The Spektors
The Spektors | |
|---|---|
 The Spektors in 1966 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Genres | Pop, rock and roll, beat |
| Years active | 1964–1966 |
| Label | See for Miles |
| Past members |
|
The Spektors were an Australian beat, pop and rock 'n' roll band active in Perth from 1964 to mid-1966. Their co-drummer and part-time lead singer, a then-unknown Bon Scott, was later lead vocalist with hard rock band AC/DC, from 1974 until his death in 1980.
History
The Spektors were formed in late 1964 in Perth by co-vocalists and co-drummers John Collins and Bon Scott, along with Brian Gannon on bass guitar, Murray Gracie on rhythm guitar and vocals and Wyn Milsom on lead guitar.[1][2][3] Early rehearsals occurred in Gannon's or Scott's parents' homes before switching to the RSL hall, Coogee.[3] Their first performance was at a youth hall in Medina, which was organised by John Rand, who became their manager.[3] Collins and Scott each played half a set as drummer and the other half as lead vocalist.[1][2] They performed cover versions of beat, pop and rock 'n' roll songs.[1][2]
The Spektors won the Perth heat of the national Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds competition. Their repertoire included popular songs, often originally by the Rolling Stones or the Beatles. As the band developed, Scott would step up and sing occasionally while Collins played drums, on songs such as Van Morrison's "Gloria". According to Gracie their influences were "more blues than pop – groups like the Pretty Things, Them and the Kinks".[4]
In October 1965 the group recorded four tracks for local TV show, Club 17, including versions of "Gloria", Mike Berry's "On My Mind", the Beatles' "Yesterday" and George Gershwin's "It Ain't Necessarily So".[1] In late 1966, Milsom and Scott joined members of local rivals, the Winstons to form a new pop group, the Valentines, with Scott sharing vocal duties with the Winstons' lead vocalist Vince Lovegrove.[1][2]
Members
- John Collins - vocals, drums
- Brian Gannon - bass guitar
- Murray Gracie – rhythm guitar
- Wyn Milsom – lead guitar
- Bon Scott – vocals, drums
Discography
- Bon Scott with the Spektors (CD, 1992, See for Miles records)
- Bon Scott with the Spektors and the Valentines (CD, 1999, See for Miles records)
These songs and interviews were pirated from the TVW channel 7 show, Club 17 by Martin Clark, who was the recording engineer at the time (October 1965).
References
- General
- Walker, Clinton (1994). Highway to Hell: The Life and Times of AC/DC Legend Bon Scott. Verse Chorus Press. ISBN 1-891241-13-3.
- Specific
- 1 2 3 4 5 McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Valentines'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 30 September 2004. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 Kimball, Duncan; Gracie, Murray (2002). "The Spektors". Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- 1 2 3 Grace, Murray. "The Spektors". The Valentines Official Website. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ Gracie, Murray; Mills, John (December 2010). Jive, Twist and Stomp: WA Rock & Roll Bands of the 50s and 60s. Fremantle Press. ISBN 978-1-921696-54-1. Retrieved 4 August 2013.