In August 1983 Peter Wells (ex-Buffalo, Rose Tattoo), on guitar, formed Scattered Aces (styled as $cattered Aces) with Fred Zepplin [Paul De Marco] on drums (ex-Chris Turner Band); Ronnie Peel on bass guitar and lead vocals (ex-The Missing Links, Pleazers, The La De Das); and former Buffalo bandmate, Chris Turner, on guitar and vocals (ex-Drain, Buffalo). The group issued a six-track extended play, 'Six Pack', on Big Rock Records in April 1984. They followed with a cover version of Eddie Cochran's 1958 song, "C'mon Everybody", as a single but they had broken up by mid-1984. Peter Wells died of prostate cancer in 2006. Ronnie Peel died in 2020.
Members
Peter Wells (guitar), Chris Turner (guitar), Ronnie Peel (vocals/bass), Fred Zepplin [Paul De Marco] (drums)
SINGLES ''C'Mon Everybody / Waltzing Matilda (Instrumental)'' 1984 Big Rock
Rod Bryar, a member of the folk group The Ozark Trio met classically trained guitarist Greg Coach in 1963 and they decided to form a duo. Hooking up with agent Elliot Davis, they began gigging around Melbourne doing pub shows, restaurants and coffee lounges including a tour of Tasmania where they played at the Wrest Point Hotel before it became a casino. They also appeared on TV on Graham Kennedy's In Melbourne Tonight. In 1966 they recorded a self-penned single on the Leedon label, ''Outside Of The World / Sit By Me''. Bryar was conscripted into National Service and was sent to Vietnam in 1967. He wrote a book about his music and Vietnam experiences The Outer Edge Of Fame : The Life And Times Of Rodney James Bryar (2016). Coach moved to Sydney in 1970 and played in pop, rock, blues, country and jazz bands in Sydney clubs and pubs. After some inactivity he now teaches guitar. Rod Bryar died on September 21, 2016.
One of regional Victoria's most successful bands, the six-piece The Rhythm Rockets formed in Mildura in the 60s. The Rockets were very popular in the Sunraysia region, especially at the legendary Mildura venue called The Ballerina where they would pull huge crowds in excess of a thousand punters. In 1966 they competed in the local Hoadleys Battle of the Sounds competition hosted by radio station 3MA (Mildura). Winning their section they then went on to the Victorian Country Final and came third to overall winners, The Dynamoes from Shepparton.
Rewarded with a recording contract with the Go!! label they ventured down to the big smoke to cut the singles ''Near Me / On Whom Her Favour Falls'' and ''Just You Wait And See / Summer Has Gone'' written by the band members. Both singles failed to make an impression on the Melbourne charts. The Go!! label eventually lost interest in the band because they were too busy working Mildura’s Ballerina Ballroom and other local dances and private gigs and did not commit to Victorian country or national touring. Lead guitarist Bill Tyers had a recording studio in Queensland and played professionally for many years. Mildura’s locally owned radio station 1611AM still gives the Rockets airplay to this day. Bill Tyers, Peter McWilliams, Geoff Evans and Col Avery have all since died.
Members
Geoff Evans (vocals/guitar), Col Avery (vocals), Bill Tyers (guitar), Peter McWilliams (bass), Geoff Waters (drums), Neil Warhurst (sax)
SINGLES
''Near Me / On Whom Her Favour Falls'' 1966 Go!! ''Just You Wait And See / Summer Has Gone'' 1967 Go!!
Tinsley Waterhouse is an R&B and blues musician who started out as a drummer in the 1960s in Melbourne, first with blues groups, the Gravy Train and then the Horse before briefly joining a New Zealand-formed band, Chants R&B in mid-1967. He formed Tinsley Waterhouse's Old Tracks in 1979, which became the Tinsley-Townsend Band in April of the following year and then the Tinsley Waterhouse Band in July 1980. As a vocalist he has led numerous lineups of this band.
In February 1981 the group issued a four-track extended play, 'Full of Ink an' Talkin' Shorthand', via Project 9 Records. For the EP Waterhouse, on lead vocals, was joined by John Ballard on tenor sax and guitar (ex-Phil Manning Band, Broderick Smith's Big Combo), Steve Ewart on trombone, Noel Herridge on drums (ex-Sid Rumpo, Wild Beaver Band, One Armed Bandit), Neil Hodgson on bass guitar (ex-Fox), Gerry Joyce on guitar (ex-Gulliver's Travels), and Sean O'Sullivan on trumpet. Roadrunner's Donald Robertson observed, in April 1981, that it provided, "Enjoyable, undemanding soul/R&B the best track is the one original, 'I've Been Dreaming', which features triffic horns and Mr. Waterhouse's strong gravelly vocals, with feeling."
Tinsley Waterhouse Band's debut album, 'After the Mudd You've Got', appeared in October 1982 via EMI Custom. Alongside Waterhouse and Ballard the group's line-up was the latter's ex-Broderick Smith's Big Combo band-mates, Peter Lee on drums, Mick "The Reverend" O'Connor on Hammond organ and Ron Robertson on bass guitar. In March of the following year his backing band were Joyce and Roberston joined by Paul Hitchins on drums (ex-the Sports, Nighthawks), Chris Stockley on guitar (ex-Cam-Pact, Axiom, Dingoes, Stockley See Mason Band, Rock Doctors), and Neil Wyatt on saxophone (ex-Dutch Tilders, Keith Lamb's Airport). By August 1984 Stockley and Robertson were joined by Barry Cram on drums (ex-Michael Turner in Session, Avalanche, Russell Morris Band, Contraband, Ideals) and Leigh Horton on saxophone (ex-Saxons, Pete Watson's Rockhouse).
Tinsley Waterhouse Band's second album, 'Hangin' Around' (1985), was recorded in three separate sessions using three different line-ups. According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, "As well as covers of a number of R&B; staples like Robert Johnson's 'Sweet Home Chicago' and Jimmy Witherspoon's 'What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?', the album included the single 'Don't Get Mad'." For his third album, 'I've Been Dreaming' (1988), Waterhouse was joined by Cram, Ron Anderson on saxophone, Tim Ayres on bass guitar (ex-Kevin Borich Express), Paul Gatcham on saxophone and Ron "Groper" Trinder on guitar. In 2010 Waterhouse combined with Driftwood Lounge to issue an album, 'Blues 'n' Western', via Ray Vonn Records.
SINGLES
''We Don't Get Mad We Get Even / Holy Cow'' 1983 EMI [Custom Pressing]
EPs 'Full Of Ink An' Talkin' Shorthand' 1981 Project 9 Records
ALBUMS 'After The Mudd, You've Got ...' 1982 EMI Custom Records 'Hangin' Round' 1985 EMI Custom Records 'I've Been Dreaming' 1988 Cleopatra
