Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 2:48 am Post subject: Do you remember the Easybeats?
Hi, my name's Lindy. I'm working on a documentary for SBS on the 1960's Australian band the Easybeats. They were all immigrants and were the first Australian band to have international success. The original drummer, Gordon 'Snowy' Fleet was in the East Hills Hostel c. 1963/64 with his wife Maureen and young daughter Mandy. Two other members, George Young and Harry Vanda (Johannas Vanderberg) were in the Villawood Migrant Hostel at the same time. They used to rehearse at the Villawood Migrant Hostel Recreation Hall and Wash House and play at clubs around the Bankstown area. I would love to hear from anyone who knew the band or remembers their early days. Did anyone have a band themselves or were there talent quests/dances at East Hills Hostel? Photos from that era would be fantastic! _________________ Lindy Boylan
Researcher/Archival
FRIDAY ON MY MIND
Beyond Productions Pty Ltd
02 9437 2058
Joined: 24 Aug 2004 Posts: 883 Location: Great Harwood, Blackburn. UK
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 6:22 pm Post subject:
Hi Lindy, welcome to our forums.
I�ve got to say, that�s a very interesting piece of information and I hope it�ll draw in a lot of interest.
I vaguely remember the name and certainly remember hearing some of there songs �after searching and listening�.
There are a few of their tracks on youtube and I�ve inserted one here as to jog everyone�s memories.
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:54 pm Post subject: The Easybeats
Hi Len,
Yes, it's a great story. 'Friday On My Mind' was a real working class anthem and recorded by many big names. Vanda and Young became incredibly successful songwriters/producers for bands such as AC/DC (George's younger brothers Angus and Malcolm Young of AC/DC were also at Villawood), the epic 'Evie' trilogy for Stevie Wright's solo career, 'Love is in the Air' for John Paul Young (no relation). I'm sure there are ex residents out there who remember the Easybeats and have stories, memories and hopefully even photos! I look forward to hearing from them. Many thanks, Lindy _________________ Lindy Boylan
Researcher/Archival
FRIDAY ON MY MIND
Beyond Productions Pty Ltd
02 9437 2058
I remember the Easybeats well. We would hitch hike up to Sydney on the weekend if we knew where they were playing.
I thought they were terrific and believe that they were the vanguard of the Australian Rock scene, any band that came after them had to be good.
Shame about Little Stevie though.
Where they any good or were they just a "Flash n The Pan "
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:33 am Post subject: The Easybeats
Roy wrote:
Hi lindy
I remember the Easybeats well. We would hitch hike up to Sydney on the weekend if we knew where they were playing.
I thought they were terrific and believe that they were the vanguard of the Australian Rock scene, any band that came after them had to be good.
Shame about Little Stevie though.
Where they any good or were they just a "Flash n The Pan "
Regards
Roy
Hi Roy,
They definitely were the vanguard of Australian rock and it was anything but 'easy' - but Vanda and Young were anything but a flash in the pan!! Stevie was a truly great talent, I'm glad you have fond memories. I'm hoping to find someone who knew them personally at Villawood - wish me luck!
Regards,
Lindy _________________ Lindy Boylan
Researcher/Archival
FRIDAY ON MY MIND
Beyond Productions Pty Ltd
02 9437 2058
I didn't know The Easybeats, however I do remember a very disgruntled brother of Stievie's at Lidcombe swimming pool. Poor kid was hounded by a bunch of girls hoping to get well in. Ralph I believe his name was, wonder how he coped.
Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 152 Location: Melbourne
Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 7:19 am Post subject: Easybeat film
There is a short film made about the Easybeats called, funnily enought "Friday on my mind" Its held in the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. The blerb says they were from Cabramatta Hostel. Its extremely expensive to hire from them as an individual, as they primarily lend to schools and other major research organisations. But its out there and someone might have a video that was accidently copied.......... Or try the local council libraries. Richard. _________________ East Hills Hostel Aug 1966 to 1968. Nissen Huts 81 and 83d
Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:21 am Post subject: East Hills bands
Although I had left the East Hills Hostel in 1955 for the East Hills Naval Estate - dad having joined the RAN in England after being in the RN - one should not forget that Col Joye (and the Joy Boys) were already famous and living just on the other side of the Georges River.
We used to see him from time to time getting his very greasy hair cut in the local barbers opposite East Hills railway station. In fact my brother (only about 8 at the time) got into a lot of trouble when after sitting next to him in the chair advised the barber that he wanted a crew-cut instead of what mum had instructed.
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:34 pm Post subject: Easybeats in Womes Weekly at Easthills Laundry
Hi,
Im new to the forum and have just read your post.
I used to go & listen to them rehearse, they would practice in our laundry sheds and one day a magazine came into the laundry shed and did an article. I was in the photo sitting just watching & listening to the group practising, Im sure it was Womes Weekly it was 1966-67.
I hope this has been some help.
You can email me if you would like to know more about the times with the Easybeats in the laundry sheds at: [email protected]
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 6:50 pm Post subject: Yes
Hi I am new to the website.
I lived on Broadmeadows hostel between 1964 and 1966. My parents then moved to Moorabin (not sure of spelling) and lived there for another two years before moving back to the UK.
My friend Lynette Kinder and I were great fans of the Easybeats and watched them whenever we could. I was friends with Snowie as I am also a scouser. And believe it or not many years later I was in a pub in London chatting to an elderly lady who turned out to be his mother!!!
At these dance halls I also watched Olivia Newton John and a woman called Pat, not sure of her surname.
Happy days! _________________ Health is better than weath
Her name was Pat Carroll and she was actually Olivia Newton John's sister in law at the time,they later went over to England and opened Koala Blue together _________________ Carol Myers Altona Hostel Dec 1962 - June 1964
Joined: 12 Nov 2009 Posts: 2 Location: ALBION PARK
Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 1:53 am Post subject: Re: Do you remember the Easybeats?
Lindy Boylan wrote:
Hi, my name's Lindy. I'm working on a documentary for SBS on the 1960's Australian band the Easybeats. They were all immigrants and were the first Australian band to have international success. The original drummer, Gordon 'Snowy' Fleet was in the East Hills Hostel c. 1963/64 with his wife Maureen and young daughter Mandy. Two other members, George Young and Harry Vanda (Johannas Vanderberg) were in the Villawood Migrant Hostel at the same time. They used to rehearse at the Villawood Migrant Hostel Recreation Hall and Wash House and play at clubs around the Bankstown area. I would love to hear from anyone who knew the band or remembers their early days. Did anyone have a band themselves or were there talent quests/dances at East Hills Hostel? Photos from that era would be fantastic!
I remember the Easy beats, they came to Wollong a few times and played at the 'Pioneer Hall' They were a guest act of the loacl band 'The Tornadoes' Must have been around 1966 or 1967 I think. I may have a photo of myself with snowy and possibly of the other guys...I heard that Dick Diamond was dead, don't know how true this is. Also Stevie Wright took part in a aussie production called 'Long way to the Top' though a mere shadow of his former self.
regards,
Evelyn Smith
Joined: 01 Dec 2009 Posts: 68 Location: Sunshine Coast Queensland
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 10:16 am Post subject: Easybeats
I remember them so very well, I first met George Young and Stevie Wright when they just walked into Burwood Hostel as Stevie lived near by he had come to Oz via Big Brother Movement. The band did practice at Heathcote and East Hills Hostels in the Laundry rooms. Then they started a gig at Beatle Village in Oxford Street Sydney. A million years later I met Stevie in Nowra. Snowy was the drummer George Harry and Dick on guitar and Stevie singing we loved them. Harry ended up renting a place in Burwood.
We used to see the Easybeats play a lot. From small dives like The Bowl in Castlereagh St, Sydney to the Sydney Stadium where they supported PJ Proby. They blew PJ away and the fans treated them as if they were the headliners. I had not seen anything like "Easyfever" since I saw The Beatles perform in Amsterdam in 1964.
Harry Vanda was married to a girl from the naval estate. She was the sister of my friend Phil Higgins. Harry, a Dutchman like me, was a regular visitor at Phil's house. Sometimes one or more of the other band members were there as well. Occasionally we saw Harry and Snowy with their families at Woronara Dam along the Heathcote Road.
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