed to be in the right place at the right time.
Helen Redding
In 1973 I moved again, this time to Melbourne and set up house with my future wife in St Kilda.
I set up my one manned Booking Agency called "The Music Makers" and recruited artists and bands needing work. I did manage to acquire a few acts on my books and find work for a number of them.
Proving only mildly successful, I felt restless and stuck in a hole.
It was in late 73 that a chance meeting with someone that would inspire me to head overseas to London within a year.
One afternoon, I took my gal to see The Bee Gees playing at Festival Hall. Before we ventured inside we walked around to the back entrance and walked straight into The Bee Gees about to enter the stage door.
I asked if I could take a few pics and Barry said fine. As they stood there, Barry asked if I was English as he detected an accent.
I said" yeah, I was born in Yorkshire and I was a budding songwriter and was thinking of heading to London."
He said " I should look up his management "Robert Stingwood" when I get there."
He then asked if we had tickets for the concert and I showed him our tickets. He shook his head and said "follow me" and lead us through the stage door and then instructed someone to make 2 front row seats available.
Wow, I thought what a nice guy Barry was.
Unfortunately the photos I took that day faded away over the years and no longer exist.
Once again I was in the right place at the right time.
Meeting the lads that day inspired me to head over to London asap.
The Bee Gees
In late 1974 myself and my newly married wife set sail from Melbourne to London.
The trip took a month sailing via Fiji, Acupulco, The Panama Canal and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I remember leaving Florida when a huge storm engulfed the ship as we passed through the Bermuda Triangle.
We arrived in Southampton late Jan 75 & caught a tour coach to London and found some private accommodation in St Johns Wood.
I began exploring the local area and discovered that just around the corner was the famous Abbey Road studios and the Abbey Road pedestrian crossing made famous by The Beatles.
One day I was peering over the wall of a house I liked when a guy on a back stairway asked me what I was doing.
I said I was new to the area and was just admiring the house.I
He asked "are you Australian? ". I said yeah, I had just arrived a couple of days ago.
He then said he was Aussie and invited me in for a cuppa and a yarn.
We sat downstairs in a big kitchen, drank some tea and chatted away.
He then took me to a room upstairs which was full of guitars and we sat down and smoked a groovy joint together.
As we picked up a couple of guitars up for a jam together he explained that he was only the Caretaker of the property whilst its famous owner was doing a concert tour of Australia. He did not name the owner.
We chatted and jammed for a couple of hours before I had to meet my wife to do some shopping.
I thanked him for the afternoon and headed home.
Some 20 years later, whilst searching the internet I came across a picture of the same house and discovered that it's owner was none other than Paul McCartney.
They would both later become the Prime Minister of Australia.
It was around the same time when I experience my next encounter with fame.
It was 1966 & I was sitting on the lawns of Moore Park with my brother Graham and 3 friends when a bunch of guys walked up to us and asked if we were attending the concert at the Sydney Show ground Pavillion featuring Roy Orbison and The Rolling Stones?
We said yeah and then realised it was The Rolling Stones we were talking with.
We were in awe and made idle chatter for a few minutes before they took off towards the venue.
Between 1965 & 1969 , the band The Limit shared gigs with many Singers and Bands.
I fondly remember sharing a gig with The Easybeats at the Penrith Bowl. They were electrifying and awesome to watch.
Our band became the most popular band in the Penrith area and even won the local Hoadleys Battle of the Bands. We won a contract with a Booking Agent and began working around 5-6 bookings a week. Meantime I was holding down a Monday to Friday daytime job.
On the weekends female fans would gather and sit on the front fence of my parents home in Fisher St, Penrith.
I remember sharing a concert gig with The late Johnny Okeefe.
It was held on this island near Walacia and we were escorted around by security guards.
During this period, The Limit became the support act for many established bands/Artists of the day, including
The Masters Apprentices
It was a wild ride and hard work and the band burnt itself out over a period of 4 years.
THE 1970s.
I was 20 and moved to Bondi in 1970.
I lived in a rented room off Bondi road and the great Wendy Saddington was my neighbour.
We often chatted and I admired her talent and her openness.
Every time I hear Wendy sing this song I get all choaked up and tearful. She was such a beautiful soul.
It was at this time I befriended a young school girl whom became an Australian Icon a few years later.
One night I was playing bass guitar for a band my brother Grraham was in at a local venue called The Cask Winebar in Bondi road, when my schoolgirl friend walked in.
She sat on the floor as she was only 16 & underaged to be on the premises.
During a break she asked if she could get up on stage and sing the song "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess.
The band agreed and she blew us all away with a gutsy, soulful rendition.
This awesome young schoolgirl was none other than Rene Geyer.
As I was only working Part time as a bass player,I was offered a job as a roadie for the band Rosco.
I had moved from Bondi to Randwick to share a 2 bedroom flat with the Bands lead singer who was a friend at the time.
I remember Rosco playing a gig at the Macquarie University and were the support act for a band called Sherbet.
After the gig on the way home our van was involved in a serious car accident which left myself and others bleeding from cuts to our faces and upper body from the shattered windscreen.
The members from Sherbet were in the van behind us and immediately came to our aid.
A number of ambulances arrived and took us to the nearby hospital, where I received stiches to my chin and given something to overcome the shock and trauma. After a few hours at the hospital we were sent on our way.
One Saturday afternoon , myself and my flatmate headed to the Led Zeppelin concert at Randwick racecourse. We took a couple of joints with us and before we went in we dropped a tab of acid (LSD).
The concert was awesome and finished around sunset.
We walk home and at 9pm we made our way to the Whiskey A Go Go club in William St, Kings Cross where Rosco had a gig that night.
I was sitting at a table reserved for the band watching the band perform when 4 individuals were ushered to my table and asked to sit down. As they took their seats I realised it was the four members of Led Zeppelin. I introduced myself and shared a good chat over a couple of beers.
The guys from Rosco got a big surprise when they came off stage and found me sitting there with Zeppo. My flatmate was in awe and lost for words.
What an amazing day that was, seeing Led Zeppelin play live and meeting them later that evening.
A few months later I decided I needed a change and made a move to Hobart, Tasmania.
When possible, during the day I picked Apple's and in the evening I worked in a late night Nightclub in Hobart. I helped the owner run the place, I was part Barman and part DJ.
There was a small stage with a PA and each evening I would perform with just an acoustic guitar.
I sang songs by Cat Stevens, Neil Young, Stones/ Beatles/ CSNY/ Bowie and Yes to name a few.
Once word got out, local musicians would visit for late night drinks and somewhere to chill.
Some nights other musicians would join me on stage for a jam and I got to know many of the folks from the local music scene.
Within a couple of months I found 4 local musicians and formed my own band "Nobodys Funeral".
I was their Front man, the lead singer.
We rehearsed for a month and due to my many connections the band soon had 2 - 3 gigs every weekend.
I remember playing a gig one evening at a local school dance and we were the support act for a chart band called Spectrum.
I remember Phil Rudd and Bill Putt fondly . They were an awesome band. We shared a few gigs together and they were a fine bunch of blokes.
Early one morning, around 5am I managed to book a few hours at a local recording studio called Spectangle.
During the session we recorded 2 self penned compositions titled "One night girl" and "It ain't funny".
After the session I had several pressings made and immediately gave a copy to a radio announcer at Radio 7HT.
That evening she played both songs on her evening program and received a huge public response.
After her shift had finished she phone me and said the singer "Ross Ryan" asked for me contact him at the Hobart Casino.
I immediately phone him and arranged to meet for lunch the next day.
The next day I met with Ross and shared some lunch and spent all afternoon in his room jamming and chatting.
That evening he invited me as his guest to a concert he was giving and he was the support act for the legendary ( I am Woman) "Helen Redding.
The concert was brilliant and after the concert I went out with Helen Redding and her band plus Ross for drinks .
Wow, I seemed to be in the right place at the right time.
In 1973 I moved again, this time to Melbourne and set up house with my future wife in St Kilda.
I set up my one manned Booking Agency called "The Music Makers" and recruited artists and bands needing work. I did manage to acquire a few acts on my books and find work for a number of them.
Proving only mildly successful, I felt restless and stuck in a hole.
It was in late 73 that a chance meeting with someone that would inspire me to head overseas to London within a year.
One afternoon, I took my gal to see The Bee Gees playing at Festival Hall. Before we ventured inside we walked around to the back entrance and walked straight into The Bee Gees about to enter the stage door.
I asked if I could take a few pics and Barry said fine. As they stood there, Barry asked if I was English as he detected an accent.
I said" yeah, I was born in Yorkshire and I was a budding songwriter and was thinking of heading to London."
He said " I should look up his management "Robert Stingwood" when I get there."
He then asked if we had tickets for the concert and I showed him our tickets. He shook his head and said "follow me" and lead us through the stage door and then instructed someone to make 2 front row seats available.
Wow, I thought what a nice guy Barry was.
Unfortunately the photos I took that day faded away over the years and no longer exist.
Once again I was in the right place at the right time.
Meeting the lads that day inspired me to head over to London asap.
In late 1974 myself and my newly married wife set sail from Melbourne to London.
The trip took a month sailing via Fiji, Acupulco, The Panama Canal and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I remember leaving Florida when a huge storm engulfed the ship as we passed through the Bermuda Triangle.
We arrived in Southampton late Jan 75 & caught a tour coach to London and found some private accommodation in St Johns Wood.
I began exploring the local area and discovered that just around the corner was the famous Abbey Road studios and the Abbey Road pedestrian crossing made famous by The Beatles.
One day I was peering over the wall of a house I liked when a guy on a back stairway asked me what I was doing.
I said I was new to the area and was just admiring the house.I
He asked "are you Australian? ". I said yeah, I had just arrived a couple of days ago.
He then said he was Aussie and invited me in for a cuppa and a yarn.
We sat downstairs in a big kitchen, drank some tea and chatted away.
He then took me to a room upstairs which was full of guitars and we sat down and smoked a groovy joint together.
As we picked up a couple of guitars up for a jam together he explained that he was only the Caretaker of the property whilst its famous owner was doing a concert tour of Australia. He did not name the owner.
We chatted and jammed for a couple of hours before I had to meet my wife to do some shopping.
I thanked him for the afternoon and headed home.
Some 20 years later, whilst searching the internet I came across a picture of the same house and discovered that it's owner was none other than Paul McCartney.
To be continued.
Contact: utaalkback@hotmail.com
