Prior to joining LRB in 1981, Nelson who grew up in Illinois and moved to Los Angeles in 1978 played with musicians including Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina. On the road they traveled separately. The founders were Glenn Shorrock (ex-The Twilights, ex-Axiom), Graham Goble (ex-Mississippi), Beeb Birtles (ex-Zoot, ex-Mississippi) and Derek Pellicci (ex-Mississippi). Housden cited the cover of the trios new live CD Full Circle, which referred to the act as the original voices of Little River Band. Housden tours with a line-up of Little River Band that does not include any of its former members.Plans to release the CD in June were delayed after Housden initiated district court action in Orlando, Florida. None of the musicians now performing as the Little River Band are original members. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, A daily briefing on what matters in the music industry. In May, 2020 an online museum devoted to the original members of Little River Band was launched. In May, 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association, as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named "Cool Change" as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time. It does not store any personal data. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Three original members of Australian act Little River Band have won the right to advertise themselves as the founders and songwriters of the 70s hitmakers. The animosity remained, with the original members doing their best to sabotage major appearances and anniversary celebrations undertaken by the touring version. Founder members Beeb Birtles and Graeham Goble had left the group. The last original member left in 1977, and the last Australian retired from the road in 2006. The self-titled album was later released in the States, where the opening track, "It's A Long Way There", moved steadily up the charts to peak at #28. The remainder of the 2000s was marred by a knotty confusion of lawsuits between the two parties, with Nelson ultimately retaining the trademark rights and continuing to tour his version of Little River Band into the next decade while the original members played the hits under their own names. The Vogue in Indianapolis is one the most popular and storied music venues in the Midwest. About. The revolving stage door kept spinning and in 1996 as Shorrock and long-time bassist Wayne Nelson also left Little River Band. This artist doesn't have any past events at The Vogue. In May, 2020 an online museum devoted to the original members of Little River Band was launched. In September 2015, Little River Band were named as Casino Musical Entertainer of the year at the Annual G2E Awards ceremony, at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. We have 25-year-olds, 21-year-olds, listening to music on a way wider spectrum than you or I did in the 70s, so were basically crossing into a third generation of fans.. The legendary Beatles producer, George Martin produced Little River Band's next effort, 1981's "Time Exposure", scoring another pair of U.S. Top Ten smashes with "Night Owls" (#6) and "Take It Easy on Me" (#10). Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Although the band as fans had known it called it day, Housden and Nelson picked up the torch and carried on as perennial touring act under the Little River Band name, coming under fire in 2002 from Birtles, Shorrock, and Goble, who were attempting a reunion tour playing the band's early hits and hoping to use some version of the group's name. I always say life doesnt change, just the toys do. Weve always had a heavy vocal influence, both vocal and guitar harmonies., Those distinctive harmonies led the late Glenn Frey of The Eagles to call LRB the best singing band in the world.. Wheatleys first-hand experiences of the rip-offs in the 1960s music scene, combined with his subsequent experience working in music management in Britain and the United States in the early 1970s, enabled him to help LRB become the first Australian group to enjoy sustained commercial and chart success in the United States. Check out our 2023 shows! We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Housden, who bought the rights to the name after the original band members left in the 80s, claimed that Birtles, Shorrock and Goble had breached a 2002 deed of settlement on the use of the name. Where did the Little River Band originate? As of 2017, none of the musicians performing as Little River Band were original members. Were trying to be relevant and be creative, to complete the history of the band by playing the hits as necessary and the new songs to keep us fresh, he said. How did Little River Band lose their name? The classic lineup of the band (Birtles, Shorrock, Goble, Pellicci, Briggs and McArdle) were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame at the 18th Annual ARIA Music Awards of 2004. Members include Wayne Nelson. Two former members have died, Barry Sullivan in October 2003 (aged 57) and Steve Prestwich in January 2011 (aged 56). Over 30 different people have performed as part of this group as the result of numerous personnel changes. Housden cited the cover of the trios new live CD Full Circle, which referred to the act as the original voices of Little River Band. Housden tours with a line-up of Little River Band that does not include any of its former members.Plans to release the CD in June were delayed after Housden initiated district court action in Orlando, Florida. Media. WebLittle River Band were huge in Australia but also the first Australian rock band to make it in the United States scoring 13 American Top 40 hits, selling more than 25 million records. More concert performances in the US followed, and in 1977 Help Is On Its Way (an Australian number one single) and Happy Anniversary[4] both narrowly missed the US Top 10. WebLittle River Band have had over thirty official members since their inception. Little River Band is an Australian rock band formed in Melbourne in 1975 and named after a road sign for the Victorian township of Little River, near Geelong. From 1978 until 1981, Little River Band achieved six consecutive US Top 10 singles with Reminiscing, Lady, Lonesome Loser, Cool Change, The Night Owls and Take It Easy On Me. WebTrivia (5) Co-founded by Beeb Birtles. In May, 2020, major music and streaming platforms such as iTunes began recognizing the original Little River Band as a separate entity to the latter day band. On June 25th, 2019 The New York Times Magazine listed Little River Band among hundreds of artists whose material was destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire. Since its formation, the band has been through numerous lineup changes and currently includes bassist and lead vocalist Wayne Nelson (from 1980 to 1996, and since 1999), keyboardist and vocalist Chris Marion (since 2004), drummer and vocalist Ryan Ricks (since 2012), guitarist and vocalist Colin Whinnery (since 2018), and guitarist and vocalist Bruce Wallace (since 2022). From their first album on, front-liners Shorrock, Birtles, and Goble recorded separately. he said. Little River BandWhen: 8 p.m. FridayWhere: The Palace Theatre, GreensburgTickets: $49.75-$69.75 (additional fee at the door)Details: 724-836-8000 or thepalacetheatre.org. All tickets from the original date will be honored. In the 1980s, members included John Farnham, David Hirschfelder, Stephen Housden, Wayne Nelson and Steve Prestwich. Australia pricked up its ears, but America was in shock, as this still-successful band moved toward replacing the singer of all its big hits with someone who to them was an unknown. Theyre very emotional songs that have been getting standing ovations, so its very rewarding to put them up on stage, he said. WebAlthough the early lineup shuffled around a bit, by the time Little River Band released their self-titled debut in late 1975, the band consisted of mainstays Shorrock (vocals), Birtles However, the group continued to bleed personnel and by 1998, no original members remained involved in the band and the legal rights to the name were claimed by '80s members Stephen Housden and Wayne Nelson. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". a 2016 CD of nine re-recorded hits and two new songs; and The Big Box from 2017, a box set of 6 CDs and a DVD with live footage from the LRB 40th anniversary tour. Reminiscing, written by Goble, was recognised by BMI as one of the most frequently played songs in the history of American radio, with more than four million plays to its credit. By this point, Little River Band were on a roll and 1979's First Under the Wire was no exception, launching another pair of hits with "Cool Change" and "Lonesome Loser.". His most successful band was the Little River Band who has sold over 25 million records and had 13 Top 40 hits in the US. Be the first to know about our exclusive events! These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. WebThe predominantly American band that tours posing as the Little River Band today has zero original members and none of the people who wrote their biggest hits. The band boasted years of experience and chose the U.S. west coast harmony and guitar sound as their major influence. Although the dramas and infighting of the group's latter years have taken their toll, the Little River Band legacy as a whole has fared well, and the group's induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame and the lasting power of now-classic hits like "Cool Change," "Reminiscing," and "Help Is on Its Way" continued to cement their reputation as one of Australia's most significant bands. In the States, the next Little River Band album, titled "Diamantina Cocktail", compiled material from their first two Australian LPs, and proved to be their commercial breakthrough, launching the single "Help Is On Its Way" to #14. A new lead singer, Steve Wade, signed on, but he dropped out in 1999. The band chose the name while driving along the Princes Freeway to Geelong, Victoria, Australia for an early concert, after passing a sign for the exit to the township of Little River. During one break between American tours, Goble started writing and producing an album for Australian pop legend John Farnham. One of Australia's prominent musical exports of the 1970s, who rose to fame on the strength of their smooth harmonies and mellow country-pop sound. In May, 2020, major music and streaming platforms such as iTunes began recognizing the original Little River Band as a separate entity to the latter day band. Events. 1 Who was the original lead singer of the Little River Band? The group evolved from the harmony-rock group Mississippi in 1975. Preceded by late 1976 European tour dates with Queen and American dates supporting Average White Band, Diamantina Cocktail finally appeared in both countries in the front half of 1977 and proved to be the breakthrough Little River Band were hoping for. By Little River Band (LRB) is an Australian soft rock band from Melbourne, Victoria. Formed in March 1975, the group originally featured lead vocalist Glenn Shorrock, guitarists and vocalists Beeb Birtles and Graeham Goble, lead guitarist Ric Formosa, bassist Roger McLachlan, and drummer Derek Pellicci. Weve been asking at our shows since the pandemic, how many are seeing the band live for the first time. Another version of Little River Band was still touring in 2012, with only Wayne Nelson left over from any hit making line-up. The disagreement over the use of the Little River Band name only recently found itself in Jimmy Fallon to celebrate LRB's 40th anniversary despite the total lack of original members. As of 2017, none of the musicians performing as Little River Band were original members. Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Three original members of Australian act Little River Band have won the right to advertise themselves as the founders and songwriters of the '70s hitmakers. The record was the last to feature McArdale, who subsequently gave away all of his money to move to Australia's Blue Mountains and undertake a three-year Bible study retreat. Hirschfelder and Prestwich also left just as Glen Shorrock returned and the new band soon had another major hit with "Love Is A Bridge", which reached #6, in their homeland and #18 in America. With that in mind, they almost immediately went into the studio, even before the rest of the band had been consolidated. Birtles, Goble, Pellicci, Shorrock, Briggs and McArdle, were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame at the 18th Annual ARIA Music Awards of 2004. WebLittle River Band have had over thirty official members since their inception. tenured member. Request Little River Band Play at The Vogue. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Joining him in the current lineup are keyboardist Chris Marion, lead guitarist Rich Herring, drummer Ryan Ricks and rhythm and lead guitarist Colin Whinnery. During this period McLachlan left the group and was replaced by George McArdle while lead guitarist Formosa was replaced by David Briggs. | The result was called Diamantina Cocktail, produced by John Boylan. 7 Who are the members of Little River Band? Featured. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved. After 1981's George Martin-produced Time Exposure, Shorrock was replaced on vocals by Farnham. This artist doesn't have any upcoming events at The Vogue.Request Little River Band Play at The Vogue. Since the early 2000s, Nelson said, LRB mostly has been a touring band, playing 80 to 100 shows a year. Peter Beckett from Player joined them, touring the States several times. He was opening for LRB with Messinas band when the invitation came. Founder members Beeb Birtles and Graeham Goble had left the group. What happened to the original members of Little River Band? Capitol was to issue the record in the United States and Universal Music had rights for Canada and Europe.In a countersuit by BSG, an Australian judge found the deed was not breached. (LP, Transcription + LP, S/Sided, Transcription). Events. Was the Little River Band on the Middle TV show? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". WebLittle River Band is an Australian soft rock band from Melbourne, Victoria. Youll be able to say that if you take your sweetie to the bands show Friday in Greensburg. They found immediate success in Australia, but individual members had greater ambitions. Details: 724-836-8000 or thepalacetheatre.org. 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. 2020's live album Black Tie featured Little River Band accompanied on-stage by an orchestra, playing early hits as well as some of their contemporary offerings like the record's patriotic single "The Lost and the Lonely," which originally appeared on 2013's Cuts Like a Diamond. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Little River Band have had over thirty official members since their inception. Things began to splinter, though, with the departure of key founding members, singer Glenn Shorrock and guitarist Beeb Birtles, and by 1985, their profile in the U.S. began to dip with a change in both sound and membership. With new vocalist Jon Farnham, Little River Band produced 1983's "The Net", but without Shorrock's familiar vocals, it failed to match the popularity of the albums which preceded it. Little River Band are known for their vocal harmonies, which are front and center on this song. All Rights Reserved. First, Briggs exited, to be replaced by guitarist Steve Housden, then Shorrock left to mount a solo career. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google, Visit Billboard Pro for music business news. The name and trademarks are controlled by Stephen Housden, who joined as guitarist in They were the first Australian rock group to enjoy sustained commercial success in the United States. Tickets are $49.75-$69.75, with an additional fee when purchased at the door. Wayne Nelson then returned to the group as lead singer. After 1986's "No Reins", Farnham left Little River Band and went solo again (recording Australia's best-selling single ever, "You're The Voice"). The songs were always about life, With the release of the last studio recordings on their 1990 album "Get Lucky", followed in 1991 by "Worldwide Love", it was obvious, Little River Band had run out of steam. The contentious legal entanglements persisted well into the next decade with continued strife between both parties resulting in the cancellation of several major anniversary appearances by the touring version of the group, now led solely by Nelson, who in 2016 released an album of re-recorded versions of the band's earlier hits. Little River Band is an Australian rock band formed in Melbourne in 1975 and named after a road sign for the Victorian township of Little River, near Geelong. Little River Band formed in March 1975 in Melbourne as a harmony rock group with Beeb Birtles on guitar and vocals, Graham Davidge on lead guitar, Graeham Goble on guitar and vocals, Dave Orams on bass guitar, Derek Pellicci on drums and Glenn Shorrock on lead vocals. | Little River Band's first American tour, in support of the album and single, brought pleasantly surprised fans to their feet in packed halls throughout the country. 19701974: Pre Little River Band. From the start, they had the status of something of a supergroup aimed at conquering the world, from Australia to America. Fuelled by a very successful Australian hit single Curiosity Killed The Cat, the band began making promotional visits to the US in 1976. Read Full Biography. Did the Little River Band appear on the middle? Nevertheless, the change was made and Farnham walked straight into the recording studio to make The Net. Three original members of Australian act Little River Band have won the right to advertise themselves as the founders and songwriters of the '70s hitmakers. 6 How much is the Little River Band worth? The single "We Two" peaked at #22 and "You're Driving Me Out Of My Mind" reached #35 in 1983. WebLittle River Band (LRB) is an Australian (now American) soft rock band from Melbourne, Victoria.Formed in March 1975, the group originally featured lead vocalist Glenn By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Why did Little River Band lose their name? The band website is blocked to Australia. Little River Band formed in March 1975 in Melbourne as a harmony rock group with Beeb Birtles on guitar and vocals, Graham Davidge on lead guitar, Graeham Little River Band. Later in the episode they go see The Little River Band cover band. Little River Band once again enjoyed a modest degree of success, with healthy record sales, sell-out live appearances, and considerable media attention. Peter Beckett from Player joined them, touring the States several times. Although the albums were a moderate success at home, America never quite took to Farnham, who soon took the initiative and started working on another solo release, 1986's Whispering Jack, an album that completely rehabilitated him as the biggest-selling artist in Australia. Guitarist Beeb Birtles had initially been the bass player for a group called Zoot (Rick Springfield was a later member) then later joined guitarist Graham Goble and drummer Derek Pellicci in the popular country-rock group and LRB precursor Mississippi. In May, 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association, as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named "Cool Change" as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Derek Pellicci left the band in 1999. Little River Band's first American tour, in support of the album and single, brought pleasantly surprised fans to their feet in packed halls throughout the country. Hirschfelder and Prestwich also left just as Glen Shorrock returned and the new band soon had another major hit with "Love Is A Bridge", which reached #6, in their homeland and #18 in America. Topics. Little River Band are considered to be among Australias most significant bands. 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