CHAPTER III

Formed in 1964 in Toowoomba QLD as The Defenders. The band played on the local scene before setting off on a tour of NZ. Original drummer Col Zeller refused to move to New Zealand so on arrival in Auckland in June 1965, they got Auckland drummer Rick Phillips to take his place. Whilst in that country they supported Sandie Shaw and The Pretty Things on their tour. The band auditioned at the Top Twenty club in Durham Lane Auckland and were regularly booked by the owner. Viking Records A&R man Ron Dalton asked the band to demo two songs at the Studio. The Defenders coupled a band original, "I'm Happy Too" with a cover of Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs hit "Stay". Good enough to be a record, Dalton decided, but not as the Defenders, so he re-christened the band Hubb Kapp and the Wheels. The record was released in August 1965.

The Defenders, who felt they were doing quite well under their own name, decided not to change. They added recently sacked Pleazers singer Bob London (real name Bob Cooper) to their ranks. The Defenders were offered full-time work in Dunedin at Eddie Chin's Sunset Strip teen venue in Rattray Street. Rick Phillips didn't want to leave Auckland, so he was replaced by Mike Conway on drums. They didn't stay long at Sunset Strip and set up their own dance club, the Nightspot. They became very popular in the local area and packed out the Dunedin Town Hall for a series of concerts. They also appeared on a local Television show Clickety Click 66 which ran for 13 weeks. Its theme song was written by Kerry Wright.

In mid 1966 the Defenders headed to Sydney with local keyboard player John Sayers (who later became one of the top record producers in Australia) in tow. They renamed themselves Chapter III and in August 1966 cut a single for Festival records "Fool / Not Your Man". The record went nowhere chartwise and the band, tiring of the showbiz treadmill, split up, with Wright, Moore and Smith returning home to Queensland, but soon reformed as Chapter III, with original Defenders' drummer Col Zeller. Frank Klaasen replaced Moore and they became Toowoomba's favourite band and ruled the entertainment scene in the Darling Downs. The band backed the Bee Gees at the 4GR Cabaret Summer Spectacular in 1966. Chapter III moved to Sydney and had a residency at The Thunderbird in Bondi.

In 1966 they returned to Toowoomba. ''Just Can't Live Without You / See See What I See'' was released in 1968. In 1969 Chapter III became the first regionally based band to contest the Melbourne grand-final of the legendary Hoadleys Battle Of The Sounds. The band were also in demand in Brisbane and appeared on local TV shows. Recorded in 1970 "Please Do Something / Voodoo Queen" was their last single before disbanding the same year.

Members

Kerry Wright (vocal/guitar), Ray Moore (vocals/bass), Ron Smith (guitar), Col Zeller (Drums), Bob London (harmony/tambourine) John Sayers (keyboards), Frank Klaasens (bass), Bob Donovan (keyboards), Mike Conway (drums),

SINGLES

''Fool / Not Your Man'' 1966 Festival
''Just Can't Live Without You / See See What I See'' 1968 Festival
''Please Do Something / Voodoo Queen'' 1975 Zachs