BAND OF LIGHT

Band of Light was a heavy blues style-based rock band formed in October 1972 and disbanded in late 1974. Phil Key was the founding member, bringing with him Peter Roberts, both of whom were originally with The La De Das. Bass player Ian Rilen replaced Roberts after three gigs, with slide guitarist Norm Roue (ex-Gutbucket) and drummer Tony Buettel (ex-Fraternity) joining to complete the lineup. The band allowed Phil to develop his own songs written with his wife Pam, under the pseudonym of Wheel, using a quasi-religious philosophy which explored themes of racial equality, social justice, spiritual harmony and cosmic enlightenment.

The music was energetic and funky with a heavy blues and boogie style interlaced with intense slide guitar work. In early 1973 they signed a recording contract with WEA releasing the album 'Total Union' (which spawned the hit single ''Destiny Song''). They worked consistently touring from Sydney to Melbourne doing pub gigs and concerts whilst playing alongside such bands as Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs, Carson, Coloured Balls (Lobby Loyde's band), Chain, Madder Lake and Buffalo. They highlighted themselves during the 1973 Sunbury Music Festival and were included on the resulting live concert triple LP set 'The Great Australian Rock Festival Sunbury 1973' with the track "Messin' with the Kid". 

In mid-1974 Buettel, Rilen and Roue all left. Rilen later reflected, "None of the songs fulfilled my need for rock 'n' roll religion... I like singing about drinking and rooting and love and life." Key formed a new line-up with Dannie Davidson (ex-Tamam Shud, Kahvas Jute) on drums and Billy Williams (ex-Classic Affair) on bass guitar to record the group's second album, 'The Archer', was issued in that year. McFarlane noticed it has, "a much drier sound than the debut and failed to chart." The band were expanded by Eddie Hansen (ex-Ticket) on lead guitar and Ray Vanderby on keyboards joining for live performances. Phil Key disbanded the group in late 1974 and died in May 1984 of a congenial heart condition. Ian Rilen died from bladder cancer at the age of 59 on 30 October 2006. Ray Vanderby died in 2022.

Members

Tony Buettel (drums), Phil Key (guitar, vocals), Ian Rilen (bass), Peter Roberts (bass), Norm Roue (guitar), Robin Andrews (drums), Dannie Davidson (drums), Bill Williams (bass), Ray Vanderby (keyboards), Eddie Hansen (guitar), Michel Brouet (bass)

SINGLES 
''The Destiny Song (#26) / Over "B" 1973 Warner Bros. 
''Free Them From Hunger / The Cat'' 1973 Warner Bros. 
''Moonstruck / If'' 1973 Warner Bros. 
''The Archer - A Sagittarian Rhapsody / Silis The Sun'' 1974 Warner Bros.

EPs 

'Band Of Light' 1974 Warner Bros. 

ALBUMS 
'Total Union' (#13) 1973 Warner Bros. 
'The Archer' 1974 Warner Bros. 

References

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/