Python Lee Jackson: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 12:44, 1 May 2007

Revision as of 12:51, 1 May 2007

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==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]] in 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 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.

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, 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.

In June, Kennington was busted and 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.

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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 summer Hardy, whowas hadreplaced recentlyby usedDave theMacTaggart name(aka 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 McCannMcGann.

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.