About Mad Gorilla
** Updated **
Sydney based Theatrical Rock band of the 1980’s. Well known for their “Graveyard Show”.
History
- 1978-1985.
- The core of the band still play together as Creedence and Beyond.
Update: Here is a live video of Mad Gorilla playing at the Manly Hotel in 1983. Thanks to Roger Garrod for making the video available and for his comments.
Yet another update! Thanks again to Roger Garrod who has unearthed a classic clip of Mad Gorilla doing their original song “Parramatta Road”.
The ultimate update!!! Once again roger garrod has come through with a classic video clip. This time it’s the famed “Undertaker Show” filmed at Riverstone RSL Club in 1983. Enjoy!
Update: Here is a contribution from Dave Owens, the original bass player.
“For the record, I was the bass player in the original Gorilla
line-up ( with Steve Stickney- Vox, Zac Flack- Gtr, George Grainger- Hammond organ, Geoff Hillier – Drums ). Boy were they halcyon days! – writing our own material, coming up with “show” ideas; it seemed like we were just thrown together in some mushroom growing shed up in Riverstone (in Sydney’s north western suburbs) that the keyboard players Dad owned.
God if his Dad only knew what was being developed in there!I can tell you that the original 5 piece band did kick some considerable ass, but we guys were’nt satisfied with only playing – we wanted to entertain, and so that’s where the idea of the “Undertaker Show” emerged from. But to be fair, the concept was born in Zac Flack’s head while he was hospitalised with a huge boil on his upper thigh, and upon his healthy return to the mushroom shed rehearsal enviroment
the show was born. It was to be a “Horror Show” to rival any other “show” rival bands could stage; we had set our sights pretty high looking back on it.I could go on and regale you and your readers with some pretty wild stories that happened “on the bus” and “off the bus” if you know what I mean, from those early years – but maybe I’ll draught a few out before I just sit and type like I have today.
A couple of things though before I depart this time:
Mark “Zac” Flack (and for a time his partner Coby)
worked tirelessly, full time on the bands P.A. gear, road crew and costumes -and if it needed doing -it was done (unbelievable committment in my observation-for little or no return)Steve “Stix” Stickney ability as a word-smith, front-man and agent/corporate liaison was just awesome – though my fading memory seems to recall “Zac” being involved in acquiring work from time to time too, Steve was generally known around town as the Face of Mad Gorilla, which naturally he usedto great enterprise.
Big Al and Steve “Reckless” Reckley were our first two roadies, and they too deserve praise for the long hours and many miles they gave in service to Gorilla. They were times we worked 5,6,7,8 gigs a week – regularly – all with some variation on 10-20 can light show and single/double 4way PA systems!)
Sure there were more people involved down the track when the line-up started changing, but these original band members and crew all laid down the foundation of what has become somewhat of a mini-legend ( and a great talking point when we all get together- Imagine it – when was the last timw you caught up with an old mand-mate and said ” Remeber when we blew up Black Soccer Club?, Remember when Sticko punched that idiot out at the Touramaline Hotel for stabbing oue speakers-in front of the audience? Remeber when we supported Jimmy and the boys at The Coogee Bay Hotel and THEY wombatted us? It just goes on and on and on, but any I’ll save it all up for next time.”
Members
- Steve “Stix” Stickney – Vocals
- Mark “Zack” Flack – Guitar
- Mark “Langs” Langfield – Drums
- Glen Chalice – Sax
- Frank Seckold – Keys
- George Granger – Keys
- Dave Owens – Bass
- Peter Keller – Drums
- Geoff Hillier – Drums
- Dr Chris De Beltran – Bass and Vocals
- Joe McConville – Drums
- Rod Ward – Bass
Recordings
- Album – Great Gorilla – 1982
- Album – Gorilla Live – 1984
{ 3 trackbacks }
{ 70 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks Gibbo.
We used to practice in some old mushroom sheds out at Riverstone that my father used to own, drove all the neighbours mad with the noise, but I wouldn’t swap the memories of those times for anything. I met Zack at the Tourmaline hotel at Vinyard where his girl Coby used to work. Coby said her guy Mark (Zack) played guitar and was getting a band together and was looking for musos, I said that I played keyboards and would be interested in a jam. Zack came down to the pub a couple of nights later he set things up. The first band was Oracle, we just played some local gigs, the odd wedding and the odd bad pub at Mt Druitt. I don’t remember all the details but the band didn’t last too long before we were looking for a new singer. Zack said he new this guy that might fit the bill, so along came Stix. Stix was quite a bit older than me, I was all of 19 and stix must have been close to 30 (at least that’s what he seemed). He had a really powerul voice, huge presence, good looking, and extremely fit and Zack was right, he’d fit the bill, in fact he became the trade mark for the band. I remember the first jam with Stix, he was fairly intimidating just by his mere presence, I asked him what he thought about joining the band and he said “I’ve been in bands for years and I really don’t think I’m interested”. After that comment we thought we’d missed out, however Zack talked him in to another jam (and did a fair bit of work on him as well), after this one I asked him what he thought again, and he said “the only way I’ll join this band is if it’s called Mad Gorilla! I remember saying to Zack “shit, I don’t think I can play in a band called Mad Gorilla, why does he wan’t to call it that. Zack said “I don’t know but if your game enough you can ask him cause I’m sure as hell not”! The guts of it is if there was no Stix there wouldn’t have been Mad Gorilla.
I built the first coffin at the mushroom sheds at Riverstone, it looked that good-shiny black with crushed red velvet interior and all the genuine chrome handles (compliments of Zack who was working for an undertaker at the time) that I put it in the lounge room at home. The first night that I had it inside I wrote my car off, the second night a log rolled out of the fire place and nearly set fire to the house, before the third night arrived my father took the coffin out into the shed before any more damage was done.
I’ve got a lot more to add to this, I’ll try and get it in over the next few weeks. Watch this space,
George
Sorry Gibbo, I’ve made a few typos, please replace with this version, . . . cheers Dave
“For the record, I was the bass player in the original Gorilla
line-up ( with Steve Stickney- Vox, Zac Flack- Gtr, George Grainger- Hammond organ, Geoff Hillier – Drums ). Boy were they halcyon days! – writing our own material, coming up with “show” ideas; it seemed like we were just thrown together in some mushroom growing shed up in Riverstone (in Sydney’s north western suburbs) that the keyboard players Dad owned.
God if his Dad only knew what was being developed in there!
I can tell you that the original 5 piece band did kick some considerable ass, but we guys were’nt satisfied with only playing – we wanted to entertain, and so that’s where the idea of the “Undertaker Show” emerged from. But to be fair, the concept was born in Zac Flack’s head while he was hospitalised with a huge boil on his upper thigh, and upon his healthy return to the mushroom shed rehearsal enviroment
the show was born. It was to be a “Horror Show” to rival any other “show” rival bands could stage; we had set our sights pretty high looking back on it.
I could go on and regale you and your readers with some pretty wild stories that happened “on the bus” and “off the bus” if you know what I mean, from those early years – but maybe I’ll draught a few out before I just sit and type like I have today.
A couple of things though before I depart this time:
Mark “Zac” Flack (and for a time his partner Coby)
worked tirelessly, full time on the bands P.A. gear, road crew and costumes -and if it needed doing -it was done (unbelievable commitment in my observation-for little or no return)
Steve “Stix” Stickney ability as a word-smith, front-man and agent/corporate liaison was just awesome – though my fading memory seems to recall “Zac” being involved in acquiring work from time to time too, Steve was generally known around town as the Face of Mad Gorilla, which naturally he usedto great enterprise.
Big Al and Steve “Reckless” Reckley were our first two roadies, and they too deserve praise for the long hours and many miles they gave in service to Gorilla. They were times we worked 5,6,7,8 gigs a week – regularly – all with some variation on 10-20 can light show and single/double 4way PA systems!
Sure there were more people involved down the track when the line-up started changing, but these original band members and crew all laid down the foundation of what has become somewhat of a mini-legend ( and a great talking point when we all get together- Imagine it – when was the last timw you caught up with an old band-mate and said ” Remember when we blew up Blacktown City Soccer Club?, Remember when Sticko punched that idiot out at the Touramaline Hotel for stabbing our FOH speakers-in front of the audience? Remember when we supported Jimmy and The Boys at The Coogee Bay Hotel and THEY wombatted us? It just goes on and on and on, but anyway, I’ll save it all up for next time.”
OOOOHHH the memories
They started flooding back after both Zac and Stix turned up at my Dad funeral a few weeks back.
They were heady days indeed.
I met Stix and Zac when I was still at school and “auditioned” as a keyboard player, got the gig and promptly left school…this was 78 and Gorilla was still 2 years away. Joe McConville who was in that band was also in Gorilla for a while (he was injured in the “blast”) and Gary Shaw, a bass player with the voice from hell, rounded out the band Oracle…my first paying gig.
By the time I rejioned the guys in 82, Gorilla where an establised band. Stix legend was growing and Zac and Coby working tierlessly, its amazing that no-one colapsed from acute death!
I was knocked out during the Blacktown Soccer blast and dont remember a thing oher than having a different drummer (Langes back again) the night after.
Buy the time I left in 84 they hadn’t slowed….It was a great experience.
Even though music has taken me all over the world, paid for my house and made me many friends…Zac (who taught me to drive btw), Stix etc will always be like my big brothers.
PS..There are NO Mad Goriall Albums…though if anyone does have some recordings…..
Howdy
I was a member of the Gorrillas there for a while with and without Frank and saw a few moderations to the band. I was bass player no. who knows what Enjoyable days and i think I might have somerecordings we did with the Aussie music and tele school
cheers
My last email had the wrong friggin email address must av been all that smog I breathed in
cheers
Well obviously my 1st email didnt make it through. So I will have another crack. I was bass player no. who knows what and saw a number of changes but Sticko, Mark F and Mark L were constant. Were good times and I think I still have some video and recordings somewhere. Frank was the keyboardist initially and has a great ear for notes
Cheers
Does any one know what happened to Geoff Hillier the drummer
I went to school with him in the 70`s at Woolooware High.
I lived next door to him in Short St.
Any History would be interesting. I,m now 51 and havent seen him for over 30 years….HOPE HES WELL.
Regards
Your old friend Woody.
Hey Rod
Hey Rod ..How are you ????
Instead of trying to explain everything, you can head to my website if you want.. http://www.frankyvalentyn.com.au.
Hope youre well
PS. Chris be Beltram who was the bassplayer/vocalist in the band for a couple of years in between Shovels and Rod was in contact last week.
g’day
still alive
still have the yamaha kit
does anyone remember the highway hotel at wentworthville?
we got a good song out of that (highway robbery).
the sign writing (rocky way? train station).
still jam from time to time
ps. the “bat” in the background of the photo at stix’s house was me! recognize the make-up,
be good to hear from you guys, geoff
OMG Geoff
My first wife and I were at the gig at Wenty. We left just before it all went down…yes,I heard you where the bat!(been married 3 times..cant go through life being happy..)It was 2 years before I joined the band and it was the first time I saw the guys play without me (as in Oracle).
My on ememory was Stix Moe and Georges B3(?) thinking “great sound…but stuff lugging THAT around” haha
I saw Zac and Stix at my Dads funeral a couple of months back. I’m now witing Prog/classical, doing solo 4-5 a week and playing piano on Play School sometimes….music has been good to me.
I mean I heard Mel was the bat…….am babysitting 18 month old daughter…..brain fryed…..hahahahaha
gooday frank.
i remember how we got the mad gorilla name. some people turned up to help us rehearse in the mushroom shed and a guy asked what is the name of the band, we did not have one, then someone said the singer (stix) looked like a mad gorrilla.i remember we played in our undies at the war and peace parramatta, that was my falt. got 2 go. cu. geoff.
Hi all
I was the original lighting operator for “Mad Gorilla” from the first gig at Parramatta Bowls Club until I retired just before their last gig at Cambelltown Leagues Club 27.09.1985.
I designed all the stage lighting as well pioneered all the projection special effects we used on stage. But enough of all that the reason I am writing this is to let any Gorilla fans know you can now see the band as I video recorded them live at the gigs we did. The video quality is not the same as today but I have managed to enhance as much footage as I can. I am still working on the project and will add selected songs to YouTube as we go. Here is the first one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU905TDp30w This was recorded at the Manly Hotel in 1983, the video is of Frank doing his Kate Bush impersonation then with the band he rips into the old Dragon hit “April Sun in Cuba”, the sound is pretty good on this one and visuals have scrubbed up well for it’s age. Watch here as more come online or you can contact me thru my webpage http://www.xtremelaser.com Enjoy and your comments are welcome good and bad:-) And a big hello to any of the band members who frequent this site I hope this will bring back some happy memories for you.
all the best and remember old rockers never die they just mellow gracefully
Roger
Here is another video guys again from The Manly Hotel 1983, this is Stix belting out “Cocaine” with a brilliant guitar lead from Zack…..enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ_SYzxmW_I
Another video of Mad Gorilla Live at BLACKTOWN RSL Recorded on 18.05.1984 Stix belts out “TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS” and some great duel guitar leads from Zack and if my memory serves me right I think the other lead is a guy called Terry, if i’m wrong let me know so I can correct this. Remembering anything now at 61 years of age is an effort:)
Somewhere in my collection I have the Undertaker show (which I will post when I find it) recorded 23.04.1983 at The Riverstone Hotel just a stones throw away from The Mushroom Farm were we used to rehearse amongst other things:) Other videos to come will include Doyalson RSL, Mittagong, Penrith Leagues and Springwood RSL plus hopefully the entire video of Parramatta Road, this was part of a Australian Film & Television School project I organised with one of the students J Abineri (director) and was recorded on 5th December 1983.
I also have some 8m/m film (silent) footage from our 1st tour away out west who else remembers Boppy Mountain and one of the band (George I think) spraying the water tower with “Mad Gorilla for the 80’s” in black spray paint from the roof of the truck?. Plus I have lots of still pics , newspaper items, flyers etc. will get around to those soon. I have kept in touch with Stix and Dave it would be nice to hear from other band members and crew, but for now enjoy Taking Care of Business.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq8D1az55ew
Here as promised is the full version of the video the band did of “Parramatta Road” I organised with the Australian Film & Television School with one of the students Jane Abineri (director) and was recorded on 5th December 1983
I have only boosted the sound level on this as it was very low level on the tape other than that it’s untouched.
enjoy……..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buJriTc8LKk
Well guys here it is “The Undertaker Show” recorded at Riverstone RSL Club 22nd April 1983. The sound is OK but not as good as I got at Manly but it will have to do, as far as I know it’s the only copy of the Undertaker show in existence (let me know if you have a copy) we did not have any flashpots and were very limited in lighting cans at this time….
Enjoy “The Undertaker”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx4XV98r_rk
Simply brilliant Roger! I really appreciate you making these videos available.
I had the pleasure of seeing the undertaker show in person a few times back in the day. Sefton hotel sees to ring a bell.
I have passed this along to Langs who will pass it along to Stix & Zack.
Cheers, Gibbo
Thanks for your positive comments Gibbo I remember Sefton well we played there quite a few times over the years.
I hope to have all my videos of the band mastered on to DVD and Blu-Ray over the coming months it’s a big task but one worth the effort I feel. Here is another clip one of my all time favourites the band used to play “Framed” this was also recorded at Riverstone as part of the Undertaker show enjoy…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11_KkfW4W98
BTW great to hear from you Frank S thanks for the emails
Sorry coudn’t resist this one 2MMM FM 105 Sydney 1982 TV Advert I know you will remember this one and it is on topic 2MMM’s Doug mulray was a big supporter not only of Aussie music but especially Mad Gorilla I used to phone Doug and Miss Lizzy (now his wife) each week and they used to plug a lot of the bands gigs daily, and besides it’s Kevin Borich playing guitar what more can you ask…enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ3FKeIyU90
BTW Remember to vote at YOUTUBE and the MGB videos will get more views, you can see them all here:
http://www.youtube.com/xtremelaser
I found this amongst my Video collection and as much as I do not want to cause any embarrasment to Dave (Owens) I feel it is a part of Gorilla history of ex members and needs to be put on the record. Now this is just a little fun Dave hope you don’t take it seriously. This is a little gem from “Hey Hey it’s Saturday Red Faces” recorded 30th June 1986. I must admit Dave when asked how many songs you had written if you had said a couple of hundred it would have been nearer the truth, you wrote heaps with Gorilla:-) and take a look at Red and Shorrock in their youth..
this has kept quite good quality it’s complete and untouched so sit back take a deep breath and enjoy…….and remember to vote for the Video:-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLrtQBclXpU
g’day fellas this is Jack Flack Zac Flacks son, mum has a whole trunk of photos of you guys and vids too going back to boppy mountian/parramatta
G’day Jack, great to hear from you. I’d love to see some of those old photo’s from your Mum’s trunk. Maybe you could scan some & send them over? I’d be happy to post them here.
Thanks again and say hi to your folks for me.
Cheers, Gibbo
MAD GORILLA Springwood RSL 1982 “Conspiracy” This video is more for the original MGB song than the images as I do not know if I have another recording of it. This was recorded at Springwood RSL sometime in 1982 (if someone has the date let me know). It was Joe the drummers 3rd gig with us, we only had 4 par cans that I had just purchased from Lightmoves and 6 floor flood light boxes which I had built and a couple of projectors for some special FX and a crap video camera but at the end of the day we have a record of the event, oh those were the good old days:-)
Line up was Stix, Zack, Frank on keyboard, Dave on sax & guitar, Dr De Beltram on bass, Joe on drums.
Enjoy…………
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSa0gQNshDY
when i get the photos i’ll try and scan them, mum says she remembers the days like they were yesterday
mum wants to know has anyone seen recko
gooday rodger
i enjoyed the footage. well done,brings back fond memories.
thankyou heaps,geoff.
gooday jack
tell mum i saw reco about a year ago in caringbah on his way home from work with a big beard.a friend of mine knows his phone number, i can get it if u want.
hope to see some old photos,geoff.
ps. say gooday to mum for me please.
gooday george
do you still have the hammond/leslie?.
Hi Geoff it’s really great to hear from you after all these years, you too Jack say hi to your mum and dad for me. I am in the process of scanning some photos from the early years before I had a video camera to create a memorable DVD if you have anything you want to add to it (I KNOW COBY WOULD HAVE HUNDREDS OF PICS) send me your scanned pics with a brief description date time place subject etc. Anyone who sends me pics will get a DVD of the end result.
Hey Gibbo I found a poster from the Sefton Hotel would you believe! I will add it to the DVD plus some others I found.
I also found the master video of Parramatta Road they gave me from the Film School but I don’t have access to a U-MATIC video machine…. ANYONE?. Also an audio master 16/24 track of “Conspiracy” which was recorded by Spencer Lee at United Sound studios, I scratched my head thinking were the hell did this !@#$% tape come from and I eventually remembered it was for a film called called “Going Down” 1983 which I organised with an eccentric film director friend Haydn Keenan who used Conspiracy in his movie http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085604/
Here is a sample of what I have so far put together for the DVD please remember this is very rough… dates, places names, titles are still to be added plus a lot more pics I still have to scan, I kept diaries of our gigs so I think I can pinpoint the locations and dates etc…
The quality is poor on TouTube the DVD will look much better, Hope this sample brings back some fond memories for you all…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcQR-ceI1Uw
yeah mum would like recko’s number if you could foward it to me and she says hi geoff and whats happening in your life and are you playing in any bands
MAD GORILLA LAST GIG PENRITH LEAGUES 19.10.1985 sadly this was MGB’s last gig although they had retired the week before at Cambelltown they reformed to do this one last night. This was also my last night doing lighting for bands, sadly the damned video camera decided to play up and the sound level was just audible, I have completely ripped the sound of the video enhanced it and raised the level to an acceptable compromise to remove the hum. To my knowledge Mad Gorilla never played again under this name (let me know if i’m wrong)
enjoy their last gig………..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1O9jF0mxNs
This is an update to the MAD GORILLA Memorabilia Slide Show 1980-85 I have added more pics, some captions, dates and places etc….there is still a lot to do so send me your pics if you have any to add to the DVD (if you can’t scan them send me the photos). My wife Rhonda and I have been married 37 years yesterday (Sep 11th) and I was busy scanning and producing Mad Gorilla pics all day and night lol
It seems our videos are world wide now even The New Musical Express UK check this out
http://www.nme.com/video/id/xcQR-ceI1Uw/search/mad+gorilla
Hope you Enjoy it..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zKWeJVHXEk
gooday coby
how are you?. long time hey. it would be good to catch up with you, hope you are well, im ok except i recon im a 20 year old traped in the body of a 52 year old. rodger has blown me away, i phoned reco an he is blown away, an now im using my two finger typing method to contact you, im just blown away, opps there i go again. anyway reco an jenny will contact you, my email address is roynorm@optusnet.com.au
till we speek again, geoff.
gooday rodger
mate you have done it again, i just keep getting blown away. i will be travelin north in oct an it would be good to see u, if its ok i could call in and say hello. thankyou geoff.
Great to hear from you Geoff and that you have been in contact with Recko, have sent you an email with my home address etc
Cheers
Roger
Greetings carbon based life forms,
Well first off g’day Jack you were a baby last time I seen you!!! The rest of ya, well it’s great to see you’re all alive and kicking!!!Funny I remember having my wake at Bombay Rock for my 21st, I turn 48 this year!!! Didn’t think I’d make it this far & obviously neither did you. Roger, sorry about that time in adelaide but I couldn’t resist auctioning food to shovel for booze and it obviously went pear shaped.Geoff got in touch with me and that’s how I found the site.I haven’t checked the whole thing out yet but be SCARED!!! Where’s Al, Neddy is a great chef and I’m sure either me or geoff can find him. Will cruise around and check out what’s on here and get back to ya. This is a big buzz, LOTSA LUV!!!!…RECKO!
P.S. COMIN THRU WITH THE BAND!!!
G’day All,
What can I say, I have had a cruise around the Gorilla sites since my last post and WOW!! I even got a mention, they were great times and put me in the position to work with the rest of the best in the world. No one could work out why i was never intimidated, but after working with you guys nothing was ever scary. My love to everyone :Mark, Coby, Stix,Shovel,George,Geoff,Langs,Roger,Jimmy,Al,Frank,Doc deBeltram,all those girls,their mothers, aunties etc. Only thing I don’t miss these days is bloody big bass bins!
P.S. If we have a get together don’t let shovel do the catering or I’m not eating!!!
LOTSA LUV!!!…RECKO!
Hi Recko it’s really great to hear from you after all these years it’s been great catching up with the clan again, this has been a great experience putting all these videos and pics together after all this time. Where you living now?
Anyone heard from Don or Neddy? Shovel was up my place a few months ago and we dined out local with his girl, Stix was up here last July 2007 and we had a bbq with his friends at my place we email each other regular. http://www.tcb99.com/rog.stix.jpg
Hopefully a lot more will meet up here and we can organise something.
Here is another blast from the past those who were at the Highway Hotel Wentworthville will know what this one is about
it’s from Penrith Leagues last gig 1985 enjoy
Highway Robbery………..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05XrECMZRrE
g’day recko nice to hear your still alive hows zoe and how many kids do you have and what are you doing with yourself now
G’day Jack,
I have two girls Zoe and Lissa, unfortunately I haven’t seen them since ‘93 after having a major falling out with their mum. Have tried to find them but no luck, but we’ll talk about that some other time eh. These days I’m not doing much as my back collapsed at the start of this year ( Old bike accident,not from roadie work) and I have had to stop working. I do a junk mail run ( I tell people I work in advertising)for a bit of pocket money and walking is part of my physio plan.Worked as a roadie through the 90’s, then went to TAFE & became a bush regenerator.I had my own bush regeneration business (Weeds Weeds Weeds)but my back got too bad & I had to fold it up,then I worked for an events company (Sold Out) for a while but it just got worse. So I am in the process of reinventing myself yet again & getting fit.Am living in Como down in the shire( with the other hobbits) Would love to catch up and get the years of gossip my email is weedsweedsweeds@bigpond.com ( anyone else who wants to get in touch please do!!!) You’re mum is an awesome lady & i’ll bet she is a great mum, she had plenty of practise being mother to myself, plenty of other roadies & muso’s before you came along! Take care of her & dad, they are bloody legends! Gotta go, can’t stop crying…Recko.
Oh this is way to much fun!!!!!!!!!
Rog…the vids are sensational, even if back then my singing voice sounds like a 8yro kid (I did get better,but it took a while…haha)
Coby was the greatest “mother hen” ever…I mean that respecfully. She was amazing at holding the ship together.
Jack, I havent seen you since you where very small….not that you where EVER that small.
Recko is still kicking..I’ll be buggerd.
I’m still gigging solo 4-5 times a week as Franky Valentyn and during the day I compose for the ABC etc and even get to play piano on Play School sometimes (TV)
I’ve played with the Monkees, Shadows and was in the Beatnix and Le Club Nerd for LONG periods….even got ot tour with Rick Wakeman a couple of years ago.
Music has been good to me on so many levels.
I have a 20 mnth old called…………KATE….yes Kate haha…Maurie Cameron punched me in the arm when he found out.
On Maurie….WE are going to rennes (remember…his baby doughter) wedding next month….SHES now one of my agents!!!!!
so glad to hear things are going well hard to fathom renne getting married send us some pictures of the wedding if you tell me kates middle name is bush than i’m going to kill youhope your mums doing ok
Hi Frank and Recko
Before I go any further I must mention the great loss to the music industry with the passing of Pink Floyd Keyboardist Richard Wright who Passed Away at 65
Pink Floyd keyboard player and founder member Richard Wright died Monday 15th September 2008 aged 65 from cancer.
Wright appeared on the group’s first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, in 1967 alongside lead guitarist Syd Barrett, Roger Waters and Nick Mason.
Dave Gilmour joined the band at the start of 1968 while Barrett left the group shortly afterwards.
Wright penned songs on classic albums including Dark Side Of The Moon and Wish You Were Here.
Wright’s spokesman said: “The family of Richard Wright, founder member of Pink Floyd, announce with great sadness that Richard died today after a short struggle with cancer.
“The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.”
source http://www.pinkfloydonline.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=14038
Although not Australian he was a great inspiration to many Aussie musicians I for one will miss him greatly, having had the good fortune to work with Pink Floyd back in the late 70’s he will be sadly missed.
Anyway life goes on and we will all be gone one day so let’s make the most of it. Frank it appears you already met my son Jesse he says he saw you at Coffs Harbour 2 years ago he went under the name Checkas he now wrestles under the name Zero in Canada and is the heavywight champ in Alberta for PZW
http://www.powerzonewrestling.net/pzw2.html do you remember him Frank? Recko I got your emaile I hope to catch up with both soon, Recko I sympathise with you back injury I am nearly crippled now from a motorcycle accident I had in London back in 1968 I now mostly get around in an electric mobility scooter as walking is very difficult for me. Live your life while you can you never know when fate will deal you a final hand…….
Hi Dave Stix etc
Remember me, I was geoff Hilliers mate that use to rodie for you guys.what you forget me, and after I picked the lock of that motel room when you guys locked yourselves out after the gig. Geoff told me about the site.Brings back heaps of good memories especialy of pratice at the mushroom shed.Im living in perth now, How about bringing the credence show over here.
Hi Guys
I have caught up with a couple of you in the past by email, Stix, Franky, and last night Roger. Is great to slowly make contact again. I was the dude who used to do the freelance journo stuff and when I could would hop up on keys and sorta play April Sun In Cuba after Franky did his Kate Bush.. oh what days, and how time has slipped by. I am going to try and catch up with Stix and gang for their Creedence show on Saturday night at Unanderra.
Hi Mark
I got all the images you emailed me I will enhance them all and add them to the DVD plus youtube many thanks for your effort, anyone else who has any images of the MGB days please send them to me.
Cheers
Roger
Anyone heard from Dave (Shovel) Owens his email address is dead and his webpage no longer exists.
Also has anyone heard from George, Don, Neddy or Big Al ?
The Undertaker has had over 117 downloads from Youtube as of today in just over a week but as the quality is not that good I have decided to release the original MPEG version to the Internet that can be burnt to CD / DVD this is the best quality I can get of The Undertaker show if you can do any better be my guest.
Download Link
http://www.xtremelaser.com/MADGORILLA-UNDERTAKER.htm
If you have any problems downloading let me know…enjoy
G’day all,
Roger- I’m not finished just yet but it’s very frustrating. Maybe we should have been doing lighting at the paralympics!HAHAHA!! There is so many stories, I’ve talked to Gibbo & will be posting some of my memories both here and non Gorrilla stuff on war stories. I know this is a long shot but do you know Stewart Fenton? he was one of the guys who got the rainbow theatre going again, later worked with Bob Marley. He was my boss at Jands bloody good bloke!
Frank- I’ve heard you do Sylvania pub please keep me posted if you play near the shire, would love to catch up. My email is on here somewhere.
George- I remember waking up in your loungeroom with a bloody big hole in the floor and a log smouldering on the dirt below. And waking up in the mushroom shed to a female voice calling my name. I think it was Geoffs girlfriend bringing me tea and toast. I was asleep in the coffin, it was cold so I had the lid closed. I groaned and sat up as I opened the lid the poor girl shit herself. There wasn’t much left in my cup of tea. I think she was the same girl that went to the outdoor loo and a black snake with a frog in it’s mouth stuck it’s head out of the can! She started screaming and the dogs bailed her up. I wonder if she is out of therapy yet.Anyhow gotta go am cramping up.
LUV YA ALL!!..Recko
Hey Recko
Sylvania is on Friday the 26th….Its a bit of fun
All my dates are at http://www.frankyvalentyn.com.au
Yes Rog,,,I remember Jess….wow..
I feel your pain guys..I’ve got 2 blown disks…ow
Hello Steve
Welcome back to the group I vaguely remember you but then I am the oldest I am sure one of the younger ones will remember you better:-)