REDHOUSE

Originally formed as the Red House Roll Band, this Geelong (Victoria) quartet was that city's premier rock attraction during the mid-1970s. The Red House Roll Band provided a very theatrical stage show (along the lines of Alice Cooper) with band members dressing up in skeleton suits or Superman outfits. In 1973 the band signed a record deal with Atlantic, which resulted in the single "O Lucky Man" (B-Side was Movin' On). Taken from the British feature film of the same name, the band's version of Alan Price's song became a regional hit.

The band went into hibernation and re-emerged in late 1975 as Redhouse, with a completely revised line-up comprising Jack Green on bass, John Dallimore on guitar and vocals, Jacques De Jongh on guitar and Gary Crothall on drums. Redhouse built up a strong following on the Melbourne pub circuit as a hard-working heavy rock band. In July 1976, De Jongh left the band to join Hush. Graham Matters (on vocals) and Garry Quince (on guitar and keyboards) took his place. In September, Redhouse entered the studio to record a debut album, 'One More Squeeze'. The album did not reflect the band's onstage energy and presented as a lightweight guitar-pop LP. The album produced the singles "I Like Dancing" (October 1976) and "Who's Foolin' Who?" (February 1977).

"I Like Dancing" peaked at #17 in Melbourne during December 1976, and in March 1977 Quince left to join Finch with Robin Riley coming in as his replacement. A third single, "Thank You", was released in August 1977 before Graham Matters departed to join the cast of the stage musical A Chorus Line. Riley left in October and De Jongh returned briefly while Hush was off the road. In December, long-serving bass player Jack Green took over management of the band and Redhouse re-formed with a new line-up of Dallimore, Crothall, Gary's brother Rick Crothall on bass, and Joey Amenta (ex-Taste) on guitar. Amenta did not last long and left in March 1978 to join the Russell Morris Band. Redhouse continued as a three-piece for several months before finally calling it quits. Graham Matters died in 2021.

Members

Malcolm Donnelly (guitar, vocals), John Ferguson (vocals, guitar), Jack Green (bass),
Claude Ragone (drums), John Dallimore (guitar, vocals), Jacques De Jongh (guitar),
Gary Crothall (drums), Graham Matters (vocals), Garry Quince (guitar, keyboards),
Robin Riley (guitar), Rick Crothall (bass), Joey Amenta (guitar)

SINGLES

I Like Dancing

18 OCT '76

#40

References

http://rockonvinyl.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/redhouse-one-more-squeeze-1976.html

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