Big Beat of the Fifties, December 1998

You can't keep old rockers down and Melbourne group, The Thunderbirds, are a classic example. The Thunderbirds were formed way back in 1957 when a few friends got together to form a rock and roll band. The original lineup comprised, Laurie Bell (guitar and vocals), Harold Frith (drums and leader), Mickey Borg (lead vocal and guitar, Marian Grossman (piano and lead vocals), Frank Tenni (saxophone) and Don Henderson (rhythm guitar).

Coming originally from a solid musical Jazz background, The Thunderbirds did not have too much trouble making a transition to the early rhythm and blues styles of the early rock 'n' roll bands and popular American artists, such as Little Richard, Ray Charles, Big ,Joe Turner and Larry Williams.

Early material popularised by The T-Birds (as they were affectionately known with Melbourne audiences) drew heavily on converted Be-Bop tunes and riffs, with vocals built around the style of artists like Louis Prima, The Treniers and Freddie Bell and The Bellboys.

The band's first ever performance was on 29th August, 1957 when they opened their own dance at the Progress Hall, Ascot Vale West. The dance ran for a couple of months until the police closed it down as was the fate of so many other rock 'n' roll dances at the time.

The Thunderbirds had a falling out after entering a "Battle Of The Bands' at the Maison de Luxe in Elwood which was won by the resident group, The Henri Bource All Stars and did not work again until early 1958 when the remaining members were approached by Kevin McLellan to play at the dance he ran at the Ormond RSL. The band at that time comprised Laurie Bell, Harold Frith, Mickey Borg, Murray Robertson (piano), Peter Robinson (bass), Billy Hamilton (saxophone) and singer Tommy Clarke.

As a consequence, Kevin McLellan became the group's manager, running dances at Prahran RSL, Atherton Hall, Oakleigh and the Carnegie Memorial Hall, It was here that Colin Cook sat in with the band on alto sax. and baritone sax and as a result of this impromptu performance, Colin was invited to join the band.

The band's first recordings were made in 1958 at A.W.A. Studios, Melbourne, but were never released and remained on acetate until recently when one of these recordings, Bell's Boogie made it's way onto The Thunderbirds 1998 release on the Canetoad label, "The Thunderbirds", complete with clicks and hiss, However, these recordings paved the way for later recordings on Festival Records' Rex label.

When the band moved to Earl's Court, St Kilda, Graeme Lyall joined the group on tenor sax and the line-up at that time included vocalists, Billy Owens, Billy O'Rourke and Judy Cannon as well as Henri Bource on saxophone. The line-up contained three saxes on stage producing quite an amazing sound. This was unheard of for an Australian rock'n roll band although this was a little more common in the States.

It was this line-up, minus Henri Bource, that went to Sydney to lay-down tracks for Rex Records which at the time included Dig Richards and The RJ's on it's roster. The group recorded a couple of 7" EPs featuring Graeme Lyall on Peter Gunn and vocals by Judy and the two Billys. Graeme Lyall left at about this time and was not included on the publicity photograph for Rex Records which features the current line-up of Harold Frith, Murray Robertson, Henri Bource, Laurie Bell and Peter Robinson, but, for some reason, does not include any of the vocalists. This remains a little bit of a mystery.

Another well known Australian artist to take pride of place in The Thunderbird' s lineup is Noel Watson who was invited to loin the band after winning a talent quest held at Earl's Court. In fact, the number of different personnel changes from the group's formation until today has resulted in 6 saxophonists, 3 pianists, 3 guitarists, 2 bassists and 1 drummer plus a never ending stream of vocalists.

The Thunderbirds quickly became Melbourne's premier rock 'n' roll band in the late 50s and early 60s and were heavily in demand for concerts as well as recording and backing up Australia's fledgling and now famous stars including Johnny Chester, Johnny O'Keefe, Merv Benton, Betty McQuade, Noel Watson and Normie Rowe. Some of the international acts they have appeared with include Roy Orbison, Dion, Jack Scott, Fabian, Ray Peterson and Helen Shapiro.

Johnny Chester had been running a dance at the Preston Town Hall which Kevin McLellan took over and it became the biggest dance in town apart from Earl's Court. The Thunderbirds were later to record one of their Saturday night performances at the Preston Town Hall featuring their instrumentals and vocals by Murray Robertson together with vocalists Johnny Chester, Jillian Brickley and Noel Watson for the W & G label who released it as the. album "Quite A Party" on their GEM label.

The group continued to perform and record on the W & G label up until the mid -60s when they disbanded as so many other rock 'n' roll bands did when the British Beat invasion took place, but, all the members continued to contribute to the industry in individual roles, playing, singing, arranging, performing "live" and making records with contemporary artists such as Russell Morris, John Farnham, Olivia Newton-John, Cliff Richard and The Seekers.

At the suggestion of promoter, Greg Lynch, in 1996, Harold Frith, Laurie Bell, Henri Bource, Peter Robinson and Murray Robertson got together for a one off concert at The Elvis Presley Fan Club dance at the Moorabbin Town Hall. The reception the guys received was so enthusiastic that further concerts were booked including a second "reunion" concert at which I had the pleasure of attending to see far myself these rock 'n roll legends which I had never had the opportunity to see "live" before, being just a little nipper when the group was in it's "heyday".

It was very clear to me that the band had not lost any of their touch and it was hard to believe that the band had not played together for so long. As Peter Robinson, the group 's bass player, put it, "We started jamming and it fell into place so easily. It sounded so good we decided to cut a brand new album" and so, in 1997, The Thunderbirds once more entered the recording studio to cut a swag of recordings- some "old", some "new". Faithful reworking of The Thunderbird classics and more music of the 50s given the T-birds own treatment.

What is pleasing is that the recordings were made in an "almost" live situation with the whole band in the studio at the same time in much the same way as their earlier recordings.

Today, The Thunderbirds are enjoying a much deserved renaissance and are packing `em in everywhere they perform, playing to "old" fans as well as "new". Their popularity is such that their new CD "The Thunderbirds" is selling like "hot cakes" and a further "live" CD and video are set for release shortly, If you haven't had the opportunity to catch the band in action then do so as soon as you can. You won't be disappointed.