Classic Australian Music from 1975
What were you up to in 1975? It was the year that saw Sir John Kerr sack Gough Whitlam as Prime Minister of Australia. The Tasman Bridge in Tasmania is hit by a passing ship and collapses killing 12 people. Joh Bjelke-Peterson was confusing us all with his mastery of the English language and Don Dunstan was putting his own unique stamp on South Australian politics.
Think Big wins its second Melbourne Cup and Easts beat St George 38-nil to make it 2 premierships in a row.
On TV Graham Kennedy utters his fateful “Crow call” which sees him banned from our sets for some time. In Film “Picnic At Hanging Rock” is released and goes on to become an Aussie classic.
Some of the folks born in 1975 include Anthony Mundine, Andrew Symonds, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Mark Viduka and future terrorist wannabe David Hicks.
1975 also saw the last of the fabled Sunbury Concerts which featured bands such as AC/DC, Ariel, Ayers Rock, Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs, Buster Brown, The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, Chain, Daddy Cool, Deep Purple, Kush, La De Das, Linda George, Matt Taylor, Skyhooks, Renée Geyer and Sanctuary, The Keystone Angels, Madder Lake, Ross Ryan and Sherbet
So, what were we listening to in 1975? Try some of these on for size.
Skyhooks – Horror Movie
John Paul Young – Yesterday’s Hero
Richard Clapton – Girls On The Avenue
Ted Mulry Gang – Jump In My Car
Sherbet – Summer Love
Hush – Boney Maroney
Billy Thorpe – It’s Almost Summer
Some of the Gigs Australians were going to in 1975
| Date | Artist | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19/11/75 | Deep Purple | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 07/11/75 | Wings | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 02/10/75 | Status Quo | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 28/08/75 | The Sweet | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 18/08/75 | The Sweet | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 31/05/75 | Focus | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| Support Band: Sebastian Hardie | |||
| 21/05/75 | Leo Sayer | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 10/05/75 | AC/DC | Manly Vale | Manly Vale Hotel |
| 09/05/75 | AC/DC | Manly Vale | Manly Vale Hotel |
| 23/04/75 | Roxy Music | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| Support Band: Split Enz | |||
| 15/04/75 | Roxy Music | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| Support Band: Split Enz | |||
| 19/03/75 | Bad Company | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 17/03/75 | Bad Company | Moore Park, NSW | Hordern Pavilion |
| 04/03/75 | AC/DC | Bondi Junction | Bondi Lifesaver |
| 03/03/75 | AC/DC | Bondi Junction | Bondi Lifesaver |
| 27/01/75 | Skyhooks | Dawes Point | Sydney Harbour |
Like always, I’d love to hear your thoughts and memories of 1975 in the comments below. See you there!
Hi . I’m finding it difficult to find any info on an Aus band from 1975 called “Pantha”… they recorded an album named Dowaydo at trafalga studios dec 1974 , mixed at sparmac studios feb 75 ..album number ZL 212 , maybe you’d like to add them to your history info ,,,,someone may know about them …
Hi Mark, the “Who’s who of Australian Rock” lists Pantha as being from Melbourne from 1975-76 and you are correct about the album.
If I can find a bit more info and an image or two I’ll look at doing a listing. Thanks for your comment.
Cheers, Mark Gibson
Update… I found this link which may be of interest to you too.
Pantha
pantha were a great sydney band…my brother picked up their album when they were playing a gig at the venue eastside …i believe…
Saw this blog while surfing the net, my name is also Mark Carius and I have never met another Mark Carius or assumed one existed. So if you get this message, let me know where you come from ???
WOW SPOOKY STUFF
Which of you 2 Mark Carius’s is Mark from Frankston?
Hey there Tony Spiker , Ya still playing Drums ? I’m still hackin away on bass lol , long time no see , must b around 35 years lol, hope things are good , cheers , mark carius.
Mark!
What are you up to .I play, teach and have 3 kids, one of which plays bass.
Do you live in Melbourne? I played in London for many years but I came back here eventually. Good to hear that you are still alive.
hey there Mark Carius , I’m the Mark Carius from Frankston Vic, Aus,,, where u from ??
Brisbane Australia, I met another Marc Carius in Tasmania as well, unless you lived there for awhile.
Cheers
hi i hitchhiked from Adelaide to sunbry with my sister in 75 , what an experience i was just 17 it was the best rock experience of my life . it rained most of the time and got real muddy but no one seemed to care saw some AUZ rock legends and heard the worlds loudest band play songs from there new album storm bringer i am glad i was there it was the last one unfortunately there was heaps of booze and smoke but no one noticed the cops were cool great memories
Hi Mark Gibson . thanks for the help mate re pantha cheers
I think some of the best gigs I used to go to in melb were the “Reefer Caberets” in Pahran Town hall, some great line ups , one stand out was a performace by the Renee Geyer Band featuring guest guitarist , Mick Rodgers, (manfred man leed guit player at the time ), he blew the joint appart lol
Hey “Fuel” , I’d love a copy of pantha’s album ,have u got it on file ??
Hi Guys
I saw Pantha play live more than once at what was Monash University out in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
I have a copy of the vinyl that they produced and even though it went through many parties i still play it occasionally and it is in fair condition.
Kev
Is this this the Subury Queen played and famously were booed and Freddie said he would not return to Australia, if so, love to hear some story’s of it, and if anyone out there has any footage
There was a pop/rock TV show produced in Sydney at ABC studios in 1975. I thought it was the fore-runner to Countdown?
This show held a recording competition that was connected to Atlantic Recording Studios in Sydney. I think Pantha won the competition. Our band, Burlesque Review, came third and appeared on the show. Does anyone remember this ABC Sydey pop show from 1975? If so, what was the name of it?
GTK ?
I am trying to find info on a concert I went to in early 70’s in Adelaide
“Australian record breakers concert’ or similar title
there was John Paul Young, Skyhooks , Hush , & a lot more Australian artists of the time
put me out of my research agony please