Python Lee Jackson: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 08:54, 1 December 2011

Revision as of 12:33, 1 December 2011

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==Australian period==

The original Python Lee Jackson was formed in December 1965, in [[Sydney]] by two British men – 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.

A new Python Lee Jackson line-up came together around March 1966 when keyboard player and singer David Bentley (born in 1943, in Brisbane) 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).

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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, Sydney|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 their version of the [[Bo Diddley]] song "[[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, 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 (now going by the name Virgil East) returned for the band's first trip to Melbourne in early/mid March. While there the group performed at the Catcher from 17 to 19 March with various local bands each night. Python Lee Jackson returned to the city for an extended stay from 30 March to 16 April. Like its predecessor, the new single was a minor hit.

In April 1967, Dave MacTaggart from Adelaide band The Black Pearls replaced Virgil East. On 11 June the group appeared on Opus TV with [[The Loved Ones]] and Ray Hoff and The Offbeats. The new line-up released the band's final Australian single, "It’s a Wonder" c/w "I Keep Forgetting", in August before Welsh left to be replaced by saxophone player [[Bernie McGann]].

A few months later Mick Liber left and 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 (band)|The Strangers]]. The band continued to play gigs extensively, appearing at top Melbourne clubs, Sebastians (14 December), and Berties (15 December)among others. However, the end was in sight and Python Lee Jackson broke up in January 1968.

Malcolm McGee then joined vocal trio [[The Virgil Brothers]] with [[Rob Lovett]] (ex [[The Loved Ones]]) and [[Peter Doyle (singer)|Peter Doyle]] (who had replaced founding member [[Mick Hadley]] from [[The Purple Hearts]]). McGee recorded two singles with the Virgil Brothers, including their Australian hit "Temptation 'Bout To Get Me", but he left the group just after they moved to the UK in late 1969 and was replaced by [[Danny Robinson]] (ex [[The Wild Cherries]]. McGee later played with McGuire in [[Rush (band)|Rush]]. MacTaggart reunited with Liber briefly in Billy Thorpe's band.