The Gingerbreadmen, not to be confused with the Adelaide band led by Idris Jones, formed in late 1966 in Melbourne. Brendan Hanley, formerly of the Moonshine Five with Bruce Woodley and The Brian Hanley Chicago Seven, teamed up with bassist Hamish Hughes, who had played with the John Hawes Jazz Band and appeared on three EPs and an album. They performed at venues like the Garrison discotheque in Prahran, the iconic Thumpin' Tum in inner-city Melbourne, and on the TV show Uptight. The band released one single on the Columbia label: the A-side ''Rattler'' written and produced by Hanley’s old friend Bruce Woodley of The Seekers, and the B-side ''Gingerbread Man'' penned by Hanley. Sadly, Jamie Jackson died in a car accident on the Great Ocean Road around 1967/68. They disbanded not long after. Hanley died in Byron Bay in 2017. Hamish Hughes died in 2025. Any further information about this short-lived band would be appreciated.
Members
Brendan Hanley (vocals/guitar), Jamie Jackson (guitar), Hamish Hughes (bass), Peter Hocking (drums)
They only recorded ''Rattler''. The other singles were by The Ginger Bread Men from Adelaide fronted by Idris Jones who would have later success with The Mixtures.
I bought this 45 Rattler when it was released. I played it recently and thought it sounded like Bruce Woodley’s vocals. I didn’t even realise that it was Australian until I looked it up today.
Drummer was Peter Hocking
ReplyDeleteThankyou for the info
DeleteHandley played melb 60s jazz with his brother...70s had A.O lps and in 80s nsw band Bahloo with lp
ReplyDeleteI remember when Jamie Jackson was killed driving back from Lorne in I think his MG..very sad.
ReplyDelete3 singles; Let the little girl dance (Columbia), Rattler (Columbia), Looking at you (W&G)
ReplyDeleteThey only recorded ''Rattler''. The other singles were by The Ginger Bread Men from Adelaide fronted by Idris Jones who would have later success with The Mixtures.
DeleteI bought this 45 Rattler when it was released. I played it recently and thought it sounded like Bruce Woodley’s vocals. I didn’t even realise that it was Australian until I looked it up today.
ReplyDeleteSadly
ReplyDeleteHamish Hughes has recently passed away
Thankyou for the update. Sad news indeed
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