Artists/Bands [B]

Backlash to Blue Max ……. p.1
Bogislav to Butch, Liz and Duncan ……. p2

NB: If an individual’s Christian or surname is currently unknown this is indicated by an asterisk placed between brackets [*].

BACKLASH

(ca. 1986- )

Led by Stuart Kemp, a musician who also trained at the School of Audio Engineering, Backlash was an Armidale-based band with a repertoire of material covering rock standards by artists like Joe Jackson, The Angels, Australian Crawl, The Rolling Stones, Bob Seeger, J.J. Cale, John Fogerty and Eric Clapton, as well as original material from Kemp and other members of the band. Backlash band was one of the feature acts at the 1987 Sunray Sunday concert, along with Helga ünd der Blitzkrieg.

Backlash. “(Take Me Away to the) Top of the World” (1987). Live at Sunray Sunday ’87. 

Backlash. “Mean Street” (1987). Live at Sunray Sunday ’87.

– Source: Clay Djubal (2009).
– “(Take Me Away to the) Top of the World” and “Mean Street” are both original compositions by Stuart Kemp and other members of the band (yet to be identified).

THE BEARDY BROTHERS

(1986-1999)

  • Personnel incl. Pete Stanley (guitar/vocals) ▪ Keith Cornish (guitar vocals) ▪ Reg Braun (drums/vocals) [below] ▪ Gary Daly (drums)
  • Also associated with the band: Roger Mailfert (drums, 1986) ▪ Mick Houlahan (bass, 2024)

Pete Stanley put The Beardy Brothers together in 1986 as a trio comprising himself, Reg Braun and Roger Mailfert. When Braun couldn’t play a Bowling Club gig sometime later that year Stanley went looking for a one-night replacement. By chance he met Keith Cornish in a local music shop and asked him if he could help out.  As Cornish had only recently returned to playing music after period of some twelve years he felt unsure about playing bass and said no. A few weeks later Stanley made a desperate plea to Cornish who eventually agreed. During the second set Cornish was asked if he could sing, and he replied, “yeah a bit” and so he went on to do vocals on several songs. At the end of the night he was  invited to stay on as a guitarist.

Not long after the Beardy Brothers became a quartet Roger Mailfert left. Cornish recalls meeting Gary Daly at a local football match and when asked if his band still needed a drummer, replied “I guess so.” The pair then went ’round to Stanley’s shed to talk over some beers and play a couple of songs. Apparently more drinking was done than playing. In their respective interviews broadcast on 2ARM FM in 2024 both Cornish and Stanley recall that it only took two songs to know that Daly was the right man for job. They also mention that the band never had another practice in all the years they were together.

Although some critics and locals may have considered The Beardy Brothers middle-of-the-road, during its lengthy period of activity the band nevertheless managed maintain its popularity by entertaining audiences of different generations, those of their own (all members were by then into their forties) as well as students in their late-teens and twenties. In this respect it succeeded in applying the regional rock band ethos of giving an audience what it wanted rather than what the musicians necessarily wanted to play themselves. They could do rock, rock ‘n’ roll, hard rock, folk rock, country, jazz rock, soul, ballads, pop and more, and do them all well.

For many years The Beardy Brothers locked in regular once a month gigs at both the Armidale Ex-Services Club and Bowling Club (each a fortnight apart), while also playing numerous balls, including those held by most of the University of New England colleges. Keith Cornish further recalls playing May Balls (which comprised two hours of dinner music followed by five hours of dance music), as well as the local Roustabout Balls. Held at the Armidale Showground these events typically attracted 600-700 people, most of whom became wildly intoxicated. Another memory is of a Spring Ball in Inverell that featured some guest vocals from Benita Collings, best known for her co-host role on ABC TV’s Play School.

By the end of the 1990s the band found the pressure of regular gigs both tiring and distracting in terms of both family and career commitments, and the decision was made to bring the Beardy Brothers era to an end. Without doubt the biggest highlight of this period, however, was the band’s first and only music release, an LP-length CD of original material called Been a Long Time. Released in June 1999, and co-produced by Reg Braun and Keith Cornish, the album was recorded by Armidale-based engineer/producer Colin Bale at his Oak Tree Studios. Unsurprisingly covering a wide variety of genres, the album also features several local musicians, including Bale, who were invited to support the band on some songs. The group can also be heard performing a track from the album, “Another Night Like Tonight” on the Music of the North compilation released by Hadley Records to celebrate the various artists, musicians and singers from the north-west of New South Wales.

Since The Beardy Brothers’ breakup Pete Stanley has pursued a mostly solo career, performing live and recording several albums with guest musicians. Keith Cornish went on to establish his own engineering and design firm. He can also still be heard performing with his son Luke (guitar/vocals) in addition to occasional appearances with other bands and musicians, notably in association with Gary Daly. The former Beardy Brothers drummer also continues to be active in the local music industry. Reg Braun, the oldest member of the band, moved to Townsville sometime in the early-2000s, and has since established himself there as a prominent jazz drummer (and occasional bassist), leading his own ensemble TRB4 (The Reg Braun Four). He also works as a teacher and instrument repairer.

In late-June 2024 Pete Stanley, Keith Cornish and Gary Daly performed a 30th anniversary Beardy Brothers reunion at Armidale’s Grand Hotel. Local bassist Mick Houlahan filled in for Reg Braun who was unable to get down to Armidale for the event. Several songs performed during the show were filmed and can be accessed on YouTube.

The Beardy Brothers. “Another Night Like Tonight.” (1999) [words/music by Reg Braun] From the album Been a Long Time (The Beardy Brothers).

The Beardy Brothers. “The Russian.” Instrumental (1999) [music by Pete Stanley] From the album Been a Long Time (The Beardy Brothers).

The Beardy Brothers. “Rollin’ On Down The Road.” (1999) [words/music by Keith Cornish] From the album Been a Long Time (The Beardy Brothers).

  • Discography  [pdf]
  • For additional recordings by The Beardy Brothers see individual entries for Pete Stanley, Keith Cornish and Reg Braun.
  • See: “Beardy Bros Keith Cornish.” Interview. “Bluegrass Radio.” 2ARM FM 28 June 2024. Daryl Albertson (aka Herb), interviewer. [sighted “Armidale Livin’ – Music, Motors and Melodies of Life.”  YouTube, 14 Dec. 2024]
  • The following videos can be accessed via YouTube. All were filmed during the 2024 reunion: “Proud Mary” (4:21);  “Over and Over” (2:44); “Back Home Again” (4:07); “Little Sister” (3:52); and “Devil Woman” (3:28)
The Beardy Brothers 30th Anniversary Reunion, Grand Hotel, Armidale, 30 June 2024
– Sources: Dan Byrnes’ Regional Roundup (online) • 2ARM FM Interview with Keith Cornish (2024) • “Peter Stanley – Local Singer, Songwriter and Musician.” Interview. “Bluegrass Radio.” 2ARM FM 13 Aug. 2024. Daryl Albertson (aka Herb), interviewer. [sighted “Armidale Livin’ – Music, Motors and Melodies of Life.” 15 Dec. 2024]; Images: Top – From Been a Long Time cover • Middle – “Chilli Jam Journal Summary 2024” at weebly.com [sighted 27/12/2024] • Bottom – Posted on YouTube by Massiel Barros-Torning 1 July 2024.

BART BLACK

aka Bart Douglass

(1961 – 2024)

  • Bands incl: The Snoggs (1986-88) ▪ Some Trippin’ Diggers (1986) ▪ The Phonic Carpet (2008-) ▪ Amy & The Destitute Gentlemen ▪ Bart Black & The Sublime Detractors ▪  Juliet Reeve & The Black Souls  (2015-) ▪ The Black Souls (2021-24)

Musician (guitar/bass guitar/vocals/harmonica), actor, producer.

With more than forty years as a professional musician, Bart Black (formerly Bart Douglass) began his music career in Armidale. Originally from Sydney he moved to the city in his early teens, later graduating from Armidale High School in 1978. His passion for music saw him collaborate with numerous local musicians (notably Doiran James) during his late teens and early twenties. After a spell in the army he moved to the Blue Mountains area in 1986, co-founding Katoomba band The Snoggs with James. Around the same period he provided some guitar and vocals to a couple of recordings being made by Some Trippin’ Diggers. When The Snoggs finished up some 18 months later he moved to Sydney for a period of time, continuing to play in bands and teach guitar. Black is believed to have also spent some time in Orange (New South Wales) during the 1990s and later studied for a period at the University of Western Sydney.

Sometime around the early to mid-2000s Black moved to Canberra where he established himself as a musician, composer, guitar teacher, session musician, and actor. Two of the earliest theatrical productions he has been identified to date were written by local playwright Eris Jane/Harrison. The first was the dark comedy Lifting Lucy (Belladonna Theatre Company, 19 May 2005). The second, presented in 2006 as part of the “Bunch of Fives” event put on by Jorian Gardner/The Street Theatre/ACT Region Playwrights, was the monologue, The Ultimate Couple (As You Like It Café, 10 Nov.). The following month Black took on the role of Nasty Neville in the Peter Pinne/Don Battye children’s musical, The Shoemaker and the Elves (Vikings Club, Erindale). In 2009 he was cast in the lead role for Agamemnon, the ancient Greek play by Aeschylus. Produced by We Three (in association with Canberra theatre company Ickle Pickle), the play was staged in June at Carey’s Cave near the village of Wee Jasper (situated between Yass and Tumut).

Black’s non-rock music achievements to date include the 2007/2008 Ickle Pickle production of Robin Hood, for which he was engaged as guitarist. 2008 also saw him receive Best Music Score (for the short film, CamBRA Boys) at the 5th Light, Canberra, Action Awards. Since 2008 Black has also been a member of Canberra bands The Phonic Carpet (left), and more recently The Black Souls (ca. 2021-2024). With The Black Souls he released a mini-LP in 2023 titled Heartbreak and Redemption.

L: Bart Black; R: The Black Souls

Bart Black died in Canberra in February 2024 from cancer. He was aged just 63. He had played his last gig a few days before Christmas 2023 when medical staff at the Canberra Hospital allowed him out for one night so he could appear with his band at the Pot Belly Bar. A short video of him being “busted out” of hospital can be viewed on the Black Souls Facebook page [see link below]. Following his death former band mates Katrina Maree (bass/vocals), and Stephen Deakin (drums/ vocals) decided to continue performing as a two-piece Black Souls.

The Black Souls. “Live Planet Die.” (2023) [words/music: Bart Black] From the mini album Heartbreak and Redemption.

The Phonic Carpet. “Wasted” Recorded live in 2009. Published at YouTube by Gembonica. [sighted 26/12/2024] Writing credits currently unknown.

L: Heartbreak and Redemption (2003, mini-album); “Live Planet Live” (single, 2023)
– Sources: Bad Bart Black MySpace page [no longer active] • Clay Djubal (2010) • Doiran James (interview, 2009) • Phonic Carpet MySpace page [no longer active] • Bart Black (Linkedin page, sighted 24/12/2024)• The Black Souls (Facebook page).
– Images: Photos courtesy of The Phonic Carpet (MySpace [no longer active); The Black Souls (Facebook, 2023), and blackbart666 (Instagram).

BLOOD BROTHERS

aka The Song

(1988-1990)

  • Personnel incl. Peter Cozens ▪ Howard Dawson ▪ Trevor Dunham ▪ Cathy Hewitt ▪ Tim Hewitt ▪ Ian Mitchell (drums) ▪ Judy Mitchell (piano) ▪ Peter Mitchell (lead vocals/guitar) ▪ Tim Phillips

After recording the Arid Man album in 1988 and following the return of younger brother Ian from overseas, Peter Mitchell brought together a number of ‘old’ friends to jam. The sessions resulted in the forming of The Song, a Sydney-based musical collective that largely played together at parties. As Peter Mitchell recalls The Song was made up of various players, ‘including anyone who simply got up and joined in’ (p.14). Many of the rehearsals were recorded, and the best of these are presented on Spontaneous by Design (1990) an album put together under the name Blood Brothers. While the album was never distributed (and only one master copy made) a number of the songs appear on Mitchell’s autobiography in song The Great Unknown (1995).

Blood Brothers. “Spontaneous by Design.” (1990). Words/Music by Peter Mitchell.

– Source: Peter Mitchell. The Great Unknown (1995), 14.
– “Spontaneous by Design” is included on Disk 3 of Mitchell’s The Great Unknown (1995).

BLUE MAX

(1976-1977)

  • Personnel incl: Rod Clay* (drums/vocals) ▪ Simon Morgan (lead vocals/guitar) ▪ Richard Rummery (bass/guitar/vocals) ▪ Malcolm Toft (sax/vocals)

Formed by students from both Armidale High School and Duval High School, Blue Max was one of at least three student teenage which formed in the city around 1976/1977. Fronted by singer Simon Morgan, who had recently arrived in Australia from Birmingham (England), Blue Max was initially influenced by metal bands like Black Sabbath and contemporary English groups like The Sweet, Status Quo. American influences came from bands like Blue Oyster Cult and Alice Cooper. Malcolm Toft’s sax playing, particularly on songs like John Lennon’s ‘Cold Turkey,’ also provided the group with a sound somewhat different to the other local high school bands.

Laureldale Research Station

The band’s only official gig was at a lunchtime concert at the UNE Union Courtyard in late-1976. All other performances were at parties and social get-togethers. Most of these occurred at the Laureldale Research Station where the band practiced. Situated on the outskirts of the University of New England, which owns and operates the facilities, the ‘rehearsal space’ was made available courtesy of one of the father’s of a close friend of the band.

Following the demise of Blue Max, Simon Morgan moved to Sydney where he played for a short period in a band called R.A.F. (which also included Craig Bloxom, later of v Spy v Spy). Rod Clay and Richard Rummery went on to form the Armidale hippy punk band Health Club (with Doiran James and Dave Morris).

Simon Morgan and Richard Rummery during the Blue Max era (The Preens’ residence, 78 Mann St)
– Source: Clay Djubal (2009). Image: Photo courtesy of Clay Djubal.
– * Rod Clay [see Clay Djubal]

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