THE FLIES

The Flies formed in Melbourne in 1964 with Themi Adams on bass, Ronnie Burns on vocals and guitar, John Thomas on guitar and John "Hank" Wallis on drums. They won a Moomba band competition for a group most like The Beatles. Concert promoter Garry Spry was looking for a resident band for his new rock club, Pinocchios, which opened in March. The Flies were reputedly the first long-haired band in Australia and drew heavily on The Beatles for their musical and fashion influences and soon acquired a large local following. Their repertoire included covers of The Searchers, The Hollies and Herman's Hermits. Spry became their manager and secured a recording deal with RCA Records – they started recording their first single, "I'll Be In Love With You / Tell Her That", in Sydney, with producer-engineer David Mackay, it was released in June 1964 and was a local hit in Melbourne. The Flies started appeared on television pop music The Go!! Show on ATV-0 – initially broadcast only in Melbourne but later extended to Sydney on TEN-10.

After six months residency at Pinocchios, Spry started booking The Flies into Sydney where they were arrested for vagrancy for having hair over their shoulders, but it was great publicity making all the papers. Back in Melbourne, Spry employed Carole West to organise a publicity shoot for TV and press to display the band having their long hair done at a women's hair salon in South Yarra. During the shoot, Burns sang with his guitar and was joined by apprentice hairdresser Lynne Randell – who was promptly signed by Spry and managed by West. In early 1965, they supported Millie Small, The Rolling Stones and Roy Orbison on their first Australian tour. In May 1965, The Flies embarked on their own six-week tour of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania, becoming one of the first Australian beat groups to mount an extensive national tour.

The Flies recorded their second single "Doin' the Mod / Ain't That Just Like Me", in Sydney, which was released in June and was a hit in both there and Melbourne and became their signature song. Aside from The Go!! Show the band also appeared on the related ATV-0 offering, Kommotion. During The Flies national tour, a third single "Can't You Feel" – composed by Burns and Thomas – became a minor national hit. By this time The Flies, alongside Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs, had become one of the most popular bands in the country. In September 1965, Burns decided to leave The Flies to go solo – his place was taken by Peter Nicoll from The Wild Colonials. They disbanded in 1966. A couple of EPs were released in 1967 to cash in on Ronnie Burns solo career.

Members

Themi Adams (vocals, bass), Ronnie Burns (vocals, guitar), Peter Nicoll (guitar), John Thomas (guitar), John "Hank" Wallis (drums)

SINGLES

''I'll Be In Love With You / Tell Her That'' 1964 RCA
''Doin' The Mod (#55) / Ain't That Just Like Me'' 1965 RCA
''Can't You Feel (#56) / I'll Pass On By'' 1965 RCA

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Burns_%28singer%29

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