The Easybeats

The Easybeats were a rock and roll band in the 1960s from Australia. They formed in Sydney in late 1964 and split at the end of 1969. They are widely regarded as the greatest Australian pop band of the Sixties and were the first Australian rock act to score an international pop hit with their classic 1966 single "Friday On My Mind" (Note: the folk-pop group The Seekers had international hits in 1965)

After disbanding

The Easybeats disbanded without fanfare at the end of 1969, following a low-key farewell Australian tour. Vanda and Young remained in the UK for three years, working to pay off debts incurred during the Easybeats years. They returned to Australia in 1973 and reunited with Ted Albert and became the house producers for his new Albert Productions record label, writing for and/or producing many chart-topping acts including Stevie Wright, Rose Tattoo, Cheetah, William Shakespeare and The Angels. They wrote and produced several major hits for John Paul Young including "Love Is In The Air" and "Yesterday's Hero", which was also a cover version hit when recorded by Bay City Rollers, and produced the first seven albums for AC/DC, which featured George's younger brothers Angus Young and Malcolm Young.

Related Topics:
1969 - Albert Productions - Stevie Wright - Rose Tattoo - Cheetah - William Shakespeare - The Angels - John Paul Young - Cover version - Bay City Rollers - AC/DC - Angus Young - Malcolm Young

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Vanda and Young also recorded several Australian hit singles under the pseudonym Flash And The Pan, including "Hey St. Peter" and "Down Among The Dead Men". Flash And The Pan had a European hit single with the dance track "Waiting For A Train" in 1981. Singer-model-actress Grace Jones also recorded a successful cover version of their song "Walking In The Rain".

Related Topics:
Flash And The Pan - European - Dance - 1981 - Grace Jones - Cover version

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Stevie Wright went on to become a cast member of the original Australian stage production of Jesus Christ Superstar (1972-73) and then launched a successful but shortlived solo career with the hit single "Evie" and the album Hard Road in 1974. In later years he suffered debilitating drug and alcohol problems which were further exacerbated by his self-admission to the notorious Chelmsford Private Hospital in Sydney; director Dr Harry Bailey administered a highly controversial treatment known as "deep sleep therapy" which allegedly cured drug addiction with a combination of drug-induced coma and electroshock. Many patients, including Wright, suffered brain damage and lifelong after-effects and dozens of patients died as a result of the so-called 'treatment'. The scandal was later exposed, but Bailey avoided prosecution by committing suicide. Stevie's substance abuse problems spiraled out of control in the Eighties and Nineties and he came close to death on several occasions, but was pulled back from the brink by his current partner Faye and by 2002 was well enough to perform as part of the all-star Long Way To The Top national concert tour. His biography, Hard Road was published in 2004.

Related Topics:
Stevie Wright - Jesus Christ Superstar - Chelmsford Private Hospital - Dr Harry Bailey - Long Way To The Top

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Original drummer Snowy Fleet became a successful builder in Perth, Western Australia; his replacement, Tony Cahill, remained in the UK for a time before moving to the United States; bassist Dick Diamonde moved to the NSW north coast and retired from performing. The original group reunited for a warmly received series of Australian concerts in 1986.

Related Topics:
Snowy Fleet - Perth, Western Australia - Tony Cahill - United States - 1986

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