Stray Alien Music is owned by John Tucak, and currently represents the interests of "The Clique - Of Stray Aliens", and "Setunggal" from Bali, Indonesia.

They say "A picture is worth 1,000 words", so I will try to highlight some of my experience in the Australian Music Industry with pictures from 1965 to 1976:

Top- Left: "The Winter Of '69" with my partner, Sandy (for the next 25 years) - Back In Melbourne with "Hard Kash" ( as a 3 piece with guitarist/singer Alex Mayfield, Al Kash, and myself - C3 Hammond Organist,(with Leslie Box), Alan Wilks couldn't leave Perth at that time) - 1st Lower Left: "The Galaxies" Bass Player 1965. -2nd Lower Left:1967  "The Clique - Of Stray Aliens" 2nd Trip to Melbourne -  5 Witnesses to an on-air interview with DJ Lionel York who promised to actually play the single! In 2003 I called in with a request, on- air in Perth, to outline "The Memphis Connection" - and he asked: "But was it a hit!" - I was SPEECHLESS. -Top Right: "Down Home Group" Rehearsal with guitarist Dennis James, and drummer Al Kash 1968, - 3rd Lower Left: "The Great Pumpkin Mutiny" live at Alistair Norwood's "Gaslight Club"1968 - L to R: me, Pete Devlin, Al Kash, and Dennis James ( the "quiet guy" at the right rear - displayed an enormous temper one night when feedback from the PA, kept returning, and smashed his Fender guitar) Dennis has always been one of the best - and loudest lead guitarists in Australia."The Great Pumpkin Mutiny" also had female singer for a number of weeks, a very pretty US exchange student, from San Francisco, with long red hair singing Janis Joplin material. Pete Devlin could play guitar and harmonica like Dylan - my favourite was: "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" - a very extended version.The 4th photo below is "The Great Pumpkin Mutiny "jamming with John McKittrick on Harmonica at our residency at "The Gaslight Club". John had previously been a regular player with "Genesis" in the UK, where a music magazine had rated him No3 Blues Harmonica Player in the world - after Paul Butterfield, and John Mayall. I still remember some 1am to 4am Jam Sessions at "The Hole In The Wall" Jazz Club - one was a "Train Track" Jam that went on for 2 or 3 hours - the other one was a slow jam on "Summertime" where John managed to get his Harmonica playing in very high harmonics that I have only ever heard from a good saxophone player - that was awesome! The photo to the right is just a personal statement about the last time I visited a barber shop - 1968! I was in "New Era" with Joe Orifici ( from "The Clique" on keyboards),singer Peter Hutton, guitarist Colin Wilson, and drummer Maurie Pearson. The 1st photo on the Lower Right  has "New Era" singer Peter Hutton in the foreground, and was a clip from a video made by Channel 9 (Perth), around July/August 1968, where we did great versions of "Tin Soldier" and "You Keep Me Hangin' On" with two dancers - one of which was Cheryl Rixon. This was at "Riki Tic" where we were resident for more than 6 months. The 2nd photo on the Lower Right: - is again The Winter of '69 in Melbourne - a photo of a  fellow bass player, Pete Boundy (Ex- "Current Bun", Perth) - just a genuine nice guy, who was also staying at 72 Park Street, St Kilda, along with drummer Ron Parker. I had set up this 6 bedroom house mainly to accomodate Perth musicians who were working in Melbourne, as well as "Hard Kash".The 5th photo on the Lower Left: - More Park Street residents - L to R Front: Chrissie Phipps, Sandy Dartnell, Judy Perry - L toR Rear: John McKittrick, myself, and Steve Perry.  "Ram Jam Big Band"  (with American Singer: Pete Bonner) used to rehearse in the lounge at the rear of Park Street, until the bass player and drummer left  to become half of "Daddy Cool".


 
 

Note: Please excuse the awkward positioning of the text associated with the photos, as this website construction programme appears to have limitations in this area - or my understanding of it's capabilities is limited. So, to appreciate a linear history, you will have to count 6 photos up on the right , to pick up where we were.....1970, with Chad Horvath sitting in front of 4 new speaker boxes, each holding 2 x 15" Pioneer Speakers, that were constructed at 72 Park Street. The 150 watt "Sonic" Amp Top, was updated by "Eminar" of Melbourne, and renamed "McKenzie's 150 Watt Purple Pimple". (It appeared that we had a problem with air bubbles under the vinyl covering - but this settled down) This new equipment was a minor engineering achievement, at that time, for the residents of Park Street - but a long way from when we first arrived in Melbourne with only 3 audition bookings for "Hard Kash". I remember Michael Gudinski telling us: "You are a good band, but as you can see on the walls around you, we book three months ahead here, unless we get some cancellations, you will have to wait, or come back" - we were on starvation rations within 3 days

The 1st photo to the lower left of the purple speaker boxes: - 1970 in Melbourne: "Nivram Blues Band" playing heavy blues - then changed to "Shady Grave" playing heavy rock - then changed to "Madrigal" playing heavy "metal"....the same band...L to R.."Rattox" (Indian drummer), Mick George ( singer ), I apologise that I can't remember the guitarist's name, but he had 5 pick-ups fitted to his Fender guitar, controlled by 5 micro switches - we drank a lot of scotch together - and he was a good guitar player.

At a show in Ormond, we were the support band for "Max Merritt & The Meteors"...Max arrived carrying a suitcase - size Fender Amp...looked at the "Purple Pimple" Amp Stack, and with a worried look, asked: "Who's here?"I gave the response: "Iam...the bassplayer from your support band, Shady Grave"..and shook his hand.

 The 2nd photo to the Lower Left: - In 1971 I  returned to Perth with "Superman", a band that we formed in Melbourne, with musicians from Perth: Dennis James (guitar), Dave Little (drummer), Ross Partington (vocals), and me on bass. We were the support act for the "Daddy Cool" tour, played at UWA"s "Octogon Theatre", and many Perth venues.

We left Melbourne for Perth around the same time that AC/DC left Melbourne for London. We were broke within 3 months - they sold millions of albums.

"Like Fun":

The 3rd and 4th Photos on the Lower Left: "Like Fun":

- Then Maurie Pearson (drummer - "New Era", "Ray Hoff & The Offbeats")  approached me to join a "showband" that he was forming with Ray Hoff (Offbeats), Stevie Wright (Easybeats), Shirley Read (Sameday Twins), Gerry Stoll (guitar), Alan Wilks (C3 Hammond Organ/Wurlitzer Piano). Alan and I had worked together in 1968 in "Stafford D", "Nelson", and "Hard Kash".

We spent six weeks rehearsing, and playing in Geraldton as "Black Christmas" (the "West Australian" newspaper carried a headline forecasting the effect of a strike, by unions involved in the production of electricity).  There appeared to be too many negative connotations to this name.

As we were leaving the hotel in Geraldton, Johnny O'Keefe arrived, but I didn't have a camera with me, to get a photo of Johnny O'Keefe catching up with Ray Hoff, and Stevie Wright.

So the "showband" became known as "Like Fun", Colin Wilson (guitar - "New Era") replaced Gerry Stoll on guitar, and we were preparing the band to work the USO Clubs in Vietnam in 1972.

 Ray Hoff had previously worked at the USO Clubs in Vietnam, and was able to arrange tentative bookings. Ray Hoff & The Offbeats, originally out of Sydney, were the first professional Blues Band in Australia in the 1950's.

Stevie Wright was the frontman and lead singer in "The Easybeats" - and, unless you were born under a rock, or later.. "The Easybeats" were the top music act in Australia from around 1965 till they disbanded over a management issue  around 1970.In the late sixties they were touring the US, with I believe, four singles in the US Top 100 - competing with "The Beatles", who also had four singles in the US Top 100 at that time.

Stevie Wright was, by far, the most accomplished singer/musician that I had the privelege to work with - and I'm sure that the other guys felt the same. He could move across the stage like Michael Jackson, and had an inflection in his voice like Ray Charles .He was great to work with - at rehearsals, or on stage. Stevie had tapes of the last album, or recording sessions of "The Easybeats" in London, which was not released - it was their best album!

Steve Marriott, and Peter Frampton (Humble Pie), could be heard supporting the band. I was convinced that "Quick Reaction" would have been a great single!

Maurie had made plans for the band to sail to Singapore on board a Cruise Ship, perform at the Singapore Hilton, then the USO Clubs in Vietnam.This would be followed by the Hong Kong Hilton, the Tokyo Hilton, and possibly the Hilton in Las Vegas. He was funding the tour personally, from the sale of his home in City Beach. The band was unaware that he was still in middle of divorce and settlement proceedings with his wife, until everything came to a sudden stop. So we passed the hat around, and put Stevie on a plane to Brisbane to arrange work on a circuit in Queensland. While waiting for a connecting flight at Sydney Airport, Stevie met up with Harry Miller, who offered him a part in the stage production of "Jesus Christ, Superstar" for the next 3 years. So the showband "Like Fun" broke up under financial stress, with limited work opportunities available in Western Australia at that time.

 

The 1st Photo to the Lower Right of the purple speaker boxes: - 1972 - On the road to Port Hedland with "Like Fun 2" - Les Hinton (singer), Gerry Stoll (guitar),

Clayton Black (drums), and me on bass. Les was later replaced by Peter Hutton. The 2nd Photo on the Lower Right: - On the road back from Port Hedland - singer Peter Hutton, and I, in a field of wildflowers at Greenough,near Geraldton. Peter had a vocal style and range similar to Joe Cocker.

After "Like Fun 2", I joined "Warlock"(1973): "Froggie" (Tad Mischiewicz - singer), John Herbert (drums), Gabe (guitar), and originally "Zorba" (organ). We worked most venues in Perth for about 6 months ( - supported "Sherbert" for a few weeks), and eventually became resident at "The Esplanade Hotel", Port Hedland for 6 months.

"Warlock" disbanded in Port Hedland, so I formed "The Pier Band" to work at "The Pier Hotel", Port Hedland for the next 6 or 9 months (1974): Gerrard Maunick (Guitar / Vocals),Alan Wilks (C3 Hammond / Piano), Clayton Black (Drums), and me on a Les Paul "Triumph" Bass. Gerrard is a great guitarist, who can also sing like Julio Inglasias, and all these years later deserves a lot more recognition, as he is still working as far as I am aware.

The 5th photo on the Left ( Below "Like Fun"): - Michael Carr ( rhythym guitarist - "The Clique") and his wife Anne, had also arrived in Port Hedland with a band, and became residents for a few years.

The 3rd photo on the Right:- My Family in late 1974 - Me, flanked by my wife Sandy, and daughter Layla, with my niece Renay on the left. we had arrived back in Perth,

and I was about to join a Gospel Band: "Emmanuel". The 6th photo on the Left: Melbourne Drummer, Tom Watts ("Emmanuel") posing as a preacher on the roof of the van on a  "mission" in Yallingup, 1975.

The 4th photo on the Right (second last): My wife, Sandy and I, at the wedding of my brother-in-law ,Ray Porteous - a happy occasion. This relationship lasted for 25 years.

The last photo on the Left: - Me sharing music with Ronald Michael, a professional  Aboriginal Didgeridoo Player - early 1990's.

The last photo on the Right: "A Shredded Heart" (1998) - My son, Christian, born in 1976 had died while travelling in Spain in 1998, and my (ex) wife had eloped with

somebody else in 1994.