Harvey James
Encyclopedia
Harvey William James was an Australia
n rock
guitarist
. He was a member of the bands Mississippi
, Ariel
, Sherbet
and The Party Boys
. Born in Sheffield, England as Harvey James Harrop, he migrated with his parents to Australia in the early 1960s.
, which also featured Beeb Birtles
, Graham Goble Charlie Tumahai
and Derek Pellicci
on drums. He played on the band's hit single "Will I" after replacing Kerryn Tolhurst and was part of their appearance at Sunbury Rock Festival in 1974.
Mississippi sailed to the UK in April 1974, working on the Sitmar Line ship Fairsky but broke up after arriving. Birtles and Goble reconstituted the band, with Pellicci, in early 1975 after their return to Australia, recruiting new members and changing the name to Little River Band
.
After his return to Australia, James joined progressive rock group Ariel
, with Mike Rudd and Bill Putt and returned to the UK with them in 1974, where they recorded their second album Rock & Roll Scars at Abbey Road Studios
. He remained with Ariel until early 1975, by which time the band had added a fifth member, singer-guitarist Glyn Mason.
James shot to national prominence in Australia in early 1975, when he left Ariel to replace founding member Clive Shakespeare
in the chart-topping Australian pop band Sherbet
. His first recording with them was their biggest hit, "Howzat", which became an Australian #1 and made the Top 5 in the UK Singles Chart
. He remained with the group until they split in 1979, but he reunited with them (alongside original guitarist Clive Shakespeare) for several Sherbet reunions. He also participated in a reunion of the second line-up of Ariel in 1998. James was an original member of The Party Boys
, playing on their first two albums.
in July 2010. A benefit gig, 'Gimme That Guitar', was organised by friends and supporters, taking place in Melbourne
on 18 November 2010. A second concert was planned for Sydney
on 17 February 2011.
James died on 15 January 2011 aged 58. Sherbet lead singer Daryl Braithwaite
posted a message at his website. James is survived by his wife, Fay, sons Gabriel and Joshua, and daughter Alexandra.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. He was a member of the bands Mississippi
Mississippi (band)
Mississippi was an Australian band , which featured some big names in Australian rock music, Graeham Goble, Beeb Birtles and Kerryn Tolhurst...
, Ariel
Ariel (band)
Ariel was an Australian progressive rock band based around the duo Mike Rudd and Bill Putt, who formed the band in 1973 after the breakup of their previous group Spectrum . The original Ariel line-up was Rudd , Putt , Tim Gaze , Nigel Macara and John Mills...
, Sherbet
Sherbet (band)
Sherbet was one of the most prominent and successful Australian rock bands of the 1970s. Their biggest singles were "Summer Love" and "Howzat" , both reaching number one in Australia. "Howzat" was also a top 5 hit in the UK. Though the band's success in the U.S...
and The Party Boys
The Party Boys
The Party Boys was an Australian rock band with floating membership that existed from 1982 until 1992. Initially established by Mondo Rock bass player Paul Christie as a part-time venture for professional musicians with downtime from other projects, the group has boasted members from acts such as...
. Born in Sheffield, England as Harvey James Harrop, he migrated with his parents to Australia in the early 1960s.
Career
James' first major group was the early 1970s band MississippiMississippi (band)
Mississippi was an Australian band , which featured some big names in Australian rock music, Graeham Goble, Beeb Birtles and Kerryn Tolhurst...
, which also featured Beeb Birtles
Beeb Birtles
Beeb Birtles , is a Dutch / Australian musician, one of the founding members of the Little River Band....
, Graham Goble Charlie Tumahai
Charlie Tumahai
Charles Turu Tumahai was a New Zealand singer, bass player and songwriter who was a member of several noted rock groups in New Zealand, Australia and the UK...
and Derek Pellicci
Derek Pellicci
Derek Allan Pellicci is an Australian pop music drummer. He is best known as a founding member of Little River Band...
on drums. He played on the band's hit single "Will I" after replacing Kerryn Tolhurst and was part of their appearance at Sunbury Rock Festival in 1974.
Mississippi sailed to the UK in April 1974, working on the Sitmar Line ship Fairsky but broke up after arriving. Birtles and Goble reconstituted the band, with Pellicci, in early 1975 after their return to Australia, recruiting new members and changing the name to Little River Band
Little River Band
Little River Band is an Australian rock band, formed in Melbourne in early 1975.The group chose the name after passing a road sign leading to the Victorian township of Little River, near Geelong, on the way to a performance. Little River Band enjoyed sustained commercial success in not only...
.
After his return to Australia, James joined progressive rock group Ariel
Ariel (band)
Ariel was an Australian progressive rock band based around the duo Mike Rudd and Bill Putt, who formed the band in 1973 after the breakup of their previous group Spectrum . The original Ariel line-up was Rudd , Putt , Tim Gaze , Nigel Macara and John Mills...
, with Mike Rudd and Bill Putt and returned to the UK with them in 1974, where they recorded their second album Rock & Roll Scars at Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
. He remained with Ariel until early 1975, by which time the band had added a fifth member, singer-guitarist Glyn Mason.
James shot to national prominence in Australia in early 1975, when he left Ariel to replace founding member Clive Shakespeare
Clive Shakespeare
Clive Richard Shakespeare is an English-born Australian guitarist and producer and he is a co-founder of Sherbet which had commercial success in the 1970s including their number one singles, "Summer Love" in 1975 and "Howzat" in 1976.-Biography:Clive Shakespeare was born in England in 1949 and his...
in the chart-topping Australian pop band Sherbet
Sherbet (band)
Sherbet was one of the most prominent and successful Australian rock bands of the 1970s. Their biggest singles were "Summer Love" and "Howzat" , both reaching number one in Australia. "Howzat" was also a top 5 hit in the UK. Though the band's success in the U.S...
. His first recording with them was their biggest hit, "Howzat", which became an Australian #1 and made the Top 5 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. He remained with the group until they split in 1979, but he reunited with them (alongside original guitarist Clive Shakespeare) for several Sherbet reunions. He also participated in a reunion of the second line-up of Ariel in 1998. James was an original member of The Party Boys
The Party Boys
The Party Boys was an Australian rock band with floating membership that existed from 1982 until 1992. Initially established by Mondo Rock bass player Paul Christie as a part-time venture for professional musicians with downtime from other projects, the group has boasted members from acts such as...
, playing on their first two albums.
Illness and death
James was diagnosed with lung cancerLung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
in July 2010. A benefit gig, 'Gimme That Guitar', was organised by friends and supporters, taking place in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
on 18 November 2010. A second concert was planned for Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
on 17 February 2011.
James died on 15 January 2011 aged 58. Sherbet lead singer Daryl Braithwaite
Daryl Braithwaite
Daryl Braithwaite is an Australian pop singer. Best known as the lead vocalist of Sherbet, Braithwaite has also sustained a successful solo career, placing 15 singles in the Australian top 40, including the No...
posted a message at his website. James is survived by his wife, Fay, sons Gabriel and Joshua, and daughter Alexandra.