LOTUS

Lotus was formed in Sydney in 1970 with Ian Every on bass, Kim Dawson on guitar, Shane Hewitt on vocals, Ray Smedley on drums, and Warwick Wilkes on organ. Their only single, "Lotus One (I'll Be Gone)," was initially titled "I'll Be Gone," but the name was changed to avoid confusion with a Spectrum song of the same title. The single charted at #3 in Adelaide, #19 in Brisbane, and #15 in Melbourne. The band delivered an impressive cover of "Reach Out" and performed other notable songs by Led Zeppelin. In 1971, Lotus appeared at the Myponga Music Festival in Adelaide and lived on the Myponga farm owned by the festival's backer, Hamish Henry. However, tensions arose, and the band disbanded a month later.

Dawson and Wilkes moved to Melbourne and briefly joined The Ash. By late 1971, Dawson, Wilkes, and Smedley had returned to Sydney and reformed Lotus with Norm Roue on slide guitar (ex-Gutbucket) and Billy Rylands on bass (ex-Freshwater). This lineup was short-lived, as Roue and Rylands joined Wolfe by early 1972. Ian Every rejoined Lotus, and the Dawson/Wilkes/Smedley/Every lineup stayed active until August 1973. Their single "Lotus One (I'll Be Gone)" was later featured on compilation albums like 'Made in Australia' (1987 EMI), 'Golden Miles' (1994 Raven Records), and 'Keep On Rockin' - Australian Pop of the 70s Volume 5' (2014 Sony Music).

Members

Ian David [Ian Every] (bass vocals), Kim Dawson (guitar, vocals), Shane Hewitt (vocals), Norm Roue (slide guitar), Bill Ryland (bass), Ray Smedley (drums), Warwick Wilkes (organ)

SINGLES 
''Lotus I (I'll Be Gone) (#33) / Epoch'' 1970 Parlophone