STARS

Adelaide band Astra Kahn formed in 1972, including Glyn Dowding on drums, Andrew Durant on guitar, and Malcolm Eastick on guitar and vocals. They disbanded by 1973 with Dowding and Eastick forming Flash in 1974 with Mick Pealing on vocals. In May 1975, Dowding, Eastick and Pealing formed Stars with Graham Thompson on bass. As a country rock band, they were touted as Australian rock'n'roll cowboys and played the local pub and club circuit. They were noticed by Little River Band's guitarist Beeb Birtles. They signed to Mushroom Records, and they relocated to Melbourne. Birtles produced their debut single, "Quick on the Draw" which charted in July 1976. Andy Durant joined later in the year on guitar and became their principal songwriter.

Their second single, "With a Winning Hand" charted in October. Founding bass guitarist Thompson left and was replaced first by Michael Hegerty (who left to join Richard Clapton's band) and then by Roger McLachlan (ex-Little River Band). The band supported Joe Cocker on his Australian tour in mid-1977. They released their third single, "Mighty Rock" which reached #47 in August. By November, Ian MacDonald replaced McLachlan and they released, "Look After Yourself" which became their highest charting single at #30. It was issued ahead of their debut album, 'Paradise' (January 1978) which peaked at #11 on the Kent Music Report albums chart. The album spawned two more singles, "Back Again" in April and "West Is the Way" in June.

In September, founding drummer Dowding was replaced by John James Hackett (ex-Phil Manning Band). Stars continued touring including supporting the Beach Boys and Linda Ronstadt on their Australian tours in 1978–1979. A second album, 'Land of Fortune' appeared in June 1979, it was produced by Ern Rose and Mal Eastick. By that time Andy Durant had been diagnosed with cancer and Stars performed a last concert on 5 November. A live album, '1157'—titled for the number of career gigs—appeared in July 1980, which was produced by Eastick. Durant had died on 6 May at age 25. A tribute performance by Stars members and other Australian acts followed in August and a double-LP, 'Andrew Durant Memorial Concert' was released. It peaked at #8 on the albums chart with proceeds donated to Andrew Durant Cancer Research Foundation. Stars disbanded shortly after. Stars re-formed in 2019, announcing a tour in November and December of that year. Drummer JJ Hackett died in 2019.

Members

Malcolm Eastick (guitar, vocals), Mick Pealing (vocals), Glyn Dowding (drums),
Graham Thompson (bass), Andrew Durant (guitar), Michael Hegerty (bass),
Roger McLachlan (bass), Ian McDonald (bass), John James Hackett (drums), Nick Charles (guitar), Erik Chess (drums)

SINGLES

Quick on the Draw

21 JUN '76

#46

With a Winning Hand

13 SEP '76

#65

Mighty Rock

18 JUL '77

#47

Look After Yourself

12 DEC '77

#30

Back Again

20 MAR '78

#52

In and Out of Love

5 FEB '79

#62

Land of Fortune

13 AUG '79

#93

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stars_%28Australian_band%29

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