BUSTER BROWN

Buster Brown was formed in Melbourne in 1973 with Gary 'Angry' Anderson on lead vocals (ex-Peace Power and Purity), John Moon on guitar, Paul Grant on guitar, Phil Rudd on drums, Ian Ryan on bass guitar (ex-Ash, Chook) and Chris Wilson on keyboards. They enjoyed local notoriety and played at the 1974 Sunbury Festival in January. Later that year, Mushroom Records released a Various Artists live album, 'Highlights of Sunbury '74 Part 1' which included the group's tracks "Roll Over Beethoven" and "Buster Brown". Early in the year, Geordie Leach replaced Ryan on bass guitar. Along with Coloured Balls, Billy Thorpe, Madder Lake and Chain, they were supported by suburban-based sharpie gangs.

The band's first single, "Buster Brown/Rock And Roll Lady" was issued in July 1974 by Mushroom Records. Guitar legend Lobby Loyde produced their debut album, 'Something to Say' which was also released in December but by the end of the year the group had split with Rudd joining an early version of AC/DC. A second single, "Something to Say/Let Me In" was subsequently released in January 1975. From April to June 1975 the line-up resumed as Anderson, Leach and Wilson with Dennis Millar on guitar and Trevor Young on drums (ex-Coloured Balls). In July, Anderson formed a third version of the band with Ken Firth on bass guitar (ex-Tully), Billy Miller on guitar and vocals, Dave Springfield on guitar and drummer Dallas 'Digger' Royal (ex-Band of Talabene).

The group disbanded in November 1975, Anderson initially tried to form a band with Loyde. Firth, Miller and Springfield regrouped as The Ferrets. In late 1976 Anderson joined Sydney-based rockers Rose Tattoo which later included former Buster Brown band mates, Geordie Leach on bass guitar and Dallas 'Digger' Royall on drums. According to Australian rock music historian Ian McFarlane, Buster Brown were "one of the most notorious street level/ boogie outfits of its day they built up a solid following around the pubs, and among the skinheads on the suburban dance circuit". In 2005, Aztec Music remastered 'Something to Say' on CD with six bonus tracks. Dallas Royall died in 1991. Trevor Young died in 2014. Ken Firth died in 2018.

Members

Gary "Angry" Anderson (vocals), John Moon (guitar), Paul Grant (guitar), Ian Ryan (bass),
Mick Leach (bass), Chris Wilson (keyboards), Phill Rudd (drums), Tony Lunt (drums),
Trevor Young (drums), Dennis Millar (guitar), Billy Miller (guitar, vocals),
Dave Springfield (guitar), Ken Firth (bass), Dallas "Digger" Royal (drums), Billy Bourke (sax)

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buster_Brown_(Australian_band)