HISTORY OF AUSTRALIAN MUSIC FROM 1960 UNTIL 2000: MARK IV

Tuesday, 29 September 2015

MARK IV

Originally called the Zebecs from 1964 to 1966 the band played covers and consisted of four original members. John Crook (lead guitar) John Tower (bass) Howard Smith (rhythm guitar) and Alan Scupham (drums). In 1966 John Crook was called up for national service and was replaced with Harry Allen. This was the time when the band was renamed to the Mark IV. After a short time, a fifth member Murray Greive on keyboards was added. In 1967 with the band now in full flight, Harry Allen left the band making way for a new guitar player from Albany in John Lemin. Within a short time, the band was a fully professional unit and was one of Perth’s top pub and club bands.

Some lineup changes occurred, Alan Scupham was replaced with Ken Jackson, and John Tower was replaced with Geoff McAullay on bass. This was around 1967. In 1968 following a dispute with their management/booking agency, the Mark IV were black banned in Perth and Ken Jackson having worked in Kalgoorlie with his previous band The Namelous called the owner of the Albion Hotel, and they were contracted for three months. At this point in time Howard Smith the last of the original members left the band and was not replaced. Upon return to Perth, they had really tightened as a four-piece unit and were welcomed back by various agencies. They were immediately booked at the Waldorf for its opening where the band never looked back. Kevin Smith of the Melbourne band the Cherokees joined the Mark IV in 1969 some months later after their return from Kalgoorlie.

Ken Jackson left the band in May of 1969 to pursue a radio career. He was replaced by Cliff Toll. It was shortly after this that the Mark IV won the local National Battle Of The Sounds and went to Sydney (1969) and actually won the National Battle (in the best vocal group category) but were subjected to second place. The National Hoadleys Battle Of The Sounds (Best Vocal Group) was officially won by The Affair. Whilst in Sydney they cut a single ''Groove With What You Got / It's For You'' on the Spin label. The band supported Elton John in Perth on his 1971 tour. They continued as a professional outfit until 1972 and recorded another single on Martin Clarke's label ''Let This Life Mean Something To Me / Gonna Get Hung''. The single went nowhere, and they went part time with replacement members; Alan Lyford (bass) Basil Vdeli (keyboards). The last time the band got together and played was in 1980 at Pinocchio’s Night Club. John Lemin went solo during the eighties. Murray Grieve died in 2008. Howard Smith died in 2015. John Tower died in 2024.

Members

Harry Allen (guitar), Howard Smith (guitar vocals), John Tower (bass), Alan Scupham (drums), Murray Greive (keyboards), John Lemin (guitar), Ken Jackson (drums), Geoff McAullay (bass), Kevin Smith (vocals), Alan Lyford (bass), Basil Vdeli (keyboards), Cliff Toll (drums), Greg Wynne (bass), Jamie Rigg (keyboards)