From Jeff St John to The Hawks via Bandanna and Grog ‘n Grumble
Amazed at the photo’s that my old mate from Grog
Hi Mark.
I have put together a brief (as poss ) Story from Jeff St John & the Kim Humphreys Band ( 1978 ) till now. I started in 1963, ..Too much stuff to tell. I didn’t know where to start or finish. I have thousands of photos and dates, but I could be here forever. I have posted some Pics as things progressed along the way. There is a Doco of Jeff St John & the Kim Humphreys Band on You Tube. The Australians – Rock & Roll Man. By Peter Luck.
Here Goes. :-
1978 saw myself and Kim Humphreys hook up with Jeff St John. We went out as Jeff St John & The Kim Humphreys Band. The band consisted of Kim Myself & Jeff Cripps, who was replaced, not long after by Kevin Tonycliffe. We ceased work with Jeff St John and continued on as Kim Humphreys Band this name was Changed to GREAT DANE in 1981. Rob Grosser joined, we had seen Rob in Melbourne in a band called The Aliens, and we asked him to come on board. Great Dane worked flat out right up and down the east coast of Aus. The band saw a mountain of line up changes, and in 1987 I was offered a job in Bandanna, by manager Steve Rondo, so I finished up Great Dane and went on the road with Bandanna with Larry McMillan, Rick Doolan, and Steve Edmonds.
After a disastrous time in Darwin,in 1988, Larry and I came home, left Bandanna and started up The Grog ‘n Grumble Band, with Shane Carter and Scott Hewison.
Line up changes saw the most stable and most successful Grog ‘n Grumble outfit, – Larry – Laurie Camilleri – Johnny Selems & myself. This combination was the hardest band around, with the help of Agents, Maurie Cameron, Steve Rondo, John Christensen, Peter Evans ( Butterfly Promotions ) and Peter Wells, who took over as manager. Larry got itchy feet, Laurie retired, so I enlisted Guitarist Johnny Snitch & drummer Sam Buka. This line up would continue on till now, in a sort of a fashion.
A name change was necessary in 1993. We then became THE HAWKS, as it is today. Sam Buka, Johnny Selems & myself have been together now for 22 years. We have recently taken on guitarist, Marc Saunders.
Music wise, nothing has changed since way back in 1978. – Full on Hard Rock & Boogie.
The next name change might read :- STILL ALIVE AND WELL.
PS :- I have way too many dates, maybe another day. But, here is one for your info. In a press release for Grog ‘n Grumble in a Campletown news paper, I noticed an ad, – Ingleburn RSL Sunday June 13 1993 – Brian Cadd & Glen Shorrock, As BLAZING SALADS.
Thats it, Cheers Bobby.
Images
Great history, great music. Saw Grog n Grumble al the time. Cambridge Tavern Fairfield. I have some pics of Bob & Larry with Bruno who owned the Cambridge. Saw Bandanna heaps too. Boogie til you can’t!
I had the pleasure of having a beer with Jeff St John and how that come to be is funny and Jeff thought so as well.
It was back in the mid to late 80s when I was parking my motorcycle outside The Greengate Pub at Killara next to a trike and when I seen Jeffs name on the back and at the same time I heard someone crying out for help and I looked over to my right and seen someone in a wheelchair on his back from falling over trying to get up the stairs into the pub.
In a millisecond I put 2 + 2 together and I was like OMG ITS JEFF in trouble and at once I ran over to help him up and into the Pub.
I asked him if I could get him a beer after all that and he said YES.
Got him a beer and sat with him for a while chatting and I told him my favouite song of his is ‘Teach me how to Fly’ and could he play that, I found out he was doing a gig there that night and left him to set up with his roadie.
Later that night I was to his left just behind him watching his gig and he stopped and looked about and found me and pointed to me and said I dedicate this song to you and then pointing to someone else, just the two of us.
In all the excitement of having a beer with him, I didn’t ask him the inspiration of that song and who was she.
I will never forget that. He looked for me in the crowd to dedicate that song to me.
RIP Mr Jeff St John.
Bob Montgomery and the boys were a great band , hopefully still rockin
Played with grog n grumble for a while in the late 80s and had the time of my life . Learned a lot and bob is definitely the hardest working muso in the country back then . Larry was still in the band and John took over and Geoff zenner was playing harp (a very talented musician)
One end of the state to the other and back again 👌
Boogie till ya puke 🤘🇦🇺