Python Lee Jackson: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:00, 22 April 2007

Revision as of 11:02, 22 April 2007

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==Early years ==

The original Python Lee Jackson line up came together around March 1966 when Brisbane born keyboard player and singer David Bentley left [[Sydney]] group, [[Jeff St John & The Id]] to join a new band formed to play at Sydney club, Rhubarbs. The other members came from the short-lived Unit 4 and comprised Englishmen and former Denvermen, singer and guitarist Frank Kennington and Mick Liber (born in [[Peebles, Scotland]] in 1944) plus local bass player Lloyd Hardy, who also went by the name Lloyd Hudson (and later Virgil East) and Melbourne-born drummer David Montgomery.

In June, Kennington was busted and the quartet added former [[Wild Cherries]] singer Malcolm McGee (born in Melbourne on 1 November, 1945). In September, Bentley left (and rejoined the band in 1968) and was replaced by Bob Welsh. The band's first single, "Emergency Ward" c/w "Who Do You Love?" was actually a [[Ward Austin]] single featuring Python Lee Jackson as backing group.

Python Lee Jackson released a cover of [[Major Lance]]’s "Um-Um–Um-Um-Um-Um" c/w "Big City Lights" in December 1966 before Hardy was replaced by Duncan McGuire from Doug Parkinson's The Questions for three weeks. McGuire appeared on the band's a cover of [[Sam and Dave]]’s "Hold On, I’m Coming" c/w "Your Mother Should Have Warned You" before Hardy returned for the band's frist trip to Melbourne. Like it's predecessor, the single hit the Sydney and Melbourne top ten.

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During the summer Hardy, who had used the name Virgil East, was replaced by Dave MacTaggart from Adelaide band, The Black Pearls. The new line up released the band's final Australian single, "It’s a Wonder" c/w "I Keep Forgetting" before Welsh left to be replaced by sax player Bernie McCann.

A few months later Mick Liber left and briefly played with Jeff St John’s formed group, The Id and then worked with [[Billy Thorpe]] and Gulliver Smith’s band, The Noyes, while Virgil East joined [[Jeff St John’sJohn]]’s next project, Yama. Liber replacement was Laurie Arthur from The Strangers. However, the band only lasted a few months and broke up in January 1968.

Malcolm McGee joined The Virgil Brothers and recorded a string of singles. He later played with McGuire in [[Rush]]. MacTaggart reunited with Liber briefly in Billy Thorpe's band.

Montgomery reunited with David Bentley in The David Bentley Trio. Around October 1968, they joined forces with Mick Liber and travelled to the UK where they revived the Python Lee Jackson name.