The 69'ers
Encyclopedia
The 69'ers were a well known Australia
n rock/pop/jug/country band formed in Sydney
in 1969. They released two albums and a number of singles. As well they toured extensively in Australia and appeared at the Sunbury Rock Festival in 1973 and 1974. They were known for their comedy, and for dressing up bizarrely on stage.
The 69'ers were originally formed as an acoustic jug band. Founding member Francis Butler, (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, kazoo) had previously been in a group called Lepers Profound for about a year. The first line-up, along with Francis, included bassist Alex Smith (later of rock band Bullett), washboard player Malcolm Billdream and guitarist Graham Coop.
They first drew attention to themselves in a rock band contest in mid-1969. They placed in the contest, the "New Sounds of '69” and gained a contract to record with Martin Erdman, who ran the independent Du Monde label. By this time the band had acquired Paul Wylde on keyboard. They soon released their debut single, "On the Road Again" / "Cup of Tea Take Three". On The Road Again was an Even Dozen Jug Band song, not the Canned Heat
song of the same name.
1970 saw them as a trio, Francis Butler, Brian Bethell (bass, guitar, vocals) and Keith Longman (drums,vocals). With this line-up the band became a popular attraction in and around the Sydney area. In particular they attracted a large cult following playing in the 1066 Wine Bar in Sydney northern beach side suburb of Collaroy.
's Third Union Band and the Original Batterea Heroes and added much to the band.
The 69'ers gained a good reputation for their ability to entertain in the local Sydney pub and wine bar scene. However the band soon gained a reputation in a wider field for entertaining the large crowds at large open air rock festivals around Sydney namely the Odyssey festival at Wallacia (near Sydney) in January 1971 and at the Bungool Festival of Music, near Windsor, which was held over the 1972-1973 New Year weekend. Following these successes, The 69'ers reputation made became known as a must for rock festivals. They also began regularly touring to Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth working the dance and pub circuits in those cities.
song Harry Rag came out in August 1972 (this was also from the album). Dave Ovendon (drums) had joined by this time and, with their former bass player, Brian Bethell rejoining on lead guitar, this made them a four piece line-up of Butler, Bethell, Knox and Ovendon. This line-up played a much applauded set at the second annual Sunbury festival in January 1973. Their closing song, Harry Rag, had by then become their trade mark song although they never charted with it. In fact wherever the band played there was always a call from the crowd to "Play Harry Rag!". Following this performance the Melbourne Truth newspaper ran an article describing them as the Clown Princes of Sunbury with the article entitled "Are they obscene?" and ran a competition asking if readers thought they were indeed, obscene. The accusation was based primarily on the very explicit lyrics of the song "The 69’ers Theme", played often due to its popularity with the crowd. The live version of "Harry Rag" appeared on the Mushroom compilation triple live album, The Great Australian Rock Festival Sunbury 1973 (April 1973) and they re-recorded version of "Harry Rag" (recorded with the latter line-up by John French at TCS Studios, Melbourne) later that month.
) replaced Peter Jarman in November 1973.
The two bands had somewhat diversified styles. Both retained an image for crazy and often crude humor, however Francis' version stuck more to their original jug-band style with more country and rock influences, Francis utilising the chiming sounds of his Rickenbacker 12-string guitar in the country tinged songs. Francis was a prolific songwriter too although his recorded output did not reflect it, so the band performed many originals, the majority written by him. Peter Knox's version had a more jazz-orientated style doing revivals of 1920s to 1950s swing and doo-wop songs and jazz classics together with many of the bands old favourites.
By October 1973 ,the Francis Butler line-up had reverted to the name of just The 69’ers and continued to tour and play throughout the East Coast of Australia and South Australia, while Peter Knox's 69’ers had changed their name to Omnibus, then a month later again to Locoweed, eventually breaking up in early 1974.
A live album called simply Francis Butler's 69’ers Live, was released around this time. Recorded at Sunbury '73 with the Butler, Knox, Bethell and Ovenden lineup the album cover only featured Francis photo and there were no lineup credits. It had Harry Rag on it again, of course and so in all Harry Rag was released on vinyl six times in three versions, including one on a compilation album. Unfortunately this did not translate into chart success and they always remained a popular "cult" band. Their two albums provide a good example their repertoire however. Terry Stacey left shortly after their success at Sunbury. Clive Wharton joined the band shortly thereafter on bass and backing vocals, he remained in the band until August 1975 when he, Ray Ferguson and Rob Cody formed Flash Harry's Iceberg and were replaced by the members below.
The final lineup was Francis Butler (vocals, guitar), Ian Cameron (guitar), Tom Callaghan (drums) and Lindsay Osborne (bass). In December 1975 their roadie died in a fire in Kings Cross, some "friends" ripped them off by running up costly petrol bills at the band's expense doing outside jobs in the bands truck and the band's rented truck was seriously damaged. They finally broke up in February 1976.
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/pop/jug/country band formed in 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...
in 1969. They released two albums and a number of singles. As well they toured extensively in Australia and appeared at the Sunbury Rock Festival in 1973 and 1974. They were known for their comedy, and for dressing up bizarrely on stage.
Early years
The 69'ers were originally formed as an acoustic jug band. Founding member Francis Butler, (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, kazoo) had previously been in a group called Lepers Profound for about a year. The first line-up, along with Francis, included bassist Alex Smith (later of rock band Bullett), washboard player Malcolm Billdream and guitarist Graham Coop.
They first drew attention to themselves in a rock band contest in mid-1969. They placed in the contest, the "New Sounds of '69” and gained a contract to record with Martin Erdman, who ran the independent Du Monde label. By this time the band had acquired Paul Wylde on keyboard. They soon released their debut single, "On the Road Again" / "Cup of Tea Take Three". On The Road Again was an Even Dozen Jug Band song, not the Canned Heat
Canned Heat
Canned Heat is a blues-rock/boogie rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965. The group has been noted for its own interpretations of blues material as well as for efforts to promote the interest in this type of music and its original artists...
song of the same name.
1970 saw them as a trio, Francis Butler, Brian Bethell (bass, guitar, vocals) and Keith Longman (drums,vocals). With this line-up the band became a popular attraction in and around the Sydney area. In particular they attracted a large cult following playing in the 1066 Wine Bar in Sydney northern beach side suburb of Collaroy.
The 69'ers Album
They issued a second single a year later, in December 1971, Morning Blues/Push Bike Hood. Both tracks had been taken from their debut album for Du Monde, The 69’ers Album. This album was produced by Martin Erdman and included four band originals and a diverse range of covers. This album included session contributions from then visiting US well known country session player Buddy Emmons (steel guitar), jazz veteran Col Nolan (piano), Keith Harris (banjo) and later 69'ers members Peter Knox and Dave Ovendon. Peter Knox (bass) joined The 69’ers as a full-time member in 1971. He was already a veteran of inner city Sydney bands such as Red McKelvieRed McKelvie
Red McKelvie is a New Zealand singer-songwriter-instrumentalist and session musician who has been described as "Australasia's greatest pop guitarist"....
's Third Union Band and the Original Batterea Heroes and added much to the band.
The 69'ers gained a good reputation for their ability to entertain in the local Sydney pub and wine bar scene. However the band soon gained a reputation in a wider field for entertaining the large crowds at large open air rock festivals around Sydney namely the Odyssey festival at Wallacia (near Sydney) in January 1971 and at the Bungool Festival of Music, near Windsor, which was held over the 1972-1973 New Year weekend. Following these successes, The 69'ers reputation made became known as a must for rock festivals. They also began regularly touring to Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth working the dance and pub circuits in those cities.
Sunbury 1973 Rock Festival success
The band's third single, a cover of the Ray DaviesRay Davies
Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
song Harry Rag came out in August 1972 (this was also from the album). Dave Ovendon (drums) had joined by this time and, with their former bass player, Brian Bethell rejoining on lead guitar, this made them a four piece line-up of Butler, Bethell, Knox and Ovendon. This line-up played a much applauded set at the second annual Sunbury festival in January 1973. Their closing song, Harry Rag, had by then become their trade mark song although they never charted with it. In fact wherever the band played there was always a call from the crowd to "Play Harry Rag!". Following this performance the Melbourne Truth newspaper ran an article describing them as the Clown Princes of Sunbury with the article entitled "Are they obscene?" and ran a competition asking if readers thought they were indeed, obscene. The accusation was based primarily on the very explicit lyrics of the song "The 69’ers Theme", played often due to its popularity with the crowd. The live version of "Harry Rag" appeared on the Mushroom compilation triple live album, The Great Australian Rock Festival Sunbury 1973 (April 1973) and they re-recorded version of "Harry Rag" (recorded with the latter line-up by John French at TCS Studios, Melbourne) later that month.
The split
In April 1973 Brian Bethell, Peter Knox and Dave Ovendon removed founding member and leader Francis Butler from the band and, adding guitarist Tony Burkys (ex Original Battersea Heroes), renamed themselves "Peter Knox's New Improved 69ers". Francis Butler responded by forming another version of The 69'ers, which initially operated under the name of Francis Butler's Original 69’ers. This line-up was made up of Ray Ferguson (guitar, vocals, flute, kazoo; Terry Stacey (bass, vocals, kazoo; ex-Wildwood, Afrika) and Peter Jarman (drums; ex UK Flowerpot Men, Denny Laine). Drummer John `Ernie' McInerney (ex Foreday Riders, Company CaineCompany Caine
Company Caine, also known as Co. Caine and Company Kane, is an Australian progressive rock band of the 1970s. The band was formed in Melbourne in 1970 with member as follows:* Gulliver Smith * Russell Smith * Jeremy Noone 1970-71, 1975...
) replaced Peter Jarman in November 1973.
The two bands had somewhat diversified styles. Both retained an image for crazy and often crude humor, however Francis' version stuck more to their original jug-band style with more country and rock influences, Francis utilising the chiming sounds of his Rickenbacker 12-string guitar in the country tinged songs. Francis was a prolific songwriter too although his recorded output did not reflect it, so the band performed many originals, the majority written by him. Peter Knox's version had a more jazz-orientated style doing revivals of 1920s to 1950s swing and doo-wop songs and jazz classics together with many of the bands old favourites.
By October 1973 ,the Francis Butler line-up had reverted to the name of just The 69’ers and continued to tour and play throughout the East Coast of Australia and South Australia, while Peter Knox's 69’ers had changed their name to Omnibus, then a month later again to Locoweed, eventually breaking up in early 1974.
Sunbury '74
In April 1974, The 69'ers, led by Francis Butler with Ray Ferguson, Terry Stacey and Ernie McInerney performed at Sunbury '74. Francis headed out into the 30,000 strong crowd to croon "I'm Confessin" (That I Love You)" personally to them via a 100 metre mic cord. They were encored by the audience as they had been in 1973, playing of course, the obligatory Harry Rag. To climax their act they had a cream pie fight where all and sundry were splattered, themselves, compere Molly Meldrum roadies, sound crew and assorted others.A live album called simply Francis Butler's 69’ers Live, was released around this time. Recorded at Sunbury '73 with the Butler, Knox, Bethell and Ovenden lineup the album cover only featured Francis photo and there were no lineup credits. It had Harry Rag on it again, of course and so in all Harry Rag was released on vinyl six times in three versions, including one on a compilation album. Unfortunately this did not translate into chart success and they always remained a popular "cult" band. Their two albums provide a good example their repertoire however. Terry Stacey left shortly after their success at Sunbury. Clive Wharton joined the band shortly thereafter on bass and backing vocals, he remained in the band until August 1975 when he, Ray Ferguson and Rob Cody formed Flash Harry's Iceberg and were replaced by the members below.
Last lineup
Later that year the band issued its last single, "Flash" / "Back Seat Drivin'" on the independent Earth label. From then on the band faded from the limelight although still working regularly around Sydney and doing country NSW gigs. The members in the line up that released this single were Francis Butler, Ray Ferguson, Clive Wharton and John McInerney. Later in '74, John McInerney left to join Richard Clapton, John was replaced by Rob Harris who stayed for a few months only to be replaced by Rob Cody. Ferguson, Wharton and Cody left in August '75 to form Flash Harry's Iceberg.The final lineup was Francis Butler (vocals, guitar), Ian Cameron (guitar), Tom Callaghan (drums) and Lindsay Osborne (bass). In December 1975 their roadie died in a fire in Kings Cross, some "friends" ripped them off by running up costly petrol bills at the band's expense doing outside jobs in the bands truck and the band's rented truck was seriously damaged. They finally broke up in February 1976.
Singles
- "On the Road" / "Cup of Tea Take Three" - 1970
- "Morning Blues" / "Push Bike Hood" - 1971
- "Harry Rag" / "Happiness is Just for Me" - 1972
- "Harry Rag" / "Blood Flash" / "Rag Mama" - 1973
- "Flash" / "Back Seat Drivin'" - 1974
Compilation albumss
- The Great Australian Rock Festival (compilation albumCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
) - 1973 - "Harry Rag" (one track only) - So You Wanna Be a Rock'n Roll Star (compilation album) - 1988 - "On The Road Again" (one track only)
- The Du Monde Years - 2006 - "Go Back Home", "Harry Rag", "On The Road Again", "Harry Rag" (live)