Ross Hannaford

Ross Andrew Hannaford was born in Newcastle on 1 December 1950, his family moved to Melbourne one year later.[1] Hannaford and Wilson first teamed up in the hometown of Melbourne in early 1965, in the R&B band The Pink Finks, which enjoyed moderate local success.[2] This was followed by the more progressively-oriented The Party Machine,[3] They released a single "You've All Gotta Go" in 1969; their printed songbooks were confiscated and burned by the Victorian Vice Squad for being obscene and seditious.[3][4] The Party Machine disbanded in 1969, with Wilson travelling to London.

After a short stint in the UK, Wilson returned to Australia and reunited with Hannaford ca. 1970 in the even more avant garde Sons of the Vegetal Mother, which embodied Wilson's enthusiasm for the music of Frank Zappa.[5]

This band eventually evolved into Daddy Cool, which had started out as an informal offshoot of the Vegetals but soon overtook it. After the release of their hugely successful debut single "Eagle Rock" and their debut LP Daddy Who? Daddy Cool, the band became one of the most popular and successful rock acts of the decade, breaking all previous sales records for an Australian act.

Hannaford's unique guitar stylings won wide praise from critics and his goofy stage presence, distinctive baritone voice and trademark 'helicopter' cap made him a favourite with fans. He also wrote several of the group's songs and co-designed the sleeve of their second album, Sex, Dope, Rock'n'Roll: Teenage Heaven.

• 1970–1972: Original line-up
• 1972–1974: Daddy Cool separates
• 1974–1975: First reformation
• 1975: Second separation

After the first split of Daddy Cool at the end of 1972, Wilson and Hannaford formed the short-lived Mighty Kong with former members of Spectrum and Company Caine and they recorded one album, All I Wanna Do Is Rock, but they split just after the record was released.

During the mid-1970s Ross became a devotee of Satguru Maharaj Ji and the Divine Light Mission. In 1977 he travelled to the USA to attend various religious festivals. While in the US he formed One Foundation with Joe Creighton (bass; from Billy T) to play at Mission conventions.[6] On his return to Australia, Ross, Russell Smith and Joe Creighton then formed Billy T.

On his return to Australia, after attending various religious festivals in 1977, Ross formed reggae bands Bamboo and Lucky Dog. The original Lucky Dog lineup consisted of Margot Barrett (Vocals; ex Small Axe), Martin Kellock (rhythm guitar and vocals), Mike Krelle (keyboards), Wayne Duncan; bass; ex-Daddy Cool), and Geoff Hassall (drums; ex-Paul Madigan and the Humans). The band issued one independent single, Why Do Fools Fall In Love?/Mr Bones', Wake Up', in December 1980. The Band also released a mini album in 1980 titled Ross Hannaford's Lucky Dog – Lucky Dog.[8] (All on YouTube).

Tracklist: 1. Mr Gibby - Mike Krelle, Ross Hannaford, 2. Let Love Come- Margot Barrett, 3. Spirit Of The Land- Martin Kellock, 4. Camel Train Mike Krelle, 5. Every Day- Martin Kellock, Ross Hannaford, Mike Krelle.

• Remastered At – Audrey Studios

Ross Hannaford's Lucky Dog band, recorded on the Armstrongs mobile studio in Melbourne, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fBcF8XqxaA

Ross Hannaford's Lucky Dog band, recorded on the Armstrongs mobile studio in Melbourne, Australia, in 1981. 1. Why Do Fools Fall In Love 0:00 2. Wo-Oh 2:29 3. Mr Bones 5:54 4. Wake Up 9:22 5. Help Yourself 14:31 Preview of other Lucky Dog studio EP 18:13

Live recordings of Ross Hannaford's Lucky Dog band from gigs around Melbourne, Australia in 1981-82, recorded on TDK cassettes at the mixing desk.

For Lucky Dog Live go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wQgi...,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8xGS... and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CABQa...

Compiled by Finn Koren. Sound mastering by Gabreal Hayman.

Ross Hannaford along with other great musicians such as Gary Young, Greg Ham, Toots "Linda", James Black and David Adam, played with Max Vella in "Relax with Max" in the late 1980s.

In 1996 Ross teamed up with drummer and producer Nicky Bomba to record the critically acclaimed album reflecting the live setlist of the trio. Howard Cairns joined them on double bass capturing the raw brilliance of Ross. Mushroom Records released the album citing it an evergreen classic. The trio teamed up with director Clayton Jacobson (Kenny, Brother's Nest) to shoot a filmclip for the dirgy 'Monkey on my Back'. Ross had composed the song with underground Melbourne poet Paul Madigan. in September 2020, Transmitter Records re-released the album on vinyl with a showbag that included a teatowel, LP, signature helicopter hat and Transmitter Records tote bag. The trio toured the album extensively with double bass duties also covered by Stu Speed and Barry Deenick.

Hannaford was regularly seen in Melbourne, to the delight of passers by, busking. Many onlookers would admire his performance and guitar playing opening up his music to a whole new audience.[10]

Daddy Cool reformed in 1974 and continued until 1976, when they split again. Hannaford and Wilson's last collaboration in this period was on the soundtrack for the 1976 movie Oz.[11]

Hannaford subsequently did a considerable amount of session work and played in many bands. His group and recording credits include The Black Sorrows, Paul Madigan & The Humans, Ian Moss, Steve Hoy, Mark Gillespie, Billy T, Ram Band, Goanna and Relax with Max. In the 1990s he and his band Dianna Kiss had a long-standing residency at the Esplanade Hotel in St Kilda, Melbourne.

In 2005 the original members of Daddy Cool reunited for a one-off performance at a Melbourne benefit concert in aid of the Asian tsunami disaster, and this led to the 2006 reformation of the group and the recording of a new single and album. In November 2007, the original Daddy Cool line-up reformed for a national tour of Australia with the Beach Boys & Christopher Cross. The tour took in Melbourne, Hunter Valley, Adelaide, Perth, Wollongong & Sydney. In later years Hannaford was a familiar figure on the streets of Melbourne, regularly busking in Melbourne's CBD and at Camberwell Market.

In mid-2015 he released a new 10 track CD 'Hanna', which features all original compositions and 'all sounds' by Hannaford ′except Mau the cat (Track 7)' and Mark Ferrie on bass (Track 5).

In July 2015, it was announced that Hannaford was suffering from "serious health issues", and that he had to cancel a planned national tour because he was too ill to work. Friends and colleagues, including singer-songwriter Steve Hoy and songwriter Margot Barrett (a friend and collaborator since their art school days in the late 1960s) organised a benefit concert which was staged in Melbourne to raise money for Hannaford's ongoing health care. The line-up included former Daddy Cool bandmates, Ross Wilson, Wayne Duncan and Gary Young, Steve Hoy, the RocKwiz Orchestra, The Black Sorrows, and Mike Rudd, with TV personality Brian Nankervis (RocKwiz) as MC.[12] The first concert sold out within 24 hours and a second show was quickly organised, which also sold out.

As part of a project in which people tell their life stories, filmmaker Haydn Keenan shot a long interview with Hannaford in late 2014. The interview was edited into a 60-minute DVD, with all proceeds going to the guitarist. Hannaford died on 8 March 2016, aged 65, from cancer; he had been diagnosed with the condition a year earlier.[1][13]

• The Ross Hannaford Trio (as The Ross Hannaford Trio) (1996)
• Hey Gringo (as The Ross Hannaford Trio)
• I Was There (as The Ross Hannaford Trio) (2000)
• Hanna (2015)

• Official Daddy Cool Site