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Dragon is a popular New Zealand
New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous Islands of New Zealand, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands....
/Australian rock band
Rock Band

Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV, and distributed by Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band....
, they were formed in Auckland
Auckland

The Auckland metropolitan area or Greater Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban areas of New Zealand with over 1.3 million residents, percent of the country's population....
, New Zealand in January 1972 and relocated to Sydney
Sydney

Sydney is the List of cities in Australia by population in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 4.34 million . It is the List of Australian capital cities of New South Wales, and was the site of the first British Empire colony in Australia....
, Australia in May 1975. They were previously led by singer Marc Hunter
Marc Hunter

Marc Hunter was a rock and pop singer best known as the lead vocalist with Dragon , a band formed by his older brother Todd Hunter in Auckland, New Zealand in 1973....
 and are currently led by his brother bass
Bass guitar

The electric bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a plectrum.The bass guitar is similar in appearance and construction to an electric guitar, but with a larger body, a longer neck and Scale length, and usually four strings tuned to the same pitches as those of the double bass, whic...
 player Todd Hunter
Todd Hunter

Todd Hunter is a New Zealand musician and composer known for his involvement in the band Dragon . Their best known songs are "April Sun in Cuba", "Are You Old Enough?", "Still in Love With You", and "Rain"....
. They performed and released material under the name Hunter in Europe and United States during 1987.

Keyboard
Keyboard instrument

A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include various types of organ s as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic musical instrument....
 player Paul Hewson wrote or co-wrote most of the group's hits: "April Sun in Cuba" peaked at #2 on the 1977 Australian singles chart; "Are You Old Enough?" reached #1 in 1978; and "Still in Love With You" reached #15 also in 1978.






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Encyclopedia


Dragon is a popular New Zealand
New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous Islands of New Zealand, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands....
/Australian rock band
Rock Band

Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV, and distributed by Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band....
, they were formed in Auckland
Auckland

The Auckland metropolitan area or Greater Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban areas of New Zealand with over 1.3 million residents, percent of the country's population....
, New Zealand in January 1972 and relocated to Sydney
Sydney

Sydney is the List of cities in Australia by population in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 4.34 million . It is the List of Australian capital cities of New South Wales, and was the site of the first British Empire colony in Australia....
, Australia in May 1975. They were previously led by singer Marc Hunter
Marc Hunter

Marc Hunter was a rock and pop singer best known as the lead vocalist with Dragon , a band formed by his older brother Todd Hunter in Auckland, New Zealand in 1973....
 and are currently led by his brother bass
Bass guitar

The electric bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a plectrum.The bass guitar is similar in appearance and construction to an electric guitar, but with a larger body, a longer neck and Scale length, and usually four strings tuned to the same pitches as those of the double bass, whic...
 player Todd Hunter
Todd Hunter

Todd Hunter is a New Zealand musician and composer known for his involvement in the band Dragon . Their best known songs are "April Sun in Cuba", "Are You Old Enough?", "Still in Love With You", and "Rain"....
. They performed and released material under the name Hunter in Europe and United States during 1987.

Keyboard
Keyboard instrument

A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include various types of organ s as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic musical instrument....
 player Paul Hewson wrote or co-wrote most of the group's hits: "April Sun in Cuba" peaked at #2 on the 1977 Australian singles chart; "Are You Old Enough?" reached #1 in 1978; and "Still in Love With You" reached #15 also in 1978. The Hunter brothers with Todd's partner, Johanna Pigott
Johanna Pigott

Johanna Paton Pigott is an Australian musician, Singer-songwriter and screenwriter. Her best known hit songs are Dragon "Rain" which peaked at #2 on the Australia singles charts in 1983 and John Farnham "Age of Reason"....
, wrote "Rain" a #2 hit in 1983. The name, Dragon, came from a consultation of I Ching
I Ching

The I Ching , or ?Y? Jing? ; also called Classic of Changes or Book of Changes is one of the oldest of the Chinese classic texts....
 cards by early band vocalist Graeme Collins.

Dragon have endured tragedy and notoriety: members dying including drummer Neil Storey of a heroin
Heroin

Heroin is a opioid synthesized from morphine, a derivative of the opium poppy. It is the 3,6-acetate ester of morphine . The white crystalline form is commonly the hydrochloride salt diacetylmorphine hydrochloride, however heroin Freebase may also appear as a white powder....
 overdose in 1976, Paul Hewson of a drug overdose
Drug overdose

The term drug overdose describes the ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than are recommended or generally practiced....
 in 1985 and Marc Hunter of smoking related oesophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer is cancer of the esophagus. There are various subtypes, primarily squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell cancer arises from the cells that line the upper part of the esophagus....
 in 1998; the Stewart Royal Commission
Royal Commission of Inquiry into Drug Trafficking

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Drug Trafficking was also known as the "Stewart Royal Commission". It was headed by Justice Donald Stewart ....
 (1980-1983) investigated the Mr. Asia
Mr. Asia

"Mr. Asia" is the name given to the largest and most deadly Illegal drug trade ever to have operated in New Zealand, Australia and United Kingdom between 1973 and 1980....
 drug syndicate
Illegal drug trade

The illegal drug trade or drug trafficking is a global black market consisting of the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of Law controlled drugs....
 and obtained evidence that Dragon members were clients; the band's disastrous 1978 tour of USA ended when Marc Hunter accused his Texan audience of being "faggots
Faggot (epithet)

Faggot or fag, in modern North American English and Australian English is a word, and always a highly pejorative term, for a Gay or effeminate man....
" and they were pelted off stage. On 1 July 2008 the Australian Recording Industry Association
Australian Recording Industry Association

The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australia recording industry. It oversees the collection, administration and distribution of music licenses and royalties....
 (ARIA) recognised Dragon's iconic status when they were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame
ARIA Hall of Fame

Since 1988 the Australian Recording Industry Association has inducted artists into its ARIA Hall of Fame. While most have been recognised at the annual ARIA Music Awards, in 2005 ARIA sought to create a separate standalone "ARIA Icons: Hall of Fame" event as only one or two acts could be inducted under the old format due to time restric...
.

History


1972-1975: Early years in New Zealand

Dragon formed in Auckland
Auckland

The Auckland metropolitan area or Greater Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban areas of New Zealand with over 1.3 million residents, percent of the country's population....
, New Zealand, in January 1972 with a line-up that featured Todd Hunter
Todd Hunter

Todd Hunter is a New Zealand musician and composer known for his involvement in the band Dragon . Their best known songs are "April Sun in Cuba", "Are You Old Enough?", "Still in Love With You", and "Rain"....
 on bass guitar
Bass guitar

The electric bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a plectrum.The bass guitar is similar in appearance and construction to an electric guitar, but with a larger body, a longer neck and Scale length, and usually four strings tuned to the same pitches as those of the double bass, whic...
, guitar
Guitar

The guitar is a musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles. It typically has six Strings , but Tenor guitar, Seven-string guitar, Eight-string guitar, Ten-string guitar, Eleven-string guitar, Twelve-string guitar, Thirteen-string guitar and doubleneck guitar string guitars also exist....
ist Ray Goodwin, drummer
Drum kit

A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as cowbell s, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer....
 Neil Reynolds and singer/pianist
Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard instrument. Widely used in Western music for solo performance, ensemble use, chamber music, and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to musical composition and rehearsal....
 Graeme Collins. All had been in various short-lived bands in Auckland, Collins is credited with using I Ching
I Ching

The I Ching , or ?Y? Jing? ; also called Classic of Changes or Book of Changes is one of the oldest of the Chinese classic texts....
 to provide the name Dragon. Their first major gig was an appearance at the The Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival
The Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival

The Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival was the first large outdoor music festival in New Zealand. It was held on a farm at Ngaruawahia on the Waikato River, 19 kilometres north-west of Hamilton, New Zealand, for three days from 6 to 8 January 1973....
 in early January 1973. By 1974 several personnel changes had occurred, with Todd Hunter's younger brother Marc Hunter
Marc Hunter

Marc Hunter was a rock and pop singer best known as the lead vocalist with Dragon , a band formed by his older brother Todd Hunter in Auckland, New Zealand in 1973....
 joining on vocals and Neil Storey on drums. The band recorded two progressive rock
Progressive rock

Progressive rock is a form of rock music that evolved in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." The term "art rock" is often used interchangeably with "progressive rock", but while there are crossovers between the two genres, they are not identical....
 albums in their native New Zealand, Universal Radio in 1974 and Scented Gardens for the Blind
Scented Gardens for the Blind

Scented Gardens for the Blind is the second album by New Zealand based Dragon before they moved to Australia. The title of New Zealand author Janet Frame fourth novel was Scented Gardens for the Blind ....
 in 1975 both on Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records

Vertigo Records today is a UK-based record label operated by Mercury Records ....
. Despite being New Zealand's top live attraction by late 1974, neither albums nor related singles had any local chart success, and they recruited Robert Taylor (ex-Mammal
Mammal (band)

Mammal are an Australian band that formed in March 2006. Mammal's lyrically driven songs and amazing live show have helped them to rise up in the ranks of Australian music scene very quickly.Their first self titled EP was recorded soon after the band came together....
) on guitar as they searched for a raunchier pop sound
Pop music

Pop music is a music genre that features a noticeable rhythmic element, melodies and hook , a mainstream style and a conventional structure.The term "pop music" was first used in 1926 in the sense of "having popular appeal" , but since the 1950s it has been used in the sense of a musical genre, originally characterized as a lighter alternat...
. By early 1975, manager Graeme Nesbitt (ex-Mammal), who had obtained regular gigs and organised their first New Zealand tours, felt they should tackle the larger Australian market. Nesbitt was unable to travel with them to Australia - he had been arrested for selling drugs.

1975-1979: Initial stardom

Dragon relocated to Sydney
Sydney

Sydney is the List of cities in Australia by population in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 4.34 million . It is the List of Australian capital cities of New South Wales, and was the site of the first British Empire colony in Australia....
 in May 1975, they toured Australia as support act to Status Quo
Status Quo

Status Quo, also known as The Quo or just Quo, are an England rock music band whose music is characterized by the twelve-bar blues....
 in October. The band sent for keyboard player Paul Hewson who had a reputation, in New Zealand, as a pop songwriter. Hewson had been scouted by Nesbitt when Dragon were still in New Zealand but had declined to join at that time. In 1976 they secured a residency at the Bondi Lifesaver club, and landed a contract with CBS Records
CBS Records

CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 in music to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties distributed by CBS Paramount Television....
 after being seen by record producer Peter Dawkins
Peter Dawkins

Peter Dawkins may refer to:*Pete Dawkins, Vice Chairman of the CitiGroup Private Bank and former Chairman/CEO of Primerica Financial Services, Inc....
. Often courting or creating controversy, the band was rocked by the heroin
Heroin

Heroin is a opioid synthesized from morphine, a derivative of the opium poppy. It is the 3,6-acetate ester of morphine . The white crystalline form is commonly the hydrochloride salt diacetylmorphine hydrochloride, however heroin Freebase may also appear as a white powder....
 overdose death of drummer Neil Storey in September 1976, aged 22. By then, founding member Goodwin had left the group, and their single "This Time" had begun charting.

After considering disbanding, Todd Hunter consulted with Nesbitt who advised him to continue and organised for Kerry Jacobson (ex-Mammal) to join on drums. Between 1977 and 1979, the line-up of the Hunter brothers, Taylor, Hewson and Jacobson had a string of major hits on the Australian National charts with singles "April Sun in Cuba", "Are You Old Enough?" and "Still In Love With You" and albums Sunshine, Running Free and O Zambezi. These releases made them one of Australia's most popular rock acts. They attempted a breakthrough into the American market with a tour supporting Johnny Winter
Johnny Winter

John Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an United States blues guitarist, Vocalist and Record producer.Johnny and Edgar Winter were nurtured at an early age by their parents in their musical pursuits....
, starting in November 1978, but this was foiled after a disastrous show in Dallas
Dallas, Texas

Dallas is the third largest city in the state of Texas and the List of United States cities by population in the United States.The city, with a population of over 1.3 million, is the main economic center of the 12-county Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex which contains 6.1 million people, and is the fourth-largest United States metropolitan area...
 Texas
Texas

Texas is a U.S. state located in the South Central United States, nicknamed the Lone Star State. Texas is the second largest U.S. state in both area and population, spanning , and with a growing population of 24.3 million residents....
, at which Marc Hunter incited a crowd by suggesting all Texans were "faggots
Faggot (epithet)

Faggot or fag, in modern North American English and Australian English is a word, and always a highly pejorative term, for a Gay or effeminate man....
": band members had to dodge flying beer bottles.

In 1994, Marc Hunter related his version of the Texas show to rock journalist Glenn A. Baker
Glenn A. Baker

Glenn A. Baker is an Australian journalist and Pundit , well known in Australia for his vast knowledge of .Baker began his career hosting a music trivia program on Sydney radio station 2JJ ....
:

Upon returning to Sydney, Marc Hunter was sacked from Dragon in February 1979 due to drug problems which were seriously affecting both his vocal performances and his general health. According to Todd Hunter:

Singer Billy Rogers formerly of Perth group Last Chance Cafe and violinist Richard Lee from Melbourne band Sidewinder were recruited and Dragon recorded the commercially unsuccessful Power Play LP before breaking up in December 1979.

1979-1982: First split

Marc Hunter cleaned up in the post-Dragon years and released two successful solo singles, "Island Nights" (1979) from Fiji Bitter and "Big City Talk" (1981) from Big City Talk. "Big City Talk"'s video was filmed in the Broadway Tunnel, a long and dreary pedestrian walkway linking Sydney's Central Station
Central railway station, Sydney

Central Railway Station is the largest railway station in Sydney. It is located on the southern end of the Sydney CBD. It services almost all of the lines on the CityRail network, and is the major terminus for interurban and interstate rail services....
 with Broadway. It captured the seedy and unsettling atmosphere of the tunnel, adding extra mood to the song's words.

Todd Hunter had meanwhile teamed up with his partner (and later second wife) Johanna Pigott
Johanna Pigott

Johanna Paton Pigott is an Australian musician, Singer-songwriter and screenwriter. Her best known hit songs are Dragon "Rain" which peaked at #2 on the Australia singles charts in 1983 and John Farnham "Age of Reason"....
, formerly of indie punk
Punk rock

Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock....
 group XL Capris
XL Capris

XL Capris were an Australian Indie rock band formed in Sydney in 1978 by Julie Anderson, Tim Gooding, Johanna Pigott and Kimble Rendall.Their best known single was a punk rock version of Tommy Leonetti "My City of Sydney" ....
, and together they became a successful songwriting team. XL Capris were not commercially successful, although their memorable re-working of crooner Tommy Leonetti
Tommy Leonetti

Tommy Leonetti was an United States pop music singer-songwriter and actor of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. In Australia, his most famous song was "My City of Sydney" and was used by Sydney, Australia TV channel ATN for station identification into the 1980s....
's "My City Of Sydney" became a minor cult classic. Todd Hunter produced both their albums Where's Hank? (March 1981) and Weeds (October 1981), and was a member of the band for the second.

Keyboardist, Hewson, moved back to Auckland
Auckland

The Auckland metropolitan area or Greater Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban areas of New Zealand with over 1.3 million residents, percent of the country's population....
 and joined The Pink Flamingos, they became one of New Zealand's top musical acts in the early 1980s. They were led by Dave McArtney
Dave McArtney

Dave McArtney is a New Zealand musician and songwriter. He first came to prominence as a member of the band Hello Sailor . He formed the Pink Flamingos after the demise of Hello Sailor and Dragon ....
 ex-Hello Sailor
Hello Sailor (band)

Hello Sailor was a New Zealand pop/rock band originally formed in 1975....
, which had toured with Dragon but had also split.

1982-1997: Reformation

Dragon reformed in August 1982 to pay off outstanding debts, not long after Jacobson left the band for health reasons and was replaced by British drummer Terry Chambers
Terry Chambers

Terry Chambers was the drummer and a founding member of XTC, appearing on all Studio and Live albums until his departure during the 1983 sessions for Mummer , on which he played on "Beating of Hearts," "Wonderland," ?Love On A Farmboy?s Wages? and a A-side and B-side, "Toys"....
 (ex-XTC
XTC

XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. Though the band enjoyed some significant chart success , they are more known for their long-standing critical success than for making hit records....
), with the band then staying together when their second comeback single, "Rain", proved to be a #2 hit in 1983, American keyboard player and Dragon's producer Alan Mansfield also joined. Mansfield had worked for Robert Palmer
Robert Palmer

Robert Palmer may refer to:*Robert Anthony Maurice Palmer VC DFC & Bar, , British bomber pilot killed in World War II*Robert Palmer , U.S. music writer and blues producer; author of Deep Blues...
 (including guitar for the "John and Mary
John and Mary

John and Mary are the subjects of a series of children's books written by Grace James. The series started in the 1930s and finishes in the 1960s....
" single from Palmer's album Clues
Clues (album)

Clues is Robert Palmer 's sixth solo album, released in 1980 in music. It has a rockier, new wave edge compared to his previous releases. The album peaked at number 59 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1980....
) and Bette Midler
Bette Midler

Bette Midler is an American singing, actress and comedienne, also known as The Divine Miss M. During her career, she has won four Grammy Awards, four Golden Globes, three Emmy Awards, and a Tony Awards, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards....
 in the late 1970s, by 1982 Mansfield was living in Sydney and produced tracks for Marc Hunter. Marc Hunter convinced Mansfield to also produce Dragon's single "Rain".

Dragon's 1984 album Body and the Beat became one of the biggest-selling albums in Australia and New Zealand; they were restored to something close to their late 1970s glory. Their public profile was further raised by Marc Hunter's solo album, Communication. Its title track became a moderate hit in Australia and featured a loosely cabaret-oriented video-clip filmed in Amsterdam in which Marc — resplendent in a bright red cowbot hat — was flanked by two women who also danced away under red Stetsons. Body and the Beat yielded further successful Australasian singles, notably "Magic" and "Cry". Mansfield and New Zealand-born singer-songwriter Sharon O'Neill
Sharon O'Neill

Sharon O'Neill is a singer-songwriter and pianist from New Zealand, best known for her 1983 hit single "Maxine"....
 met on Dragon's Body And The Beat tour: they later became domestic and professional partners.

Paul Hewson left Dragon and died of a drug overdose
Drug overdose

The term drug overdose describes the ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than are recommended or generally practiced....
 in New Zealand on 9 January 1985; fellow members Terry Chambers and Robert Taylor left some time after. Dragon performed three songs for the 13 July 1985 Oz for Africa
Oz for Africa

Oz for Africa was an Australian concert held on 13 July 1985 at the Sydney Sports and Entertainment Centre. It was broadcast locally and internationally as part of the worldwide Live Aid performances to raise money for famine relief in Africa....
 concert (part of the global Live Aid
Live Aid

Live Aid was a multi-venue rock music concert held on . The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia....
 program) - "Speak No Evil", "Rain" and "Are You Old Enough?"; which was broadcast in Australia (on both Seven Network
Seven Network

The Seven Network is an Australia Television broadcasting in Australia owned by the Seven Media Group. It dates back to 2 December 1956, when the first stations on the Very high frequency frequency were established in Sydney and Melbourne....
 and Nine Network
Nine Network

The Nine Network, or Channel Nine, is an Australian Television broadcasting in Australia based in Willoughby, New South Wales, a suburb on the North Shore of Sydney....
) and on MTV
MTV

MTV is an United States cable television network based in Media of New York City. Launched on August 1, 1981, the original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJ ....
 in the US. American drummer Doane Perry replaced Chambers, and Taylor was eventually succeeded by local Sydney guitar ace Tommy Emmanuel
Tommy Emmanuel

Tommy Emmanuel is an Australian guitarist, best known for his complex fingerpicking style, energetic performances and the use of percussive effects on the guitar....
. This line-up recorded the Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren

Todd Harry Rundgren , is an United States musician, singer-songwriter and record producer....
-produced Dreams of Ordinary Men album in 1986 and toured Europe with Tina Turner under the name Hunter in 1987. By this time Mansfield was writing with O'Neill they wrote "Western Girls" for Dreams of Ordinary Men and then three tracks for her 1987 solo album Danced in the Fire.

Dragon briefly split up in 1988 but the Hunter brothers and Mansfield had regrouped with guitarist Randall Waller and drummer Barton Price (ex-Models
Models (band)

Models are an alternative rock group from Melbourne, Australia, which formed in August 1978 and went into hiatus in 1988. They are often incorrectly referred to as The Models....
) for the Bondi Road album released in April 1989 on RCA
RCA

RCA Corporation, founded as Radio Corporation of America, was an electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. Today, the RCA is owned by the France conglomerate Thomson SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Thomson....
, it also featured Emmanuel's guitar work. Bondi Road reached #18 on the Australian albums charts and the single "Young Years" written by Mansfield and O'Neill also reach #18. The pair had written two other tracks: "Ice in this Town" and "Good Time Girl". Dragon continued to record and tour with varying line-ups centered around the Hunter brothers and Mansfield. Todd Hunter worked on Heartbreak High
Heartbreak High

Heartbreak High was an Australia television series, dealing with the students of Hartley High, a tough high school in a multi-racial area of Sydney, and proved to be a more gritty and fast-paced show than many of its contemporaries....
 (TV series) from 1994 for six years as Music Composer he retired from Dragon in 1995 after the release of Incarnations.

Dragon continued without Todd Hunter, in November 1997 Marc Hunter was diagnosed with severe oesophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer is cancer of the esophagus. There are various subtypes, primarily squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell cancer arises from the cells that line the upper part of the esophagus....
 and died on 17 July 1998. A memorial service for him was held at St Andrews Cathedral in Sydney and a compilation CD Forever Young released on Raven Records, highlighted his solo career.

1997-2006: Second split

Dragon broke up a second time after Marc Hunter's illness had been diagnosed. Todd Hunter continued composing music for TV and film with Heartbreak High to 1999, Walk the Talk (2000 film), Out There (2003 TV series) and Out of the Blue
Out of the Blue (2008 TV series)

Out of the Blue is an Australian serial drama commissioned by the BBC, produced by Australia's Southern Star Entertainment. It began screening on BBC One on weekday afternoons on 28 April 2008....
 (2008 BBC-TV series). Mansfield and O'Neill continued songwriting including "True Love" co-written with Robert Palmer for his 1999 album Rhythm and Blues. They both performed with Leo Sayer
Leo Sayer

Leo Sayer is an England-born Australian people singer-songwriter and musician whose singing career has spanned four decades. A distinctive singer-songwriter, Sayer was a top single and album act on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean in the 1970s....
 during his tours in 2006 and 2007, O'Neill would sing "Young Years" in honour of Marc Hunter.

Reformation - 2006-

Todd Hunter (bass) reformed Dragon in 2006 with a line-up of Mark Williams
Mark Williams (singer)

Mark Williams is an Australian singer. Perhaps his best-known work is "Show No Mercy " released in 1990. He is also known for his extensive touring work supporting numerous Australian bands and has also worked in television....
 (vocals, guitar), Bruce Reid (guitar), and Pete Drummond (drums). This new Dragon line up released Sunshine to Rain under the . Dragon is currently touring Australia.

On 1 July 2008, Dragon were inducted by Richard Wilkins
Richard Wilkins

Richard Wilkins III, also simply known as the Mayor, is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer ....
 into the ARIA Hall of Fame
ARIA Hall of Fame

Since 1988 the Australian Recording Industry Association has inducted artists into its ARIA Hall of Fame. While most have been recognised at the annual ARIA Music Awards, in 2005 ARIA sought to create a separate standalone "ARIA Icons: Hall of Fame" event as only one or two acts could be inducted under the old format due to time restric...
, Dragon were joined on-stage by James Reyne
James Reyne

James Reyne is an Australian Rock music musician and singer/songwriter both as a member of the iconic 1980s band Australian Crawl and solo work....
 and Ian Moss
Ian Moss

Ian Moss is an Australian rock music musician, best known as the lead guitarist and occasional singer with Cold Chisel. In that group's initial ten year career, Moss recorded eight albums, three of which were #1 national hits....
 to perform "April Sun in Cuba" and "Rain":

Personnel

In chronological order:
  • Todd Hunter
    Todd Hunter

    Todd Hunter is a New Zealand musician and composer known for his involvement in the band Dragon . Their best known songs are "April Sun in Cuba", "Are You Old Enough?", "Still in Love With You", and "Rain"....
     (bass guitar
    Bass guitar

    The electric bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a plectrum.The bass guitar is similar in appearance and construction to an electric guitar, but with a larger body, a longer neck and Scale length, and usually four strings tuned to the same pitches as those of the double bass, whic...
    , vocals) 1972–1995, 2006–current
  • Ray Goodwin (guitar
    Guitar

    The guitar is a musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles. It typically has six Strings , but Tenor guitar, Seven-string guitar, Eight-string guitar, Ten-string guitar, Eleven-string guitar, Twelve-string guitar, Thirteen-string guitar and doubleneck guitar string guitars also exist....
    , keyboards
    Keyboard instrument

    A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include various types of organ s as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic musical instrument....
    , vocals) 1972–1976
  • Graeme Collins (vocals, piano
    Piano

    The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard instrument. Widely used in Western music for solo performance, ensemble use, chamber music, and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to musical composition and rehearsal....
    ) 1972
  • Neil Reynolds (drums
    Drum kit

    A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as cowbell s, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer....
    ) 1972
  • Neil Storey (drums) 1972–1975 (replaced Reynolds) d. 1976
  • Ivan Thompson (vocals, keyboards) 1973–1974 (replaced Collins)
  • Marc Hunter
    Marc Hunter

    Marc Hunter was a rock and pop singer best known as the lead vocalist with Dragon , a band formed by his older brother Todd Hunter in Auckland, New Zealand in 1973....
     (vocals) 1973–1979, 1982–1997 d. 1998
  • Geoff Chunn
    Geoff Chunn

    Geoff Chunn is a New Zealand musician.Chunn was a member of Split Enz from mid-1973 until June of the following year, after which he had a brief stint with Dragon before joining with his brother Mike Chunn to form Citizen Band, in which Geoff Chunn was principal singer, guitarist and songwriter....
     (drums) 1974
  • Robert Taylor (guitar) 1974–1984 (replaced Thompson)
  • Paul Hewson (keyboards) 1975–1985 d. 1985
  • Kerry Jacobson (drums) 1976–1983 (replaced Storey)
  • Richard Lee (vocals, guitar, violin
    Violin

    The violin is a Bow string instrument with four strings usually tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest and highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which also includes the viola and cello....
    ) 1979–1980 (replaced Marc Hunter)
  • Billy Rogers (harmonica
    Harmonica

    The harmonica is a free reed aerophone wind instrument which is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes....
    , sax
    Saxophone

    The saxophone is a conical-Bore transposing instrument musical instrument considered a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and are played with a Single-reed instrument mouthpiece similar to the clarinet....
    , piano, vocals) 1979
  • Alan Mansfield (keyboards) 1982–1997
  • Terry Chambers
    Terry Chambers

    Terry Chambers was the drummer and a founding member of XTC, appearing on all Studio and Live albums until his departure during the 1983 sessions for Mummer , on which he played on "Beating of Hearts," "Wonderland," ?Love On A Farmboy?s Wages? and a A-side and B-side, "Toys"....
     (drums) 1983–1985 (replaced Jacobson)
  • Tommy Emmanuel
    Tommy Emmanuel

    Tommy Emmanuel is an Australian guitarist, best known for his complex fingerpicking style, energetic performances and the use of percussive effects on the guitar....
     (guitar) 1985–1988, 1995
  • Don Miller-Robinson (guitar) 1985 (replaced Taylor)
  • Doane Perry (drums) 1985–1988 (replaced Chambers)
  • David Hirschfelder (keyboards) 1987–1989
  • Peter Grimwood (guitar) 1988
  • Lee Borkman (keyboards) 1988–1989
  • John Watson (drums) 1988–1989
  • Andy Sidari (bass, guitar, keyboards) 1989
  • Randall Waller (guitar) 1989
  • Barton Price (drums) 1989
  • Mike Caen (guitar) 1989–1995, 1996–1997
  • Jeffrey Bartolomei (keyboards) 1989–1996
  • Mitch Farmer (drums) 1989
  • Rajan Kamahl (keyboards) 1991(?)–1993(?)
  • Peter Northcote (guitar) 1995
  • Ange Tsoitoudis (guitar) 1996–1997
  • Dario Bortolin (bass) 1996 (replaced Todd Hunter)
  • Bradley Ford (drums) 1996
  • Mick O'Shea (drums) 1996–1997
  • Billy Kervin (bass) 1996–1997
  • Mark Williams
    Mark Williams (singer)

    Mark Williams is an Australian singer. Perhaps his best-known work is "Show No Mercy " released in 1990. He is also known for his extensive touring work supporting numerous Australian bands and has also worked in television....
     (vocals, guitar) 2006–current
  • Bruce Reid (guitar) 2006–current
  • Pete Drummond (drums) 2006–current
  • Darren Percival (guest vocals) 2007
  • Bernie Segedin (guest vocals) 2007


Discography


Albums

Year Title Label Catalogue No. Peak chart position
AUS
Australian Recording Industry Association

The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australia recording industry. It oversees the collection, administration and distribution of music licenses and royalties....
 NZ
Recording Industry Association of New Zealand

The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and musician in New Zealand....
1974 Universal Radio Vertigo Records
Vertigo Records

Vertigo Records today is a UK-based record label operated by Mercury Records ....
 6360902 — —
1975 Scented Gardens for the Blind
Scented Gardens for the Blind

Scented Gardens for the Blind is the second album by New Zealand based Dragon before they moved to Australia. The title of New Zealand author Janet Frame fourth novel was Scented Gardens for the Blind ....
 Vertigo Records
TRC Records		 6360903
1994 CD: TRC045		 — —
1977 Sunshine
Sunshine (Dragon album)

Sunshine is the third album by New Zealand / Australian rock band Dragon , it was their first album after they had relocated to Sydney in May 1975....
 CBS
CBS Records

CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 in music to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties distributed by CBS Paramount Television....

Portrait
Portrait Records

Portrait Records is a sister record label of Epic Records. Cyndi Lauper signed to Portrait, but was released via Epic.Portrait began in 1976 in music as a sister label to Epic, with initial signings Joan Baez, Burton Cummings and the McCrarys....
 SBP234946
JR35068		 24 —
1977 Running Free Portrait
CBS		 PR33005
1989 CD: 465720-2		 6 16;
1978 O Zambezi Portrait PR33010 3 17
1979 Dragon's Greatest Hits Vol. 1 CBS
Portrait		 SBP237294
462440-2		 8 —
1979 Power Play CBS SBP237352 64 —
1984 Body and the Beat Polydor
Polydor Records

Polydor Records is a record label currently headquartered in the United Kingdom, and is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group....
 817874-1 5 —
1985 Live One Polydor 825860-1 62 49
1986 Dreams of Ordinary Men
Released in U.S. / Europe by Hunter in 1987		 Polydor 829828-1
Hunter1987 CD: 831760-2		 18 —
1988 So Far: Their Classic Collection J & B JB325
1989 CD: JB526		 26 —
1989 Bondi Road RCA
RCA Records

RCA 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 1983 and a partner from 1983 to 1986....
 SFCD0170 18 —
1995 Incarnations
Incarnations (album)

Incarnations is an album by New Zealand band, Dragon released in 1995....
 Roadshow Music 14251-2 — —
2006 Sunshine to Rain Liberation Music
Liberation Music

Liberation Music is a boutique, independent Australasian record company, started in 1999 by Michael Gudinski and Warren Costello. Its stated aim is to find, nurture and then to develop new talent for a world market while remaining independent in the process....
 Blue090.2 — —
2008 Dragon Remembers Ozmo Records ozmo101 — —
2008 Live 2008 Ozmo Records  — —


Singles

Year Title Album Label Peak chart position
AUS
Australian Recording Industry Association

The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australia recording industry. It oversees the collection, administration and distribution of music licenses and royalties....
 NZ
Recording Industry Association of New Zealand

The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and musician in New Zealand....
1975 "Vermillion Cellars"/"Rock N Roll Ponsonby" Single only release Vertigo
Vertigo Records

Vertigo Records today is a UK-based record label operated by Mercury Records ....
 — —
1975 "Education"/"Swell Foot Sue" Single only release Vertigo
Vertigo Records

Vertigo Records today is a UK-based record label operated by Mercury Records ....
 — —
1975 "Star Kissed"/"Crystal Dove" Single only release Vertigo
Vertigo Records

Vertigo Records today is a UK-based record label operated by Mercury Records ....
 — —
1976 "Wait Until Tomorrow" Single only release CBS
CBS Records

CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 in music to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties distributed by CBS Paramount Television....
 — —
1976 "This Time"
aka "In the Right Direction"		 Sunshine
Sunshine (Dragon album)

Sunshine is the third album by New Zealand / Australian rock band Dragon , it was their first album after they had relocated to Sydney in May 1975....
 CBS
CBS Records

CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 in music to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties distributed by CBS Paramount Television....

Portrait
Portrait Records

Portrait Records is a sister record label of Epic Records. Cyndi Lauper signed to Portrait, but was released via Epic.Portrait began in 1976 in music as a sister label to Epic, with initial signings Joan Baez, Burton Cummings and the McCrarys....
 26 —
1977 "Get that Jive" Sunshine CBS, Portrait 13 —
1977 "Sunshine" Sunshine CBS, Portrait 36 —
1977 "April Sun in Cuba" Running Free CBS, Portrait 2 9
1977 "Konkaroo" Running Free CBS, Portrait 40 —
1978 "Are You Old Enough?" O Zambezi Portrait 1 5
1978 "Still in Love with You" O Zambezi Portrait 27 35
1979 "Love's not Enough" Single only release CBS 37 —
1982 "Ramona" Single only release Polydor
Polydor Records

Polydor Records is a record label currently headquartered in the United Kingdom, and is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group....
 79 —
1983 "Rain" Body and the Beat Polydor 2 —
1983 "Magic" Body and the Beat Polydor 33 —
1984 "Cry" Body and the Beat Polydor 17 —
1984 "Wilderworld" Body and the Beat Polydor 42 —
1985 "Speak No Evil" Dreams of Ordinary Men Polydor 19 —
1986 "Dreams of Ordinary Men" Dreams of Ordinary Men Polydor 17 —
1986 "Western Girls" Dreams of Ordinary Men Polydor 58 —
1987 "Celebration" Bondi Road RCA
RCA Records

RCA 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 1983 and a partner from 1983 to 1986....
 11 —
1988 "River" Single only release RCA 78 —
1989 "Young Years" Bondi Road RCA 18 —
1989 "Here Am I" Bondi Road RCA 72 —
1990 "Summer" Bondi Road RCA 49 —


Awards

  • 1977 - Best New Group (TV Week
    TV Week

    TV WEEK is a weekly television magazine in Australia, first published as a Melbourne, Australia-only publication in 1957 , and bearing a strong affiliation to television station GTV....
     King of Pop Awards
    Australian pop music awards

    Australian pop music awards have included the TV Week King of Pop Awards , TV Week/Countdown Music Awards and Countdown Music and Video Awards ....
    )
  • 1978 - Outstanding Local Achievement (TV Week King of Pop Awards)
  • 2008 - ARIA Hall of Fame Award (for contributions to Australian pop music). Awarded Tuesday, 1 July 2008 in Melbourne.


External links