Tommy & The Dipsticks were a Sydney based Punk Rock band that started around 1977. The Dipsticks’ guitarists John Cowper & Peter Mullany from Johnny Dole & The Scabs were school mates so Peter was able to help the band with their first gig.

Tommy & The Dipsticks like Johnny Dole & The Scabs were one of the few Punk Rock bands at the time to play in an English style doing covers of Rolling Stones and Beatles songs plus a few originals thrown in for good measure.

When the doors to the legendary Grand Hotel – Broadway Sydney were opened for the first time on Friday 16th September 1977 a support band was needed and Peter suggested his mate’s band. It was agreed to give them a go and as it turned out they were a great match and they went on to support them many more times.

The bands for that opening night were Johnny Dole & The Scabs supported by Tommy & The Dipsticks for just $1.00 so in reality Tommy & The Dipsticks have the distinction of being the first band to play at the Grand Hotel.

After Johnny Dole & The Scabs disbanded, Johnny Dole & Peter Mullany joined forces with Tommy & The Dipsticks and the Crooked Hearts were born, early 1979.

Line-up: Tommy & The Dipsticks

• John Cowper – Guitar/Vocals
• Tommy Ebejer – Bass/Vocals
• Russell McRae – Drums/Vocals

Line-up: The Crooked Hearts

• Johnny Dole – Lead Vocals
• Peter Mullany – Guitar
• John Cowper – Guitar/Vocals
• Tommy Ebejer – Bass/Vocals
• Russell McRae – Drums/Vocals

Cold Chisel was one of my all time favorite live bands. They simply shone on stage. I had the opportunity to see them many times both in large stadium concerts and a few times in very intimate venues. One of the best was an impromptu show they held on the outside of a pub in Moss Vale, NSW. Near as I can figure it was in January 1983 although I’m hoping a knowledgeable commenter may be able to narrow that down to a specific date.
*Update*
Thanks to Damian in comments this gig has been tracked down to the 5th of February 1983.

I got a call one day out of the blue from my friend Wolfgang who’d heard there was going to be a fund-raising show at Moss Vale by Cold Chisel. I took the essential items being a bottle of vodka and a camera. I managed to push my way right to the front of the stage and these shots are the result.

The astute amongst you will notice that it’s not Steve Prestwich on drums. He was apparently sick that day and his place was taken by ex Daddy Cool drummer, Gary Young. You will also find John Swan standing side stage. At the end of the show I managed to talk my way backstage but unfortunately the bottle of vodka had well and truly kicked in by then so all I did was dribble in peoples ear. I distinctly remember collaring poor Ian Moss for about 10  minutes and I don’t think I said a sensible word. Oh well!

I’d really like some help identifying the roadcrew in these shots too. If anyone can be of help just leave a comment.

Here’s another great set of classic Aussie band images from Jeff White.

In this article you’ll find Cold Chisel, Men At Work, Moving pictures and Sharon O’Neill. Enjoy!

If you, like Jeff, have some great old snaps of some classic Australian bands then scan them & send them over. We’d love to display them here.

Cold Chisel

Men At Work

Moving Pictures

Sharon O’Neill

About

Sydney based band covering the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival and John Fogerty.

Tight musicianship, lush harmonies and audience rapport are the hallmarks of Creedence and Beyond which is centered on the extraordinary vocals of Steve Champion, whose authentic echo of Fogerty’s distinctive voice has amazed fans all over the world for more than a decade.
from Sydney Gig Guide

*** Update *** Here is the brand new promo video for Creedence And Beyond featuring “Bad Moon Rising”.

History

Formed out of The Top Dogs whose core members were all in Mad Gorilla together in the 1980′s

Members

• Steve Champion – Vocals
• Mark Langfield – Drums
• Archie Ensor – Bass and vocals
• Mark “Zack ” Flack – Guitar
• Gary Jeffs – Guitar
• Steve “Stix” Stickney – Vocals and Narration

Technical Crew

• Mark Gibson – Audio
• Sam Sheargold – Lights

Other Resources

• Creedence and Beyond website
• Sydney Gig Guide

About

Since the mid 80′s the Choirboys have been performing in pubs, clubs, theatres, concert halls and football grounds around the world. Along the way they’ve released some of the biggest and most influential songs of the past two decades – hits including the rock anthems “Run to Paradise”, “Boys will be Boys”, “Never Gonna Die” and “Struggletown”.

The bands original front man, Mark Gable (lead vocals/guitar) along with co-founder Ian Hulme (bass/vocals) still head up this slick rock outfit. The Choirboys are complete with the addition one of Australia’s best rock drummers Paul Wheeler.
On stage THE CHOIRBOYS are energetic, charismatic and compelling musicians. Their show highlights the bands chart topping hits along with the great new tracks from “Evolver”.
from www.choirboys.net

History

The Choirboys started on the Northern Beaches area of Sydney in 1979. The original members of the band were Mark Gable on vocals, Ian Hulme on bass, Lindsay Tebbutt on drums, and Brad Carr on guitar. They started jamming and writing songs, and playing together in venues around Sydney.

In 1983, George Young (formerly of The Easybeats, and older brother of Angus and Malcolm Young of AC/DC) heard a demo from the Choirboys. He recorded their self-titled debut album with his partner Harry Vanda of the famous Vanda & Young production team at the same studio where the early AC/DC and Rose Tattoo albums were recorded.

The first single, “Never Gonna Die,” reached #21 in the Australian single charts in 1983. Australian TV musical personality Ian “Molly” Meldrum said the album was “destined to become an Aussie classic.” Cold Chisel invited the Choirboys to support them on their “Last Stand”, their last tour for 15 years.
from Wikipedia

Members

• Mark Gable – Vocals and Guitar
• Ian Hulme – Bass and vocals
• Paul Wheeler – Drums and vocals
• Lindsay Tebbutt – Drums (1979-1992)
• Brett Williams – Guitar (1988-1992)
• Brad Carr – Guitar (1979-1987)
• Richard Lara – Guitar (1995-1999)
• Barton Price – Drums (1994-1996)
• Richard Coleman – Drums (1997-2001)
• Johnny Ghiselli – Guitar (2000-2003)
• Tony Le Rhodes – Drums (1996-1997)

Images

Videos

Recordings

• Choirboys – 1983
• Big Bad Noise – 1988
• Midnight Sun – 1991
• Dead Drunk Live Hangovers – 1991
• Decade, Best of 1983-1993 – 1993
• Dancin on the Grave of Rock n’ Roll – 1996
• Yo-Yo – 1996
• Evolver – 2004

Other Resources

• Choirboys Website
• Choirboys on Wikipedia
• The Choirboys page of Our Online Store

Known Gigs

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