Python Lee Jackson was a 1960s Australian band. The group's most famous hit was "In a Broken Dream", featuring Rod Stewart as guest vocalist.
Python Lee Jackson | |
|---|---|
 Python Lee Jackson, early 1967 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Australia |
| Members | David Bentley David Montgomery Mick Liber Tony Cahill Gary Boyle |
Members in Australia
- Frank Kennington - vocals
- Mick Liber - guitar
- David Montgomery - drums
- Roy James - bass
- Bob Brady - vocals
- Lloyd Hardy aka Lloyd Hudson - bass
- David Bentley - songwriter, keyboards, vocals
- Malcolm McGee - vocals
- Bob Welsh - piano
- Duncan McGuire - bass
- Dave MacTaggart - bass
- Bernie McGann - sax
- Laurie Arthur - guitar
Early years
The original Python Lee Jackson was formed in late 1965 by Englishmen, singer Frank Kennington and guitarist Mick Liber (born in Peebles, Scotland on 1 March 1944) after meeting drummer David Montgomery (born September 1945 in Melbourne). Together with bass player Roy James they played the underground circuit. In early 1966 Kennington was busted and deported back to the UK and former Missing Links singer Bob Brady filled in for several months before Liber and Montgomery struck on the idea of putting a new version together.
The new 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 Liber and Montgomery alongside former Unit 4 bass player Lloyd Hardy (aka Cadillac Lloyd Hudson).
In June, the quartet added former Wild Cherries singer Malcolm McGee (born in Melbourne on 1 November, 1945) and opened Rhubarb's club in Sydney's Liverpool Street. 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 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 first trip to Melbourne. Like its predecessor, the single hit the Sydney and Melbourne top ten.
The group became a popular live attraction in Melbourne, and on 3 March 1967, played one of their shows at the Catcher with Chelsea Set, Party Machine and Adderly Smith Blues Band.
During the spring Hardy was replaced by Dave MacTaggart (aka Virgil East) 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 McGann.
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 former member Virgil East joined Jeff St John’s next project, Yama. Liber's 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.
Members in UK
- David Bentley - songwriter, keyboards, vocals
- David Montgomery - drums
- Mick Liber - guitar
- John Helman - bass
- Jamie Byrne - bass
- Tony Cahill - bass guitar
- Gary Boyle - guitar
"In A Broken Dream"
Stewart originally only sang 'guide' vocals on this track, and the intention was for another singer to sing the recording 'proper', once Python Lee Jackson recruited another singer. It was felt that Stewart's vocals were so good that the single would be released as it was.
Recorded in London in 1969, "In a Broken Dream" languished until 1972 when it rose to number three in the UK Singles Chart and #56 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
In Europe, the song became something of a classic. It turned up on the soundtrack of films and documentaries (including the acclaimed art house movie Breaking the Waves) and became the subject of many cover versions.
Rod Stewart included the song on two anthologies of previously recorded work and, in the mid 1990s, an English band, Thunder, delivered a high octane reading that propelled it into the UK chart for the second time.
Most recently, "In A Broken Dream" surfaced on the leading edge of a collection of songs recorded by British singer Kathryn Williams - along with songs by Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and Kurt Cobain.
Sources
Nick Warburton interviews with David Bentley, David Montgomery, Mick Liber and Malcolm McGee, 2007