The original lineup consisted of the Rooney brothers John (vocals) and Michael (bass), Tom Watson (guitar), Steve Brabeck (drums) and Anthony Bautovich (guitar) and at their first inner city gig they upstaged Midnight Oil at the Sydney Cove Tavern. This was the multiple encore type show that was soon to become the norm for the Lonely Hearts. They went on to take the inner city by storm attracting attention with their pink PA and army of followers who would often arrive just before they played and leave soon after. They played as many gigs as they could without missing too much school and even put down some demos at Festival. Regular Records among others began to take interest along with numerous publishing offers but the band resisted urges to sign any deals and in late 1979 drummer Steve Brabeck resigned, and Phil Edwards (ex-Elm Tree, Jupiter) took his place.
The guys were always taking the mickey out of everyone, never took anything seriously and no effort was spent having a great time. Rehearsals could be almost unbearable as they told one rock writer that the band members consisted of Johnny & Mickey Heart, Tom & Bob Phantom and Phil Eruption and even rang one potential manager to drive out from the city in his Bentley to pick them up to take them to the Skippy milkbar in Liverpool for hot chocolate!
After breaking up in August 1981 three of the founding members John and Michael Rooney and Tom Watson, reformed with drummer Greg Ohlback (or as they called him Jimmy Olsen) (ex-Reporters) and Guilio Mariani (ex-QVs) in November 1981. Over 60 gigs, a tour of Melbourne and some demos at Clive Shakespeare’s studio and four months later in February 1982 Ohlback and Mariani had left. This wasn’t all bad as Phil Edwards had returned from England and was available to play drums. By March they were in EMI 301 studios which resulted in the double A side single ''Don’t Feel Safe / Last Kiss'' which as Jules Normington of Phantom records puts it is “one of the greatest 45s ever released in Australia”. The single rapidly sold the 1,000 copies which were pressed and in September 1982 ''Down Around the Corner'' which was also recorded at EMI 301 was released on the 2UW 'Homegrown' album.
David Guest then joined the band on keys and guitar in early 1983. By March they were back in the studio this time at Alberts and in June the band released another self funded single ''Ambition'' backed with ''Tonight'' on the Waterfront label. Later in June 1983 ''Down Around the Corner'' was then released on a Waterfront Records promotional EP and given away at a gig at the Trade Union Club on the 25th of June 1983. After several years of intense gigging, some demos at Atlantic studios and further self funded sessions at Alberts the band broke up again in February 1984.
In 1989 the band reformed with Dale Steedman replacing an unavailable Michael Rooney on bass and Anthony Bautovich rejoining on second guitar. In 1990 they released ''The Spell'' backed with ''Last Chance'' on Regular Records and in 1992 the Lonely Hearts finally called it quits leaving behind numerous demo tapes and other recordings which were eventually compiled by the Buttercup label and released in 2017.
Members
John Rooney (vocals), Michael Rooney (bass), Tom Watson (guitar), Steve Brabeck (drums), Anthony Bautovich (guitar), Phil Edwards (drums), Jimmy Olsen [Greg Ohlback] (drums), Guilio Mariani, David Guest (guitar, keyboards), Dale Steedman (bass)
John Rooney (vocals), Michael Rooney (bass), Tom Watson (guitar), Steve Brabeck (drums), Anthony Bautovich (guitar), Phil Edwards (drums), Jimmy Olsen [Greg Ohlback] (drums), Guilio Mariani, David Guest (guitar, keyboards), Dale Steedman (bass)
''Last Kiss / Don't Feel Safe'' 1982 Half An Arc
''Ambition / Tonight'' 1983 Waterfront
''The Spell / Last Chance'' 1990 Regular
References
http://australianmusichistory.com/the-lonely-hearts/
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