The Gathering were a Melbourne pop band formed around 1967/68. The original line-up featured Col Perkins on lead vocals and guitar, Cliff Newby on lead guitar, Barry Patterson on bass and John “Hank” Wallis on drums. Perkins, Newby and Patterson had previously played with Glenn and The Outlaws. Glenn and The Outlaws were described as dirty/muddy, rough and raw with snotty vocals. They released the single ''Don't Ask Me What I Say'' on the incredibly rare Mojo label. The only other band to record on this label was The Pink Finks led by a very young Ross Wilson. Rounding out the band was drummer John "Hank" Wallis (ex-The Flies). Their first single ''Portobello Road'' was released in 1968 on the Astor label and made the lower end of the charts.
By 1969 the line-up had begun to change. Dennis Reid replaced Patterson on bass, Newby departed, and Tony Phillips was also associated with the group during this period. After signing with Festival, The Gathering released ''Lovely Loretta'' in 1969. Produced by Ian Meldrum, it became one of the band's biggest successes, reaching #22 in Melbourne and #49 nationally. The group performed the song on ABC-TV's Hit Scene on 31 May 1969. Further releases followed, with ''Rosetta'' becoming their final charting single in 1972, reaching #21 in Melbourne. The Gathering also appeared on television programmes including Uptight, Happening 71 and Turning On, before disbanding in 1973. Perkins and Wallis later became members of Wallis and Matilda, best remembered for their musical adaptation of Banjo Paterson's ''Clancy of the Overflow'', released in 1980. John Wallis died in 2026.
Members
John ''Hank'' Wallis (drums, banjo), Colin Perkins (guitar), Cliff Newby (guitar, harmonica), Tony Whitley (keyboards), Barry Patterson (bass), Tony Phillips (vocals, organ, bass), Dennis Reid (bass)
''Lovely Loretta (#49) / Frog'' 1969 Festival
''(Gonna Give Her) All The Love I've Got / Olly And The Brick'' 1970 Tempo
''Rosetta (#57) / Social Standing'' 1972 Festival
''Welcome To The Party / Till She Ran'' 1973 Festival
''Money Making Superstar / Just Ain't Right'' 1973 Festival
SINGLES
''Portobello Road (#87) / Get Ready For Me'' 1968 Astor''Lovely Loretta (#49) / Frog'' 1969 Festival
''(Gonna Give Her) All The Love I've Got / Olly And The Brick'' 1970 Tempo
''Rosetta (#57) / Social Standing'' 1972 Festival
''Welcome To The Party / Till She Ran'' 1973 Festival
''Money Making Superstar / Just Ain't Right'' 1973 Festival
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