Ayers Rock (band)
Encyclopedia
Ayers Rock was a jazz fusion
/progressive rock
band from Melbourne
, Australia
. The group formed in 1973, and included many well-travelled rock performers; drummer Mark Kennedy had previously played in Spectrum
, and played on sessions for King Harvest
and Friends. Bassist Duncan McGuire
, who was also an experienced recording engineer and producer, had been in Australian groups since the late 1950s, including The Phantoms, The Epics, and The Questions
(which later became Doug Parkinson
In Focus) and also played with King Harvest
. Guitarist Ray Burton had played with The Dave Bridge Quartet, The Delltones
and The Executives, and worked with Helen Reddy
in the U.S., where he wrote the music for Reddy's international hit "I Am Woman
".
The trio joined forces with guitarist Jimmy Doyle
, whose previous credits included The Delltones and Dig Richards and worked as musical director for pianist Winifred Atwell
on her Australian tours; Doyle was also an in-demand session player who featured on the 1969 Neil Sedaka
LP Workin' On A Groovy Thing and the Australian hit single "Wheeling West Virginia", which were recorded in Sydney.
The new group was initially dubbed McGuire, Kennedy & Burton but changed their name a few months later to Ayers Rock, when they were joined by saxophonist Col Loughnan. Loughnan had started his music career as a vocalist, and became well-known in Australia in the 1960s after he took over as lead singer of popular vocal quartet The Delltones
, following the death of founder member Noel Widerberg.
Ayers rock signed to Mushroom Records
and issued their first single, "Rock 'N Roll Fight", in December 1973. In 1974 Ayers Rock issued their first full-length, Big Red Rock, which was recorded live at Melbourne's Armstrong's Studios
and included a new version of McGuire's "Lady Montego", which had originally been performed by Friends. The success of the album allowed the group to tour the United States (where the band had signed with A&M Records
) in 1975-1976. After their second album, Beyond, was released in 1976, the group went on a hiatus; in 1979, some members reconvened for a third LP, 1980's Hotspell. They disbanded in 1981.
McGuire died in 1986 from a brain tumour. Doyle died in May 2006 from liver cancer.
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
/progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band from Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The group formed in 1973, and included many well-travelled rock performers; drummer Mark Kennedy had previously played in Spectrum
Spectrum (band)
Spectrum is an Australian progressive rock band that formed in Melbourne in 1969 and, in its original period, remained in existence until 1973. Its members also performed under the alter-ego Indelible Murtceps...
, and played on sessions for King Harvest
King Harvest
King Harvest was a 1970s American rock band, best known for their 1973 hit single, "Dancing in the Moonlight".-Background:Formed by a group of four American expatriates in Paris in 1970, King Harvest was best known for its one US hit single, "Dancing In The Moonlight," which was released in 1972...
and Friends. Bassist Duncan McGuire
Duncan McGuire
Duncan McGuire was an Australian musician, songwriter, recording engineer and producer. He is best known for his association with vocalist Doug Parkinson in the 1960s and 1970s and his membership of the 1970s fusion band Ayers Rock...
, who was also an experienced recording engineer and producer, had been in Australian groups since the late 1950s, including The Phantoms, The Epics, and The Questions
The Questions
The Questions were a Scottish pop band, active during the late 1970s and early 1980s.-History:Although they emerged from the same scene as Orange Juice, Aztec Camera and The Bluebells, The Questions were distinguished from their peers for their blue-eyed soul sound. ...
(which later became Doug Parkinson
Doug Parkinson
Douglas "Doug" Parkinson is an Australian singer who first came to fame with his band, Doug Parkinson In Focus, in 1969. He has had numerous hits on the Australian Top 40 charts.-Career:...
In Focus) and also played with King Harvest
King Harvest
King Harvest was a 1970s American rock band, best known for their 1973 hit single, "Dancing in the Moonlight".-Background:Formed by a group of four American expatriates in Paris in 1970, King Harvest was best known for its one US hit single, "Dancing In The Moonlight," which was released in 1972...
. Guitarist Ray Burton had played with The Dave Bridge Quartet, The Delltones
The Delltones
The Delltones, a popular Australian rock 'n roll band, originally formed in 1958. They started out as a vocal harmony group with the lineup consisting of Brian Perkins, Noel Widerberg, Ian 'Peewee' Wilson and Warren Lucas...
and The Executives, and worked with Helen Reddy
Helen Reddy
Helen Reddy , often referred to as "The Queen of 70s Pop", is an Australian-American singer and actress. In the 1970s, she enjoyed international success, especially in the United States, where she placed fifteen singles in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Six of those 15 songs made the Top 10...
in the U.S., where he wrote the music for Reddy's international hit "I Am Woman
I Am Woman
"I Am Woman" is a song cowritten by Helen Reddy and singer/songwriter/guitarist Ray Burton and performed by Reddy. Released in its most well-known version in 1970, the song became an enduring anthem for the women’s liberation movement.-Success:...
".
The trio joined forces with guitarist Jimmy Doyle
Jimmy Doyle
James 'Jimmy' Doyle , is a retired Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with the famous Thurles Sarsfields club from 1956 until 1975 and was a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1957 until 1973...
, whose previous credits included The Delltones and Dig Richards and worked as musical director for pianist Winifred Atwell
Winifred Atwell
Una Winifred Atwell Una Winifred Atwell Una Winifred Atwell (27 February or April 1910 or 1914There is some uncertainty over her date and year of birth. Many sources suggest 27 February 1914, but there is a strong suggestion that her birthday was 27 April. Most sources give her year of birth as...
on her Australian tours; Doyle was also an in-demand session player who featured on the 1969 Neil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka is an American pop/rock singer, pianist, and composer. His career has spanned nearly 55 years, during which time he has sold millions of records as an artist and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard...
LP Workin' On A Groovy Thing and the Australian hit single "Wheeling West Virginia", which were recorded in Sydney.
The new group was initially dubbed McGuire, Kennedy & Burton but changed their name a few months later to Ayers Rock, when they were joined by saxophonist Col Loughnan. Loughnan had started his music career as a vocalist, and became well-known in Australia in the 1960s after he took over as lead singer of popular vocal quartet The Delltones
The Delltones
The Delltones, a popular Australian rock 'n roll band, originally formed in 1958. They started out as a vocal harmony group with the lineup consisting of Brian Perkins, Noel Widerberg, Ian 'Peewee' Wilson and Warren Lucas...
, following the death of founder member Noel Widerberg.
Ayers rock signed to Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records
Mushroom Records is an Australian recoJrd company formed by Michael Gudinski and Ray Evans in Melbourne in 1972. After its sale in 1998, it merged into Festival Mushroom Records. From 2005 to 2009, it is one of the record labels operated by Warner Bros...
and issued their first single, "Rock 'N Roll Fight", in December 1973. In 1974 Ayers Rock issued their first full-length, Big Red Rock, which was recorded live at Melbourne's Armstrong's Studios
Armstrong's Studios
-- also known as Bill Armstrong's Studio and later renamed AAV is an important Australian commercial recording studio located in Melbourne, Victoria....
and included a new version of McGuire's "Lady Montego", which had originally been performed by Friends. The success of the album allowed the group to tour the United States (where the band had signed with A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
) in 1975-1976. After their second album, Beyond, was released in 1976, the group went on a hiatus; in 1979, some members reconvened for a third LP, 1980's Hotspell. They disbanded in 1981.
McGuire died in 1986 from a brain tumour. Doyle died in May 2006 from liver cancer.
Members
- Chris Brown - guitar/vocals 1974-81
- Ray Burton - guitar/vocals 1973-74
- Keith Casey - percussion 1976
- Andy Cohen - keyboards 1976-8
- James Doyle - guitar/vocals 1973-75
- Russell Dunlop - drums 1976
- Doug Gallacher - drums 1976
- Steve Hogg - bass 1976
- Mark Kennedy - drums 1973-76
- Col Loughnan - saxophone, flute, clarinet,keyboards, percussion, vocals
- Duncan McGuireDuncan McGuireDuncan McGuire was an Australian musician, songwriter, recording engineer and producer. He is best known for his association with vocalist Doug Parkinson in the 1960s and 1970s and his membership of the 1970s fusion band Ayers Rock...
- bass - Hamish Stuart - drums 1976-81
- Phil Stone - guitar
- Joe Tattersal - drums
- John Young - bass 1977
- LaMonica Bush- dance 2008
Albums
- Big Red Rock (Mushroom RecordsMushroom RecordsMushroom Records is an Australian recoJrd company formed by Michael Gudinski and Ray Evans in Melbourne in 1972. After its sale in 1998, it merged into Festival Mushroom Records. From 2005 to 2009, it is one of the record labels operated by Warner Bros...
, 1974) - Beyond (Mushroom, 1976)
- Hotspell (Red Rock/RCA RecordsRCA RecordsRCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, 1980)
Singles
- "Rock N Roll Fight (Going On)/ Sorrowful Eyes" (December 1973)
- "Lady Montego/ Goin' Home" (November 1974)
- "Little Kings/ Get Out To The Country" (1975)
- "Song For Darwin/ Place To Go" (May 1976)
- "On The Avenue/ Sister Feels She Should" (December 1979)
- "Lies/ Feel The Heat" (July 1981)
External links
- [ Ayers Rock] at Allmusic.com