History Daddy Cool (band)

1 history

1.1 1964–1970: previous bands
1.2 1970–1972: original line-up
1.3 1972–1974: daddy cool separates
1.4 1974–1975: first reformation
1.5 1975: second separation
1.6 1994: skyhooks
1.7 2005–current

history
1964–1970: previous bands

ross hannaford (guitar, bass, vocals) , ross wilson (guitar, vocals, harmonica) formed pop / r&b melbourne-based group pink finks in 1964 while still attending highschool in south eastern melbourne suburb of beaumaris, victoria, later attended senior campus of sandringham college. recorded version of richard berry s louie louie in 1965 led recording contract , 3 more singles. in 1967 formed party machine, had more radical sound (influenced frank zappa , howlin wolf), band included mike rudd (later in spectrum) on bass guitar. released single ve gotta go in 1969; printed songbooks confiscated , burned victorian vice squad being obscene , seditious. wilson disbanded party machine after receiving invitation travel london join expatriate australian band procession during 1969. after released procession on festival records wilson returned australia.

wayne duncan (bass, vocals) , gary young (drums, vocals) rhythm section of many bands particularly instrumentals since 1950s. 1 of these rondells backing band bobby & laurie popular singing duo number 1 hit hitch hiker 1966.

young , wilson met in 1969 whilst both working in book warehouse, each had previous band mates interested in forming new group. wilson, hannaford, young , duncan formed sons of vegetal mother later year, band had more experimental progressive rock sound. other members included: rudd (bass), trevor griffin (piano), jeremy kellock (jeremy noone) (tenor sax), tim partridge (bass), ian wallace (alto sax), simon wettenhall (trumpet) , bruce woodcock (tenor sax).

1970–1972: original line-up

as side project sons of vegetal mother, 4 of members (duncan, hannaford, wilson , young) formed daddy cool in 1970. shared love of 1950s music , played covers of songs record collections. 1 of these daddy cool (written bob crewe , frank slay) performed in 1957 doo-wop band rays b side single silhouettes . daddy cool became popular live fixture in melbourne. 1971 appearance @ myponga festival in south australia upstaged parent group, sons of vegetal mother, subsequently dissolved.

one-time child guitar prodigy robie porter (formerly known rob eg), had returned australia , established himself record producer, purchasing share of melbourne independent label sparmac records. saw band s performance @ 7 may 1971 gig in melbourne , signed them label. sparmac released healing force s golden miles , rick springfield s speak sky . single eagle rock released before end of may , went number 1 on australian charts stayed record ten weeks. track written wilson, produced porter, was, ironically, replaced @ #1 novelty version of song daddy cool s own setlist—the single daddy cool , performed in chipmunks style studio band drummond. drummond (aka mississippi), included graeham goble (later in little river band), had performed in tribute of daddy cool. eagle rock named second-best australian song of time @ 2001 apra awards best being friday on mind 1960s group easybeats.

daddy cool s debut album, daddy who? daddy cool, sold unprecedented 60,000 copies within month of release in july 1971, , became first australian album sell more 100,000 copies. according wilson, sales required gold album in australia in 1970s had been 10,000 copies , altered 15000 , 20000. band toured australia spectrum (led former bandmate mike rudd) on aquarius tour. second single come again , written wilson, released in september 1971 , reached #3. in september, jeremy kellock (aka jeremy/jerry noone) (saxophone, keyboards (ex-sons of vegetal mother, company caine) joined touring lineup of band (he had played sax on daddy who? daddy cool). album produced porter, provided piano , steel guitar, released in us. band toured there in august 1971 had little chart or radio success, although performances received.

in november, daddy cool aka d.c.e.p., five-track ep released , reached number 12. each group member sang track, played lollipop vocals wilson. edited version of song hi honey ho , third single, written wilson, released in december , reached #16. full 6:48 studio cut of song released on rare promotional single

wilson experimented more song writing on sex, dope, rock n roll: teenage heaven, daddy cool s second album. produced porter again, released on sparmac records in january 1972 , incorporated more progressive material similar sons of vegetal mother s music. 2 of tracks 1950s covers baby let me bang box , sixty minute man , album title provoked concern in media reports. reached #15 on national album charts, , released in usa teenage heaven. @ time, group filmed director / producer bob weis 37-minute documentary, daddy cool released in 1973. documentary has interviews , performances duncan, hannaford, noone, wilson , young line-up.

by february 1972, noone had left, feeling not involved in spirit of group. replaced in march ian willy winter (ex-carson) on rhythm guitar recruited enable ross wilson concentrate on singing. band undertook third tour march–june 1972 , recorded several tracks including teenage blues , @ rockhouse , rock n roll lady @ warner bros. studios in l.a. ll never smile again released in july , reached #16, time tensions growing within band , wilson in particular tiring of difficulty of presenting more progressive material wanted perform within confines of group s entrenched time image. announced break-up after return usa , performed last gig @ more ballroom on 13 august 1972. entire concert recorded , released double-album daddy cool live! last drive-in movie show, issued on porter s new label, wizard records in september 1973 , reached #34.

1972–1974: daddy cool separates

when asked why daddy cool first broke up, wilson responded with:

it doing. went on states 3 times, , though people loved us, felt taking coals newcastle, know, singing doo-wop. m looking around america going, gee, if brought contemporary band on here, maybe kill.

ian winter returned carson, produced blown in 1972 , disbanded before on air released in 1973. in 1977, rejoined wilson in mondo rock. duncan , young formed own boogie band, gary young s hot dog in september 1972, released 2 singles in 1973 rock-a-billy beating boogie band , saga of 3 little pigs . hannaford , wilson, constrained daddy cool image, formed mighty kong in may 1973 play more serious music, released 1 album wanna rock before disbanding in december.

1974–1975: first reformation

both mighty kong , gary young s hot dog had disbanded, , 1974 reformed daddy cool (duncan, hannaford, wilson , young) played @ sunbury pop festival included fledgling skyhooks , uk band queen – latter 2 both booed off stage. in june / july, wilson took time off daddy cool produce recording of skyhooks debut album living in seventies mushroom records. besides compilations, daddy cool provided 3 new singles: wanna rock (part 1) , boogie man , never can tell released in 1974 on wizard records. after performed @ last sunbury pop festival in 1975, gunther gorman joined on guitar. when duncan injured in car accident, hannaford switched bass , guitarist wayne burt (later of jo jo zep) brought in. september 1975 band played final show in prahran s reefer cabaret.

1975: second separation

wilson continued record producer on 2 more albums skyhooks, 3 albums jo jo zep , other artists; performed founding member of mondo rock (1977–1991) , solo artist. wilson inducted aria hall of fame individual in 1989. since 2006 has been regular judge on 7 network s celebrity singing tv series takes two. solo 1989 song bed of nails used theme abc-tv six-part series bed of roses starring kerry armstrong , broadcast 10 may 2008.

hannaford played in other bands , session guitarist including work for: ross hannaford trio, black sorrows, ian moss , goanna. young performed , recorded numerous other bands including: jo jo zep (1976–1981), rockin emus (1982), cold chisel (1983) , black sorrows (1984–1985). work jo jo zep provided young second aria hall of fame induction in 2007. duncan session musician various artists: jane clifton, black sorrows , ross hannaford trio.

1994: skyhooks

daddy cool briefly reformed support skyhooks in proposed 1994 stadium tour. together, released 4 track cd-single 2 new tracks $64,000 question , ballad of oz daddy cool, combined happy hippy hut , me cos m in bed skyhooks. reformation collapsed when single did not chart , tour downgraded pub circuit.

2005–current

the band reformed in february 2005 play @ 27 february 2005 benefit concert victims of 2004 tsunami @ myer music bowl in melbourne. new daddy cool recording, christmas bug , released charity.

in 2006 aztec music released complete daddy cool, double dvd collection, featuring complete video of 2005 tsunami benefit performance , 90-minute documentary on band. set features bob weis 1972 documentary, making of ... feature on weis film, 13-minute feature hanna on lead , , 50 minutes of film clips , tv appearances. new daddy cool album, new cool released in 2006 on liberation records. first album of new material since 1972; included songs recorded in 1994 part of ill-fated dc / skyhooks dual tour.

there have been subsequent reformation performances, including headlining 2007 moomba festival , supporting 2007 australian tour mike love s beach boys , christopher cross. daddy cool played one-off performance in geelong on 31 october 2007, sharing stage former touring partners, spectrum first time in on thirty years.

on 19 november 2014 original band reformed became final time daddy cool inducted music victoria awards hall of fame. band performed greatest hits setlist, including ‘cherry pie’, ‘come again’, ‘eagle rock’ , ‘hi honey ho’ amongst others @ sold out awards night show. wilson stated first time in on 30 years had played hits.

ross wilson said of award: “daddy cool first met, played, recorded , worked in melbourne , since days we’ve been inducted industry hall of fame in australia. “hometown heroes,” age music victoria hall of fame means little bit more because it’s cultural award, not commercial one.”

guitarist ross hannaford died on 8 march 2016 aged 65 cancer; had been diagnosed condition year earlier.

bassist wayne duncan died on 4 december 2016 following stroke.