THE MISSING LINKS

The Missing Links formed in early 1964 in Sydney, Australia with the line-up of Peter Anson on guitar, Dave Boyne on guitar, Bob Brady on vocals, Danny Cox on drums and Ron Peel on bass guitar (ex-Mystics). With their long hair, according to one venue owner, "they looked like a cross between man and ape" and so were named, the Missing Links. In November, the group played a benefit concert to support Oz founders, Richard Neville, Richard Walsh and Martin Sharp. The trio had been charged with obscenity and were awaiting trial.

The first version of the band recorded a single, "We 2 Should Live" which was released in March 1965 on the Parlophone label. By that time, Boyne was replaced on guitar by John Jones (ex-Mystics) and Cox left soon after with New Zealand-born Andy Anderson (as Andy James aka Neville Anderson) joining, initially on drums. The band briefly broke up in July. Peter Anson formed a band, the Syndicate which evolved into Jeff St. John and The Id. Bob Brady joined Python Lee Jackson, Ron Peel joined Brisbane-based group, The Pleazers and Danny Cox joined The Lost Souls.

The Missing Links reformed before the end of July with Anderson and Jones joined temporarily by Dave Longmore on vocals and guitar (ex-Chris Hall and The Torquays), Frank Kennington on vocals and Col Risby on guitar (ex-Ray Hoff and The Offbeats). Longmore was soon replaced by Doug Ford with Chris Gray joining on keyboards and harmonica, Baden Hutchins on drums and Ian Thomas on bass guitar (both ex-Showmen) completed the line-up of the second version, which was "even more fierce version than the first". During live performances, Anderson would climb walls to hang from rafters, then drive his head into the drums, other band members smashed guitars into speakers, and all wore the latest Carnaby Street clothes.

With this totally new lineup, the group signed with Philips Records and released "You're Drivin' Me Insane" in August 1965 followed in September by "Wild About You". Veteran rock 'n' roller, Johnny O'Keefe was not a fan – he banned them from appearing on his television show, Sing Sing Sing. They issued another single in October, "H'tuom Tuhs," which was their version of "Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut," but with the tape reel played backwards on both sides of the record (as parts 1 and 2). It was followed by their debut album, 'The Missing Links', in December. According to Allmusic's, Richie Unterberger, "This aggregation cut the rawest Australian garage/punk of the era, and indeed some of the best from anywhere, sounding at their best like a fusion of the Troggs and the early Who, letting loose at times with wild feedback that was quite ahead of its time". 

In 1966 Baden Hutchins and Ian Thomas would depart and return to the Showmen, while the remaining members – Anderson, Gray, Ford and Jones recorded an EP 'The Links Unchained' in April 1966. This EP is very rare and worth up to $1000 these days. After they disbanded, Anderson and Ford formed Running Jumping Standing Still in Melbourne in August 1966. Anderson later became an actor on Australian and New Zealand television. Ford was lead guitarist in The Masters Apprentices from 1968. John Jones became a screenwriter in Hollywood. Ian Thomas, died after a short illness on Monday August 17th, 2009, in Phnom Penh. Peter Anson died in 2015. Ronnie Peel died in 2020.

Members

Peter Anson (guitar, vocals), Dave Boyne (guitar), Bob Brady (vocals, percussion), Danny Cox (drums), Ronnie Peel (bass, harmonica), David Longmore (guitar), Frank Kennington (vocals), Col Risby, Doug Ford (guitar), Chris Gray (keyboards), Baden Hutchins (drums), Andy James [Andy Anderson] (vocals, percussion), John Jones (guitar, vocals), Ian Thomas (bass)

SINGLES

''We 2 Should Live / Untrue'' 1965 Parlophone
''You're Drivin' Me Insane / Somethin' Else'' 1965 Philips
'' Wild About You / Nervous Breakdown'' 1965 Philips
''H'tuom Tuhs - Part 1 / H'tuom Tuhs - Part 2'' 1966 Philips

EPs

'The Links Unchained' 1966 Philips

ALBUMS

'The Missing Links' 1965 Philips

References

The Missing Links - Wikipedia