Sherbet
Sherbet was a band I didn’t rate very highly for a while until I saw them live. I suppose they were considered a little bit lightweight if you only went on the stuff the radio was playing but when you saw them live, they were the real deal. Great musicians, well-written songs and a brilliant vocalist, they had the lot.
Sherbet was formed in 1969 by Clive Shakespeare with members of three Sydney bands. He had been in a band called Downtown Roll Band. With fellow members Doug Rae on bass & Danny Taylor on drums, he recruited Sam See on keys from Clapham Junction and Dennis Laughlin from Sebastian Hardie Blues Band on lead vocals. Like a lot of bands their lineup was fluid in the early days but by 1972 the first classic lineup of Daryl Braithwaite on vocals, Clive Shakespeare on guitar, Garth Porter on keys, Alan Sandow on drums and Tony Mitchell on bass.
They toured relentlessly and were known as one of the hardest working and most professional acts of the time. All the while Daryl Braithwaite was having solo success as well. He was named “King Of Pop” from three years running from 1975 – 1977 and Sherbet were voted Best Australian Group five years in a row from 1973 to 1978.
In 1976 Clive Shakespeare left due largely to the heavy pressure and relentless touring. Shakespeare was replaced by Harvey James, who had been successful in both Mississippi and Ariel, just as the band was hitting peak popularity. Like too many bands of their era, they tried to break into the U.S. market but never quite pulled it off. Sherbet changed their name to “Highway” to try and get away from their previous bubblegum pop image but despite having some great local success the band decided to fold in late 1979.
The break was brief, however, and they were back in 1980 as “Sherbs” with the same lineup. A couple more years of touring saw them again call it quits in 1984 although they have performed at various one off events like the Harvey James Tribute Concert.
Members
- Alan Sandow – Drums
- Clive Shakespeare – Guitar
- Dennis Laughlin – Vocals
- Danny Taylor – Drums
- Sam See – Keyboards
- Doug Rae – Bass
- Garth Porter – Keyboards
- Daryl Braithwaite – Vocals
- Bruce Worrall – Bass
- Tony Mitchell – Bass, Vocals
- Harvey James – Guitar
- Ian Gunther Gorman – Guitar
- Tony Leigh – Guitar
More details on Sherbet members at the Australian Music Database
Notable Recordings
- The Single Howzat! was released in 1976 and got to number 1
- The Album Howzat! was released in 1976 and got to number 1
- The Single Summer Love was released in 1975 and got to number 1
- The Album Slipstream was released in 1974 and got to number 3
- The Album Life… Is For Living was released in 1975 and got to number 3
Images
Gigs
- 19/03/69 – Brookvale Oval Manly, NSW
- 11/03/73 – Canberra Showground Canberra, ACT
- 23/09/73 – Capitol Theatre Sydney, NSW
- 17/02/74 – The Hordern Pavillion Moore Park, NSW
- 27/06/76 – The Hordern Pavillion Moore Park, NSW
I agree with you Mark, I grew up with knowing Sherbet from only the music that was popular.. but until you look behind the band and see the work they put in, they were one of Aussies best bands, leading the way in many ways throughout the 70s.. Listening to their music now, and I appreciate it more, as it hasn’t dated, as some stuff has, still as popular today as then…
I agree with you they were a great band. I was in my teens and bought almost all their records, which I still have and play.
Just before their breakup their music got better, but it was the 80;s and music change.
I sometimes don’t understand why media don’t give them the respect of a fine aussie band they were or play their stuff.
My friend and I saw them in 1984 Farwell tour they were awesome live
great musicians, well written songs and a brilliant vocalist, they had the lot.
I was a big Sherbet fan when growing up and now. It’s not until you are older that you can really appreciate that their music was second to none. Well crafted songs that I still enjoy to listen to today.
I saw Sherbet only a couple of times in the later part of their career as I wasn’t old enough to get into the clubs and pubs any earlier. But I was there for the final concert at Bankstown sports club and what a night, all the past and present members together on stage preforming all the classic Sherbet songs. A memory I will cherish forever. Thank you Sherbet.
I knew Micki Braithwaite, what was her maiden name
Brendan her real name was annameika or something similar she came from a Greek background they married in 1972
After they divorced she went onto to work as a PA for Alan Jones and John Quayle who was head of the Rugby league
Micki’s maiden name was Annemiek Jurkowski
Does anyone remember a rock-pop music festival at Wollongong Showground 1972 or 1973 where Sherbet were the headliners?
I won tickets to it from the Illawarra Mercury and it poured down rain and they had to move the whole thing indoors.
I too was a massive Sherbet fan growing up and I still appreciate their music and listen to it almost daily.
Also I too think it is sad that the group folded because radio stations wouldn’t back them in and play their music. It saddens me that to this day Sherbet music is still not given credit by radio stations.
I love how Daryl has managed to be successful as a solo artist and I love the fact that radio stations are playing Daryl’s new single Love Songs.
Love Sherbet to this day! It frustrates me that Sherbet are not regarded as highly as they should be! Great songs, they had variety in their repertoire! They toured everywhere, from big stadiums to little country towns! They were wonderful live too. They were one of the bands who helped to make Countdown the iconic program that it is now considered to be. It is sad they were not given more support going into the 80’s! I feel they were pushed to disband due to lack of interest intheir 80’s Sherbs material. I feel they broke up before their time and still feel they had so much more to give!
My first concert was Sherbet with my sister and I very young and all the girls were up the front screaming and wetting their knickers . But I was blown away during Slipstream as I had never seen a strobe light effect before and that got my attention . I became more a Skyhooks Fan , but Summer Love still to this day grabs me and I say it is the best Song about Summer Period . They wrote and played great rock/pop songs that endured and that is damn hard to do . I met Harvey James when he was rep for Fender and that boy could play . Just listen to the songs after Harvey joined .
From the intro of Can You Feel It Baby right through their years as Sherbet, Highway and The Sherbs to their final single Tonight Will Last Forever and to their Countdown Spectacular Concert Reunion, I saw Sherbet and loved and appreciated them for what they truly were. Australia’s best ever, most professional, talented and consistent rock/pop band, who never managed to reach the heights overseas that they fully deserved to reach. Still not truly appreciated by radio or the so called Aussie pop music experts. Sherbet led the way in so many areas and set the benchmark for groups that followed with their constant touring round Australia to big cities and small country towns. I saw them in Dalby, Toowoomba, Warwick and Brisbane but sadly never as The Sherbs. Still proudly love them and flog their music to this day.
Sherbet was my number one band, i was only 14 when I first saw them in my hometown of Ballarat (thanks to my big sister) and each time they came I was there. My sister and I even met them at the Motel they stayed at got our photos together and memories. Summer Love was one of my favourite songs and yep got their records when I had enough $$. And still today now that I’m 61 I still love their songs. The shit the radio stations play today I don’t even bother to listen too. The music world has gone from the greatest to the worst of all time. 70’s rock/pop music had the best hits ever. And yeh Sherbet worked their ass off and that why they were the greatest here in Australia. And as for Daryl Braithwaite still performing his greatest songs I applaud 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻You.
First became aware of Sherbet when they won Hoadleys Battle of The Sounds in 1972. Growing up though, you were either Skyhooks or Sherbet. I was firmly Skyhooks, up until Sherbet released Howzat. That album blew me away. As a result I dived into their back catalogue and discovered some truly great music. I still play their music, and rate the intro to Silvery Moon as one of the best song intros ever.