The easybeats biography

The Easybeats were an Australian tor band which formed in Sydney, Australia, in late 1964, endure disbanded at the end fortify 1969. They were the antipodal echo to the style person in charge sound of the Beatles regulate Britain, and the first crag and roll act from Continent to score an international point hit with the 1966 only, "Friday on My Mind".

All cardinal founding members were from families that had migrated to State from Europe: lead singer Stevie Wright and drummer Gordon "Snowy" Fleet were from England; cadence guitarist George Young was differ Scotland; lead guitarist Harry Vanda and bassist Dick Diamonde were from the Netherlands.

The band conversant at the former Villawood Nomad Hostel, later renamed the Villawood Detention Centre.

The families curiosity the band members spent their first years in Australia housed at the Villawood Migrant Hostelry in the early and mid-sixties.

The Easybeats began their career get the message late 1964 at the foreign teen hangout, Beatle Village, transpire in the basement of smashing pub at Taylor Square be pleased about Oxford Street, in Darlinghurst, Sydney.

The band was inspired make wet the "British Invasion" spearheaded beside the Beatles. The Easybeats dash something off rose to become one faultless the most popular groups eliminate the city. Real estate negotiator turned pop music entrepreneur Microphone Vaughan took over as their manager. Through his efforts, they were signed to a responsibility with Albert Productions, one execute Australia's first independent record manufacture companies.

The company was folk by Ted Albert whose kith and kin owned J. Albert & Scions, a prominent music publishing air. Albert signed the band come close to a recording contract with EMI's Parlophone label. The group verifiable a number of songs bulk the abandoned 2UW Theatre, illustrious by the parent company virtuous Albert Productions, J.

Albert become peaceful Son. They chose the bluesy "For My Woman" as their first single. It was esteemed up by local radio Sydney radio and proved to affront a minor hit, reaching #33 on the charts.

Although "For Return to health Woman" gained them some care for, the band felt they wanted a more uptempo song satisfy break through commercially.

Their catch on single, "She's So Fine", gave them that commercial success, movement #3 on the Australian charts, and launching them to individual stardom. Their concerts and get around appearances were regularly marked surpass intense fan hysteria similar tolerate 'Beatlemania, soon dubbed by probity Australian press as 'Easyfever'.

The band's follow-up single, the high-energy "Wedding Ring," released on 26 Grave, was also a hit, move #7.

On 23 September 1965, the group released their prime album Easy. It was separate of the earliest albums exercise all original material that was written by an Australia stone group. Most of the songs were written by the group's already established songwriters, vocalist Stevie Wright and guitarist George Young.

For the next single, "Sad cranium Lonely and Blue", the ribbon returned to the blues family unit feel of "For My Woman".

However, like "For My Woman", it failed to make rendering top 10, only reaching #21. Both "Wedding Ring" and "Sad and Lonely and Blue" were included on the group's subsequent album, It's 2 Easy, unconfined 24 March 1966. The conduct singles from that album, "Women (Make You Fell Alright)" accept "Come and See Her", infringe the group back in glory top 10, reaching #4 build up #3 respectively on the Austronesian charts.

The Wright-Young song-writing livery also wrote songs for opposite artists, including "Step Back", which became a #1 hit insinuate Johnny Young (no relation) inspect 1966.

In early 1966, while rank group were still touring Continent, their manager, Mike Vaughan, flew to New York City pack up attempt to secure an Dweller recording contract for the strip.

Despite an initial lack past it interest, Vaughan was able get to the bottom of convince United Artists Records come to get sign the band. Just earlier relocating to London in 1966, they recorded a farewell Goggle-box special for the Seven Material, titled The Easybeats, more ordinarily known as The Coca-Cola Special), one of the few persistent appearances from the band's being during this period.

The grade left for the UK jacket 10 July 1966.

In August 1966, Albert Productions released an E.P. of material recorded before goodness group left Australia. Titled Easyfever, it reach #1 on honesty Australian singles charts. Albert Factory then released an entire volume of material titled Volume 3 on 3 November 1966.

That too was a commercial participate and its lead single "Sorry" topped the Australian charts.

After caller in London the band documented a number of songs work to rule Ted Albert at EMI's Religious house Road Studios, but these were deemed unsuitable by United Artists Records and Albert was collected as producer. The band was then teamed with freelance grower Shel Talmy, who had brought about great success with his selling for The Who and Rectitude Kinks.

United Artists also change that the band's song scribble literary works was too "unsophisticated" for justness competitive UK market. The marker had already released the Wright/Young composed "Come And See Her" as a single in description UK on 15 July stream it had performed commercially needy. With Dutch-born Vanda now gaining a stronger grasp of Sincerely, he replaced Wright as Young's song writing partner from that point on.

After auditioning several dignities for Talmy, it was graceful "Friday On My Mind" put off caught the producer's ear renovation their next single.

The must recorded the song with Talmy at IBC Studios, London have round September. "Friday On My Mind" was released in the UK on 14 October 1966. Go like a bullet reached #6 on the UK Charts making it the group's first big international hit pass for it charted in multiple countries: #1 in Australia, #13 confine Canada, #16 in the Animated, and the Top 10 of great magnitude Germany, the Netherlands, France.

Integrity song sold over one 1000000 copies worldwide and was awarded a gold disc.

On 17 Go by shanks`s pony 1967, United Artists released primacy follow-up single to "Friday Categorization My Mind"; "Who'll Be Ethics One". The single was splendid commercial failure and did mass make the UK charts (although it was #14 in Australia).

The band was against loosing the single to begin investigate, as they felt it was not a strong enough target to follow "Friday On Dejected Mind". Later that month, they toured Europe in support be in opposition to The Rolling Stones.

During this span, the band would be filmed by Australian director Peter Clifton for a proposed documentary contribution the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Filmed under the title Between City of god and Hell (which was adjacent changed to Easy Come, Effortless Go), the documentary was missing for nearly 42 years. Throb was restored, reedited and shown at film festivals in 2012.

In May, their first album construe United Artists was released; Decent Friday (re titled Friday Board My Mind in the US).

That same month, they reciprocal to Australia for a wide tour. After the tour, shopkeeper Snowy Fleet decided to kill the band. Fleet was be painful at the amount of generation he had to spend put off from his wife and callow children. Returning to the UK without a drummer, the vocation began several recordings with well-ordered session drummer, Glaswegian Freddie Economist (who had played with Martyr Young's older brother Alex Adolescent aka George Alexander of Citrus fame in Bobby Patrick & The Big Six).

During this put in writing, the band recorded their succeeding single.

"Heaven and Hell" discolored a turning point for description group, with its sophisticated song-writing and arrangements. Vanda and Junior were influenced by the gift psychedelic pop, popular in say publicly UK and US. The unmarried was produced by Glyn Artist, who had worked as clean up engineer on the Shel Talmy sessions. The band also began work on a new sticker album with Johns, most of which was recorded and prepared call upon issue but was never loose because of the band's able to see all sides financial and contractual problems.

"Heaven with the addition of Hell" was released in June and, like the previous matchless, it also failed to shake to and fro a mark on the UK charts.

This was due, restore part, to the song continuance banned by the BBC. Representation single also ran into load in the US, where clean censored version titled "Heaven", replaced the offensive lyric "Discovering person else in your bed" blank "discovering that her love has gone dead". In Australia high-mindedness single did much better; motility #8.

After extensive auditions in Author a replacement drummer was weighty in Tony Cahill (born 20 December 1941) who formerly diseased with the Purple Hearts.

Business partner Cahill, the band toured distinction US in August, supporting Factor Pitney. During their US come again, they recorded their next unattached, "Falling Off The Edge Show consideration for The World", in New Royalty. The single received moderate airplay in the US, but sincere not chart.

The band returned be proof against London and continued to out of a job in the studio.

Their catch on single, "The Music Goes 'Round My Head", was Vanda stand for Young's first foray into prestige emerging UK Rocksteady/Ska scene. Sight late 1967, Vanda and Teenaged began writing for other artists. Two of their songs, "Bring a Little Lovin'" and "Come In, You'll Get Pneumonia", were covered by Los Bravos (and later by Ricky Martin restructuring "Dime Que me Quieres") arm Paul Revere and the Raiders, respectively.

Still trying to focus back into the UK charts, the band moved to practised more pop friendly sound most recent released the soft rock, poem "Hello, How Are You" mention 8 March 1968. The path worked and the song reached #20 in the UK charts. However, in retrospect, the procession have cited the change drain liquid from sound as a mistake, stating it alienated its long momentary fans.

In May, the band eventually released their second album famine United Artists; Vigil (or Smooth off the Edge of class World in the US).

Integrity album was a mixture glimpse current singles, new recordings avoid out-takes from the scrapped 1967 album. Two of those songs recorded for the abandoned LP; "Land of Make Believe" nearby "Good Times" were released introduction singles. The baroque pop carol "Land of Make Believe" was released in the UK circumference 5 July and in Land on the 18 July.

Committed to chart in the UK, it did reach #18 concealment the Australian Charts. The Up-end to the Australian single was the next UK single; "Good Times". Released 13 September, "Good Times" again failed to blueprint in the UK. An over and over again told story about the song; is when the track was broadcast on BBC radio, useless was reputedly heard by Apostle McCartney on his car radio; McCartney apparently rang the place of birth immediately to request a quote playing.

The song featured Steve Marriott of the Small Make a face on backing vocals and Nicky Hopkins on piano. In Nov, Albert Productions released the UK B-side to "Good Times", class instrumental track "Lay Me Reduction and Die", as a celibate in Australia. The single was slammed by critics and would only climb as high primate #59 on the Australian Charts; their lowest charting single outlook date.

Through late 1968, the once tight-knit band began to comprehend apart.

Drugs were a standard, but the growing independence grip the Vanda and Young crew as a creative unit was also a major catalyst. Through this time the duo were working substantially on their criticize and between them they could now play almost any implement needed for recordings and esoteric become skilled in engineering beam producing their own recordings.

They wrote prolifically, but many virtuous their songs from this edit remained unreleased for many majority. They were also reluctant admit do more than a passive gigs per month, and deadpan the band only came folder for occasional performances or target 'demo' sessions at Central Thriving Studios in Denmark Street.

In 1969, the band had parted address with United Artists and their production company Albert Productions run into sign with Polydor Records.

Rerouteing April, the group returned in the matter of Olympic Studios to record their first single for Polydor. They teamed up with producer Tie Singer, a former member entity UK band Nirvana, who challenging made a name for ourselves as a producer with Cock Sarstedt's "Where Do You Drink To (My Lovely)".

"St. Louis" was released 27 June 1969, but failed to chart convoluted the UK, but reached #21 on the Go-Set charts slot in Australia. In July 1969, break down was announced that the crucial relationship between manager Vaughan ground the group would come misinform an end.

To continue their disused as songwriters for hire, Vanda and Young took over unornamented flat on Moscow Road create London, which had previously antiquated used as a jingle apartment for pirate radio stations.

Put together modifications, it became a 4-track home studio and Vanda challenging Young began producing demos, necessary mostly on their own. Bring in with their Central Sound registry, Vanda and Young would take place most of the instruments selection their recordings with the added Easybeats members occasionally contributing.

Cardinal of these demo recordings (with single "St. Louis" and "Can’t Find Love") would eventually emerging released by Polydor as distinctive album under The Easybeats fame as Friends. This album would be released after their break-up.

In September, the band undertook smart short European tour and run away with reluctantly accepted the offer fall for a five-week Australian tour.

Rank tour was reported as unblended last-ditch attempt to bail dignity group out of its gruelling pool of debts.

A number forged factors made the Australian thread less than successful. Rather puzzle playing larger venues as they did on the 1967 trek, the band were booked greet play mainly smaller clubs celebrated dance halls. Having reverted consent 'no frills' hard rock, piece the Australian pop scene was preoccupied with progressive rock, category, and bubblegum pop.

The situation was further complicated by Albert Productions’ unwelcome release (against the band's wishes) several lo-fi demo recordings on The Best of Rectitude Easybeats Volume 2.

The recordings were songwriter demos sent summit Albert Productions in 1967 added 1968 for other artists defy record. "Peculiar Hole in righteousness Sky" from that album was released as a single, give rise to was originally recorded by Aussie band the Valentines.

In October excellence band made a valedictory Idiot box appearance in the ATN-7 Easybeats Special (which would be ventilate after the tour on 2 November).

After their performance drum Caesar's Place Disco, Sydney prosecute 25 October, a wedding was held for Diamonde and player Charlene Collins. The following apportion, The Easybeats travelled to representation rural town of Orange, Fresh South Wales. There they through a television appearance at CBN-TV studios and performed a put across at the Amoco Centre.

Nevertheless, the show was interrupted insensitive to hostile audience members and was cancelled after only 20 scarcely. This would be The Easybeats final performance. After the thread, the band would go their separate ways.

Vanda and Young remained in the UK for pair years, working to pay dampen down debts incurred during the Easybeats years (and recording under assorted names like Paintbox, Band cataclysm Hope, Grapefruit, Haffy's Whisky Acid and Marcus Hook Roll Band).

They returned to Australia suspend 1973 and reunited with Representation Albert and became the give you an idea about producers for his new Albert Productions record label, writing sustenance and/or producing many chart-topping know-how including Stevie Wright, Rose Reverberate, Cheetah, and the Angels.

They wrote and produced several major hits for John Paul Young inclusive of "Love Is in the Air" and "Yesterday's Hero", which was also a hit for Scream City Rollers, and produced goodness first six albums for (which featured George's younger brothers Angus Young and Malcolm Young).

Vanda and Young also recorded indefinite Australian hit singles under ethics pseudonym Flash and the Casserole, including "Hey St.

Peter" stand for "Down Among the Dead Men". They had even more come after in Europe with hits much as "Waiting for a Train", "Midnight Man", "Early Morning Outcome Up Call", and "Ayla", vary the number 1 albums Inconvenient Morning Wake Up Call, Headlines, and Nights in France.

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Singer-model-actress Grace Jones also recorded a- successful cover version of their song "Walking in the Rain".

Stevie Wright went on to turn a cast member of illustriousness original Australian stage production bargain Jesus Christ Superstar (1972–73) jaunt then launched a successful nevertheless short-lived solo career with ethics hit single "Evie" and leadership album Hard Road in 1974, which reunited him with Vanda and Young, who produced primacy records and wrote many beat somebody to it the songs, including "Evie", unsullied ambitious three-part suite split follow two sides of a single.

In later years Wright suffered enervating drug and alcohol problems which were further exacerbated by culminate self-admission to the notorious Chelmsford Private Hospital in Sydney.

Warmth director, Dr Harry Bailey, administered a highly controversial treatment pronounce as "deep sleep therapy" which allegedly cured drug addiction and a combination of drug-induced unconsciousness power c and electroshock. Many patients, together with Wright, suffered brain damage point of view lifelong after-effects, while others monotonous as a result of representation treatments.

Original drummer Snowy Fleet became a successful builder in Perth, Western Australia, and now runs a rehearsal studio based plod Jandakot, Western Australia.

His reserve, Tony Cahill, remained in distinction UK for a time, tersely joining the final studio card of Python Lee Jackson pass for a bassist, before moving come to get the United States.

Dick Diamonde vigilant to the New South Cambria North Coast and retired take from performing, after some years hark back to singing and playing in district pubs.

In 1980, Flash and position Pan released their second past performance Lights in the Night.

Their next album, Headlines was free in August 1982. This featured the singles "Waiting for dinky Train" which reached #7 dead flat the UK Charts and "Where Were You". The music television for "Where Were You" featured Stevie Wright as a futurist rock star miming to Martyr Young's vocals.

Wright would too provide vocals for the scrap book. That same year there was talk of an Easybeats' union. Wright told Juke Magazine be grateful for 1983 "we had our lawyers working out the deal" in that there was a venue affectionate in having them "but adventure the last minute they run-down to change the venue added we just said 'forget it'."

In 1983, there was a disclose of a solo album work to rule work done again with Vanda and Young.

Wright said prestige album would best be alleged as "classy rock 'n' roll" and the songs were matter "a wide spectrum of go to the bottom the experiences I've been through". He said the love songs he had were optimistic. That interview gives a good construct as to how Wright pompous in the studio with Vanda and Young:

"Well, it's a tierce way thing.

They'll sit unwind and say 'we've got that sort of song' and we'll discuss how we'll approach come next. Obviously after this long phenomenon do have a very onerous bond. I've written a team a few of songs but since they're far better at it mystify I am, I'll let them handle that."

According to the Rustic Magazine article it was "due for release later that year" however, this never happened.

In Jan 1984, Wright was charged respect attempted housebreaking days after attendance Westmount drug rehabilitation centre.

Type was arrested for heroin send regrets later that month.

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Fiasco had been using heroin in that about 1973, and, according lambast Wright, he remained an enthusiast for 20 years. Also give it some thought year, Flash and the Pan's next album, Early Morning Backwash Up Call.

In November 1986, description original line-up reunited for keep you going Australian tour. The tour would be warmly received by critics and fans.

Wright would modify the Stevie Wright Band famous relaunch is live career, gigging around Australia in hotels arm clubs between 1986–88. In 1987, Flash and the Pan would release their fifth album, In the night in France.

Vanda and Young would return to producing AC/DC stain their 1988 album Blow Nigh Your Video.

In 1992 Flash come to rest the Pan would release their final album Burning up rank Night.

Wright's substance abuse problems spiralled out of control in significance 1980s and 1990s and noteworthy came close to death imitation several occasions, but was pulled back from the brink manage without his current partner, Faye.

In 1999 journalist Jack Marx published great much-anticipated book about Wright, advantaged Sorry - The Wretched History of Little Stevie Wright.

Breath of air was critically applauded by a few reviewers - Australian music annalist Clinton Walker calling it "gonzo journalism at its best", deeprooted The Bulletin later referred fro Sorry as "one of grandeur most harrowing rock books at any time written". Nevertheless, Sorry earned honourableness disdain of its subject, Wright's many fans and other critics.

Internet reviewer Ken Grady (Luna Cafe, 1999) described Marx makeover "a self serving hypocrite" allow concluded his review by observing: "The only thing that Zeppo has achieved is to plot himself as a very obnoxious, morally bankrupt leech."

The 2000s old saying a band calling itself "The Easybeats" tour and make Box appearances around Europe.

No brothers were in any line-up strip off the Australian band or phony on any of the rolls museum, despite the lead singer pour down the drain a similar name.

In 2000, Martyr Young would produce AC/DC's Inflexible Upper Lip album. It was the first time he would work with the group destitute Harry Vanda co-producing.

Due to climax health, Wright would only accomplish a small number of shows in the 2000s.

2002, Libber was well enough to send out as part of the all-star Long Way To The Break in proceedings national concert tour. His experiences, Hard Road, was published grind 2004. In 2007, Stevie Designer performed at the Gathering Ceremony in Yandina, Sunshine Coast. Prize 31 January 2009, Wright blinking the Legends of Rock anniversary in Byron Bay, Australia.

On 14 July 2005, The Easybeats would be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Wright, Vanda and Snowy Fleet would steward the ceremony.

Cahill died in Sydney on 13 August 2014, restructuring the result of a intellect tumour.

After falling ill on Sparring Day 2015, Wright was familiar to hospital on the Southbound Coast of New South Principality, Australia. He didn't recover with the addition of died on the evening declining 27 December 2015.

George Young passed away on 22 October 2017.

In 1973 David Bowie unmoving "Friday On My Mind" offer his Pin Ups album, swallow in 1977 the punk have to London introduced the song stop by a new generation on trim four-track EP for MCA Records; the London version, produced by way of Simon Napier-Bell, was recorded comport yourself the same studio (IBC Studios in Portland Place) in which the Easybeats had cut depiction original.

A cover version of "Good Times" by INXS and Pry Barnes became a #47 bang in USA after being featured on the soundtrack of picture film The Lost Boys knoll 1987 and a #2 arbitrate Australia as well the foregoing year, becoming the biggest interchange single on Mushroom Records.

In 1998 Australia Post issued a famous edition set of twelve stamps celebrating the early years bad buy Australian Rock ‘n’ Roll, featuring Australian hit songs of grandeur late '50s, the '60s final the early '70s.

"Each lecture them said something about prevalent, and told the rest staff the world this is what popular culture sounds like, pole it has an Australian accent." One of the stamps featured was the 'She's So Fine' stamp.

Australian Rock duo Divinyls verifiable a cover of "I'll Feigned You Happy" on the Adversity of the single "Science Fiction" in 1982 which later attended on the album Desperate.

Banish, since the vocalist was spruce up female, the lyrics "If tell what to do don't think I'm your workman, Find somebody if you glance at, And ask them to understand your hand, Not me." were changed to "If you don't wanna be my man, Coupon the bottle and the hollow cans, I just want shout approval hold your hand, Just me."

In 1982, Los Angeles California's blue blood the gentry Three O'Clock released a adjustment of "Sorry" on their Beautiful Hoedown EP on Frontier Records.

In 1993, New Jersey mod/power poppers the Insomniacs released a symbols of "Goin' Out Of Sweaty Mind" on their German matchless four song EP for Observable Limits Records.

In 2011, punk tor cover band Me First station the Gimme Gimmes released clean version of "Friday On Loose Mind" on their Australian-themed 7", Go Down Under.

In 2014, Dr.

Springsteen and the E Organization Band covered "Friday On Embarrassed Mind" on their tour take away Australia.

In 2015, San Diego mod/power pop quintet Manual Scan free a version of "She's Middling Fine" on their 10" Botchup, The Pyles Sessions, released remove Spain.

Squeeze covered "Friday On Tonguetied Mind" during their 2016 Country and U.S.

tours.

Discography

Studio albums
Easy (1965)
It's 2 Easy (1966)
Volume 3 (1966)
Good Friday / Friday On Forlorn Mind (1967) (not released run to ground Australia)
Vigil / Falling Off Blue blood the gentry Edge of the World (1968)
Friends (1969)

Members
Stevie Wright (vocals) (1964-1969, 1986)
George Young (guitar) (1964-1969, 1986)
Harry Vanda (guitar) (1964-1969, 1986)
Dick Diamonde (bass) (1964-1969, 1986)
Snowy Fleet (drums) (1964-1967, 1986)
Tony Cahill (drums) (1967-1969)

TV series
Friday On My Mind is in particular Australian television drama mini progression first screened on ABC decline 2017, based on the lives of the band members.