HOT ROCKET

Hot Rocket was formed in Sydney in 1970 with the original lineup of David Gibbons on vocals, Phillip Sill on bass, Paul Dixon on drums, Dave Webster on guitar and Jan Dezuan on keyboards. The band had only been together a short while when lead singer, David Gibbons, took the band into the Festival Studios at Pyrmont (where he worked as a recording engineer) and they recorded Joe Cocker’s ''That’s Your Business'' plus an original ''Pianola Roll'' written by guitarist Dave Webster. Gibbons had convinced management that a single from his hot new band would rocket up the charts. Unfortunately, the record never got airplay, never charted and crashed into oblivion. Drummer Paul Dixon departed and was replaced by John Taylor.

Hot Rocket soon established themselves on Sydney’s dance club, high school, university, harbour cruise, gay club and party rage scene. The gay scene found the band’s frenetic energy to their liking and Hot Rocket became the house band for over six months at the infamous Chameleons (The Midas Club), supporting many top artists of the day who featured at the club. The band also made the finals of a corporate-sponsored band competition run by a Sydney radio station. During this time Hot Rocket became the band of choice on Sydney harbour cruises where Kings Cross working girls took US R&R servicemen on private titillating drinkathons. And as the old saying goes: What happened on the ferries stayed on the ferries. 

Some lineup changes occurred with Phil Sill leaving for overseas being replaced by drummer John Taylor who moved onto bass and Warren Bell came in on drums. That same year Bill Chilvers joined on guitar and Jan Dezuan left. Gibbons smuggled the band back into Festival and a second single was recorded: covers of Rick Derringer’s ''Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo'' and Eric Clapton’s ''Bottle Of Red Wine''. However, this time it happened without Festival management’s knowledge or approval and Gibbons nearly lost his job. Today, that vinyl 45 has become a rare collector’s wet dream … an illegal / unofficial / unauthorised studio bootleg, recorded secretly, and mastered and pressed onto vinyl with official Festival Record Company labels and codes. 

David Gibbons later left to venture overseas and was replaced by Phil Coates. Hot Rocket entered the Hoadley’s Battle of The Sounds competition in 1972 but failed to qualify when some of the sponsors’ amplification equipment was destroyed during their performance. That same year the band was offered an exclusive, full time, bells and whistles, no holds barred management push by their Agency but turned it down due to circumstances. Warren Bell left to travel overseas and was replaced by John Swanton. Bill Chilvers also left for overseas adventures and was replaced by Phil Layton on sax. Hot Rocket finally called it a day in 1973.

Members

Paul Dixon (drums), Phillip Sill (bass),  David Gibbons (vocals),  Dave Webster (guitar), Jan Dezuan (keyboards), John Taylor (drums/bass), Bill Chilvers (guitar), Warren Bell (drums), Phil Coates (vocals), John Swanton (drums),  Phil Layton (sax)

SINGLES
''That's Your Business / Pianola Roll'' 1971 Festival
''Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo / Bottle Of Red Wine'' 1972 Festival

References

John Taylor