Becoming Little River Band: The Story Before the Band

The story behind Little River Band has always fascinated me. Where did they come from? What were the players doing beforehand? Sometimes, a band’s origins aren’t all that remarkable—but every now and then, you find a story like that of Little River Band.

When they officially formed in 1975, they weren’t just a group of musicians coming together for the first time. Their journey began a decade earlier, stretching back to the mid-1960s in Adelaide. Before LRB became one of Australia’s greatest musical exports, its members had already left their mark on the local and national music scene.

Glenn Shorrock and The Twilights

Glenn Shorrock had been part of the Adelaide music scene since the early 1960s. By 1965, he was fronting The Twilights, who quickly became one of Australia’s top pop-rock bands. They weren’t just another local group—they had a polished sound influenced by the British Invasion, featuring sophisticated harmonies and musicianship that rivaled their UK and US counterparts.

The Twilights enjoyed significant chart success with hits like Needle in a Haystack and What’s Wrong with the Way I Live, the latter written by The Hollies’ Graham Nash and Tony Hicks. Their national breakthrough came in 1966 when they won a battle-of-the-bands competition, earning a trip to England. There, they recorded at Abbey Road Studios, soaking in the evolving British rock scene.

Needle in a Haystack

What’s Wrong with the Way I Live

Beeb Birtles and Zoot: From Bubblegum to Hard Rock

Around the same time in Adelaide, another band was making waves—Zoot. Among its members was a young guitarist and vocalist named Gerard Bertlekamp—later known as Beeb Birtles.

Zoot started as a bubblegum pop band marketed to teenage girls, with matching pink outfits and a lightweight image. However, as the band matured, they shifted toward a harder rock sound. Their most well-known moment came with their heavy rock cover of The Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby, which showcased their new direction and became a hit.

Birtles’ transition from pop to rock demonstrated his versatility as a musician—something that would serve him well in the years to come.

Eleanor Rigby

Adelaide’s Hidden Gems: Graeham Goble and the Folk-Rock Connection

There must have been something in Adelaide’s water supply during the late 1960s because yet another influential musician emerged—Graeham Goble. Unlike Shorrock and Birtles, Goble leaned toward folk-rock, performing with bands like Travis Wellington Hedge and Alison Gros.

Alison Gros was a harmony-driven folk-pop group that, while not a major chart success, helped Goble refine his songwriting and vocal arrangement skills—elements that would later become defining features of Little River Band.

If I Ask You

Glenn Wheatley and The Masters Apprentices

Between 1968 and 1970, The Masters Apprentices were one of Australia’s top rock bands. With a bluesy, raw energy, they scored major hits with Turn Up Your Radio and It’s Because I Love You. Their bass player, Glenn Wheatley, wasn’t just a musician—he had a keen business sense and was learning the ins and outs of the industry.

Though The Masters Apprentices were successful, the Australian rock scene was tough, and by the early 1970s, the band had run its course. Wheatley, however, was just getting started—his next move would be managing bands rather than playing in them.

Turn Up Your Radio

It’s Because I Love You

Axiom: Australia’s First “Supergroup”

After The Twilights, Glenn Shorrock joined forces with Brian Cadd to form Axiom—one of Australia’s first real “supergroups.” Bringing together some of the country’s best musicians, Axiom had a sound reminiscent of Crosby, Stills & Nash, blending folk, rock, and country influences with strong songwriting.

They produced hits like Arkansas Grass and A Little Ray of Sunshine, but despite their talent, they failed to break into the international market. The band eventually split, and Shorrock found himself at a crossroads.

Arkansas Grass

A Little Ray of Sunshine

Mississippi: The Bridge to Little River Band

While Axiom was rising and falling, Graeham Goble and Beeb Birtles were working together in another band—Mississippi. Unlike many of Australia’s bluesy rock acts of the time, Mississippi had a harmony-rich, polished sound influenced by groups like The Beach Boys and The Hollies.

Formed in 1972, Mississippi featured Goble, Birtles, and drummer Derek Pellicci. They found moderate success, particularly with their self-titled debut album, but overseas expansion proved difficult. By 1974, they had returned from a UK tour, uncertain of their next steps.

It was at this point that Glenn Wheatley, who had now transitioned into artist management, saw something special in the band. He suggested they bring in Glenn Shorrock as lead singer and rebrand themselves with a fresh start.

Kings Of The World

From Mississippi to Little River Band

With Shorrock on board, Mississippi effectively transformed into a new entity. To complete the lineup, they recruited lead guitarist Ric Formosa and bassist Roger McLachlan (formerly of The Bootleg Family Band).

While traveling from Melbourne to Geelong for a gig, they passed a road sign for a town called Little River. The name stuck, and in 1975, Little River Band was born.

The Legacy of Their Past Bands

Before they were international stars, the members of Little River Band had already played a crucial role in shaping Australian music. They had honed their craft in The Twilights, Zoot, Alison Gros, The Masters Apprentices, Axiom, and Mississippi—all successful in their own right.

Each of these bands laid the foundation for what LRB would become: a group with incredible musicianship, tight vocal harmonies, and a polished, world-class sound. The result was a band that not only conquered Australia but also became one of the first Australian acts to truly break into the US market.

Looking back, it’s clear that Little River Band didn’t just appear out of nowhere. Their story was decades in the making, shaped by years of experience, dedication, and an evolving Australian music scene.