THE GATHERING

The Gathering, formed in 1967, were a covers band from Melbourne. The original lineup was Col Perkins on lead vocal and guitar (ex-The Outlaws, Cherry Stones), Cliff Newby on lead guitar (ex-The Outlaws, The Beavers), John "Hank" Wallis on drums (ex-The Flies with future solo pop star Ronnie Burns) and Barry Patterson on bass (ex-The Outlaws). Their first single ''Portobello Road'' was released in 1968 on the Astor label and made the lower end of the charts. Festival signed them up and their second single ''Lovely Loretta'' produced by Ian Meldrum fared much better. They played this song on the ABC show Hit Scene. Their final charting single was ''Rosetta'' (1972, #21 Melbourne). Two more singles followed but they went nowhere. Other TV shows they appeared on were Uptight, Happening 71 and Turning On. They disbanded in 1973. Wallis and Perkins would later form Wallis and Matilda who had a hit with the Banjo Patterson poem ''Clancy Of The Overflow'' in 1980.

Members

John ''Hank'' Wallis (drums, banjo), Colin Perkins (guitar), Cliff Newry (guitar, harmonica), Tony Whitley (keyboards), Barry Patterson (bass), Tony Phillips (vocals, organ, bass)

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