The Missing Links

The Missing Links were an Australian garage rock, R&B, and protopunk group from Sydney who were active from 1964 to 1966.[1] The group was known for wearing their hair long and smashing their equipment on-stage.[2][3] Throughout the course of 1965, the band would go through a complete and total lineup change resulting in two completely different versions of the band: the first consisted of Peter Anson on guitar, Dave Boyne on guitar, Bob Brady on vocals, Danny Cox on drums and Ronnie Peel on bass and released their debut single, "We 2 Should Live" in March 1965.

For other uses, see Missing Link (disambiguation).
The Missing Links
OriginSydney, New South Wales, Australia
GenresGarage rock, R&B, protopunk
Years active1964–1966
Past memberssee members list below

The second and better-known version had none of the previous members and consisted of Andy Anderson on vocals (initially also on drums), Chris Gray on keyboards and harmonica, Doug Ford on vocals and guitar, Baden Hutchens on drums, and Ian Thomas on bass, and released their debut album, The Missing Links in December. According to Allmusic's, Richie Unterberger, "This aggregation cut the rawest Australian garage/punk of the era, and indeed some of the best from anywhere, sounding at their best like a fusion of the Troggs and the early Who, letting loose at times with wild feedback that was quite ahead of its time."

History

Origins

The Missing Links formed in early 1964 in Sydney, Australia with the line-up of Peter Anson on guitar, Dave Boyne on guitar, Bob Brady on vocals, Danny Cox on drums and Ron Peel on bass guitar (ex-Mystics).[3] With their long hair, according to one venue owner, "they looked like a cross between man and ape" and so were named the Missing Links (see transitional fossil).[4] In November, the group played a benefit concert to support Oz founders Richard Neville, Richard Walsh and Martin Sharp. The trio had been charged with obscenity and were awaiting trial.[5]

The first version of the band recorded a single, "We 2 Should Live" which was released in March 1965 on the Parlophone label.[5] By that time, Boyne was replaced on guitar by John Jones (Mystics) and Cox left soon after with New Zealand-born Andy Anderson (as Andy James aka Neville Anderson) joining, initially on drums.[6] The band briefly broke up in July.[3] Peter Anson formed a band, the Syndicate. They evolved into Jeff St. John and The Id. Bob Brady joined Python Lee Jackson, and Ron Peel joined Brisbane-based group, The Pleazers. In 1968 He became Rockwell T. James and formed The Rhythm Aces. A single "Love Power" was released. Ronnie then went to England and joined Thunderclap Newman and later on, The La-De-Das.By 1976 he was Rockwell T. James once more and had hits with "Come on Home" and "Roxanne" [7][5]

Second lineup

The Missing Links reformed before the end of July with Anderson and Jones joined temporarily by Dave Longmore on vocals and guitar, Frank Kennington on vocals and Col Risby on guitar.[5] Longmore was soon replaced by Doug Ford with Chris Gray joining on keyboards and harmonica,[5] Baden Hutchens on drums and Ian Thomas on bass guitar (both ex-Showmen) completed the line-up of the second version, which was "even more fierce version than the first".[8][3] During live performances, Anderson would climb walls to hang from rafters, then drive his head into the drums, other band members smashed guitars into speakers and all wore the latest Carnaby Street clothes.[4][5]

With this totally new lineup, the group signed with Philips Records and released "You're Drivin' Me Insane" in August 1965 followed in September by "Wild About You".[9][4] Veteran rock 'n' roller, Johnny O'Keefe was not a fan – he banned them from appearing on his television show, Sing Sing Sing.[5] They issued another single in October, "H'tuom Tuhs," which was their version of "Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut," but with the tape reel played backwards on both sides of the record (as parts 1 and 2).[10] It was followed by their debut album, The Missing Links, in December.[4] According to Allmusic's, Richie Unterberger, "This aggregation cut the rawest Australian garage/punk of the era, and indeed some of the best from anywhere, sounding at their best like a fusion of the Troggs and the early Who, letting loose at times with wild feedback that was quite ahead of its time".[11] In 1966 Baden Hutchins and Ian Thomas would depart.[12] Hutchins, tired of the rock & roll lifestyle, was engaged to be married.[12] Thomas returned to the Showmen, while the remaining members – Anderson, Gray, Ford and Jones – continued with an extended play, The Links Unchained in April 1966.[13][5] The group disbanded in August.[3]

Later developments

After The Missing Links had disbanded, Anderson and Ford formed Running Jumping Standing Still in Melbourne in August 1966.[3] Anderson later became an actor on Australian and New Zealand television. Ford was lead guitarist in The Masters Apprentices from 1968.[5] John Jones became a screenwriter in Hollywood.

Legacy

Their self-titled 1965 LP was re-issued by Raven Records on vinyl in 1986 and (with a number of bonus tracks) by the Half A Cow label on CD in 2001. The original LP has sold to collectors for as much as A$2000 in August 2004.[5]

The Missing Links have influenced many later Australian punk and hard rock groups, including The Saints who covered "Wild About You" on their first album, (I'm) Stranded (1977).[14] In October 2010, The Missing Links' debut album, The Missing Links was listed in the top 50 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums.[15] In 1965 they released records under two completely different lineups within the space of one year.[16] They were one of the first rock groups to experiment with backward tapes and would do so in 1965, on both sides of their single, "H'tuom Tuhs," almost a year before the Beatles' experiments during the Revolver sessions.[17][18]

Members
  • Peter Anson – guitar, vocals
  • Dave Boyne – guitar
  • Bob Brady – vocals, percussion
  • Danny Cox – drums
  • Ronnie Peel – bass guitar, harmonica
  • John Jones – guitar
  • Andy Anderson (as Andy James aka Neville Anderson) – vocals, drums
  • Dave Longmore – vocals, guitar
  • Frank Kennington – vocals
  • Col Risby – guitar
  • Doug Ford – vocals, guitar
  • Chris Gray – keyboards, harmonica
  • Baden Hutchens – drums, vocals
  • Ian Thomas – bass, vocals

References

General

  • McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Whammo Homepage". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 5 April 2004. Retrieved 7 April 2011. Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.
  • Marks, Ian D., Ian, and McIntyre, Iain. (2010) Wild About You: The Sixties Beat Explosion in Australia and New Zealand Verse Chorus Press. Portland, London, Melbourne. Foreword by Ian McFarlane. ISBN 978-1-891241-28-4 - covers 60s garage rock scene in Australia and New Zealand
  • Spencer, Chris; Zbig Nowara; Paul McHenry (2002) [1987]. The Who's Who of Australian Rock. Noble Park, Vic: Five Mile Press. ISBN 1-86503-891-1.[19]

Specific

  1. Marks, Ian D. and McIntyre, Iain. They are not connected with the American group of the same name and era that featured Micky Dolenz of The Monkees. Wild About You: The Sixties Beat Explosion in Australia and New Zealand. Verse Chorus Press. Portland, London, Melbourne. 2010 ISBN 978-1-891241-28-4 pg. 7 (McFarland introduction: "garage-punk/R&B/pscyh" to describe various groups from the time of which the Missing Links are the first mentioned), pg. 87 ("punk pioneers"), pg. 98 (describing band appearance in photo: "the definitive Australian punk image of all") - Garage rock is best descriptor. Whenever "punk" is used to describe mid 60s bands, it automatically means garage rock, since "punk rock" was the original name given to the garage rock genre by critics in early 70s; "R&B" can be used as a secondary descriptor, but pure R&B would refer to the more piano and horn-based black music of circa. 1948-1966, which of course influenced white beat groups--but to be pure R&B would necessitate usual presence of piano and horns, and lesser role for guitars.)
  2. Marks, Ian D. and McIntyre, Iain. Wild About You: The Sixties Beat Explosion in Australia and New Zealand. Verse Chorus Press. Portland, London. Melbourne. 2010 ISBN 978-1-891241-28-4 pg.87
  3. McFarlane, 'The Missing Links' entry. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  4. Nimmervoll, Ed. "Missing Links". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  5. Kimball, Duncan (2002). "The Missing Links". Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  6. Marks, Ian D. and McIntyre, Iain. Wild About You: The Sixties Beat Explosion in Australia and New Zealand. Verse Chorus Press. Portland, London. Melbourne. 2010 ISBN 978-1-891241-28-4 pg. 89-92
  7. Marks, Ian D. and McIntyre, Iain. Wild About You: The Sixties Beat Explosion in Australia and New Zealand. Verse Chorus Press. Portland, London. Melbourne. 2010 ISBN 978-1-891241-28-4 pg. 91, 199
  8. Marks, Ian D. and McIntyre, Iain. Wild About You: The Sixties Beat Explosion in Australia and New Zealand. Verse Chorus Press. Portland, London. Melbourne. 2010 ISBN 978-1-891241-28-4 pg. 91-92
  9. Marks, Ian D. and McIntyre, Iain. Wild About You: The Sixties Beat Explosion in Australia and New Zealand. Verse Chorus Press. Portland, London. Melbourne. 2010 ISBN 978-1-891241-28-4 pg. 100
  10. Marks, Ian D. and McIntyre, Iain. Wild About You: The Sixties Beat Explosion in Australia and New Zealand. Verse Chorus Press. Portland, London. Melbourne. 2010 ISBN 978-1-891241-28-4 pg. 96-97, 100 - Both sides of the single were of their version of Bo Diddley's "Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut." The Missing Links experimented with backward tapes before the Beatles' Revolver, which makes them possibly the first rock band to do such.
  11. Unterberger, Richie. "The Missing Links". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  12. Marks, Ian D. and McIntyre, Iain. Wild About You: The Sixties Beat Explosion in Australia and New Zealand. Verse Chorus Press. Portland, London. Melbourne. 2010 ISBN 978-1-891241-28-4 pg.99
  13. Marks, Ian D. and McIntyre, Iain. Wild About You: The Sixties Beat Explosion in Australia and New Zealand. Verse Chorus Press. Portland, London. Melbourne. 2010 ISBN 978-1-891241-28-4 pg.99-100
  14. Cockington, James (2001). "Sunshine Sounds". Long Way to the Top: Stories of Australian Rock & Roll. Sydney, NSW: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). pp. 210–211. ISBN 978-0-7333-0750-8.
  15. O'Donnell, John; Creswell, Toby; Mathieson, Craig (October 2010). 100 Best Australian Albums. Prahran, Vic: Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 978-1-74066-955-9.
  16. Marks, Ian D. and McIntyre, Iain. Wild About You: The Sixties Beat Explosion in Australia and New Zealand. Verse Chorus Press. Portland, London. Melbourne. 2010 ISBN 978-1-891241-28-4 pg.89-92 - Book describes how the first single released was under the first lineup, but all later Phillips material released in the second half of 1965 was with a completely different lineup, consisting of none of the members that played on the first single.
  17. Marks, Ian D. and McIntyre, Iain. Wild About You: The Sixties Beat Explosion in Australia and New Zealand. Verse Chorus Press. Portland, London. Melbourne. 2010 ISBN 978-1-891241-28-4 pg. 96-97 (describes backward tapes used in parts 1 and 2 of "H'tuom Tuhs"), pg. 100 (release date of parts 1 and 2 of "H'tuom Tuhs" as A and B sides of single on November, 1965)
  18. Lewinson, Mark. The Beatles Recording Sessions: The official Abbey Road Studio Session Notes 1962-1970. Harmony books. New York. 1988. ISBN 0-517-58182-5 pg. 72 (discusses first use of tape loops for "Tomorrow Never Knows," working title, "Mark I," first takes beg. April 7, 1966), pg. pg. 74 (discusses backwards tapes used in "Rain," first takes beg. April 14, 1966), pg. 78 (describes specially arranged backward tape of the guitar in "I'm Only Sleeping, takes beg. on May 5, 1966 and tape reduction--what some refer to as "bouncing tracks" on May 6, 1966), pg. 82 (describes mono mix of "Tomorrow Never Knows" June 6, 1966--though it does not say, tape loops and backwards tape effects were probably superimposed during final mixing stages)
  19. "Who's who of Australian rock / compiled by Chris Spencer, Zbig Nowara & Paul McHenry". catalogue. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 8 November 2010. Note: [on-line] version established at White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd Archived 2009-10-15 at the Wayback Machine in 2007 and was expanded from the 2002 edition. As from September 2010, [on-line] version appears to have an Internal Service Error.
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