MARC HUNTER

Marc Alexander Hunter was born in Taumarunui NZ on 7 September 1953. Marc joined Dragon in 1974 and the band recorded two albums of progressive rock for Vertigo Records. The band moved to Sydney in 1975.  After suffering the heroin-related death of drummer Neil Storey, Dragon became a pop-rock act and went on to become one of Australia's biggest-selling bands, scoring a number of hit singles and successful albums, most notably 1978's 'O Zambezi'. In the meantime, Hunter developed a serious heroin addiction. Recklessly outspoken and volatile on-stage, during the band's 1978 United States tour supporting Johnny Winter he called the audience "faggots" at a show in Texas. The following year, he was fired from the band. Hunter bounced back immediately with his 1979 solo album 'Fiji Bitter' spawning the hit single "Island Nights".

Two years later the album 'Big City Talk' and single of the same name were also hits and in 1982 Dragon reformed for a tour, deciding to stay together when the single "Rain" became a hit. The 1984 album 'Body and the Beat' was a massive hit across Australia and New Zealand and the title track of Hunter's third solo album 'Communication' (1985) was also a moderate hit. 

Marc Hunter was invited by Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Keith Walker to contribute to a various artists' children's album, 'Zzzero' (1989). He provided lullaby versions of Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child" and Bob Dylan's "Forever Young". He worked with Walker producing when recording his next solo album, 'Night and Day' (August 1990), which was "a collection of jazz and pop standards." Late in 1994 Hunter's fifth solo album, 'Talk to Strangers', was released, which had Hunter co-producing with David Hirschfelder and Mark Walmsley via the Roadshow Music label. Soon after Hunter was back with Dragon to record their album, 'Incarnations' (1995). Todd then left the band to concentrate on his work for film and television soundtracks. Dragon with Hunter and Mansfield aboard toured during 1996 with a line-up of Mike Caen on guitar, Ange Tsoitoudis on guitar, Dario Bortolin on bass guitar (ex-Scary Mother).

In 1997 the singer's years of hard living caught up with him and he was diagnosed with throat cancer and could no longer perform or tour. Friends immediately rallied round him, and Renee Geyer organised a benefit concert to raise money for his treatment and provide for his children.

The concert, Night Of The Hunter, was held in February 1998 at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda in Melbourne. It featured leading artists performing classic Dragon songs: "Are You Old Enough" by Tex Perkins and friends, Chris Wilson singing "O Zambezi", Paul Kelly and Renee Geyer singing a duet of "I'm Still In Love With You", Snout performing "Rain" and Men at Work’s Colin Hay performing a new song he wrote in Marc's honor. The finale, "April Sun In Cuba" was performed by John Farnham and his band, with Todd on bass. The house erupted when Renee Geyer led Marc onstage, and he joined in his signature tune for what proved to be his very last stage appearance. For the last few months of his life, Hunter underwent various forms of treatment including several alternative medicine remedies, but none were successful, and he died in Berry near Kiama on 17 July 1998.

SINGLES 
''Island Nights (#22) / East To The Winter'' 1979 CBS
''Don't Take Me (#80) / My Mystery'' 1979 CBS
''When You Walk Into The Room / Thrill Has Gone'' 1980 CBS
''Big City Talk (#41) / Old Fashioned Love Affair'' 1981 Mercury 
''(Rock 'n' Roll Is) A Loser's Game / Midnight Knocks'' 1981 Mercury 
''Sideshow / Slow Down Baby'' 1981 Mercury 
''Nothing But A Lie / Echoes'' 1982 Mercury 
''Communication (#78) / Hollywood'' 1984 Mercury 
''Fundamental Mistakes / Glamour All The Way'' 1985 PolyGram 
''The Empty Beach / Simple Words'' 1985 PolyGram 
''Night And Day / Laura'' 1990 ABC 

ALBUMS 
'Fiji Bitter' (#54) 1979 CBS 
'Big City Talk' (#54) 1981 Mercury 
'Communication' 1985 Polygram
'Night & Day' (#54) 1990 ABC 
'Talk To Strangers' 1994 Roadshow Music 

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Hunter

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