Glenn Barrie ShorrockAM (born 30 June 1944) is an English-born Australian singer-songwriter. He was a founding member of rock bands the Twilights, Axiom, Little River Band and post LRB spin-off trio Birtles Shorrock Goble, as well as being a solo performer.
The Twilights had eight consecutive national hit singles including "Needle in a Haystack" and "What's Wrong with the Way I Live". Axiom's top10 hits were "Arkansas Grass", "Little Ray of Sunshine" and "My Baby's Gone". Little River Band had national and international chart success, including the Shorrock-penned "Emma", "Help Is on Its Way" and "Cool Change".
Glenn Barrie Shorrock was born on 30 June 1944 in Chatham, Kent, England. His family migrated to Adelaide, South Australia, on the Orcades[3] in August 1954 when he was 10.[4] His father, Harry Shorrock, was a Yorkshire-born fitter and turner at the Weapons Research Establishment in Salisbury, South Australia.[5] The 1954–55 summer had days of 42°C (108°F) and Black Sunday bushfires ravaged the Adelaide Hills in January 1955.[6] His London-born mother, Joyce Shorrock, was not impressed with Australia and she took Shorrock and his younger sister back to UK on the Strathmore,[7] only to return to Australia on the Fairsea[8] for a second attempt in 1956.[5] The family settled in Elizabeth, 20km (12mi) north of Adelaide.[9]
Shorrock's first public performance took place in 1958 at St Peter's Lutheran church hall in Elizabeth when he mimed to Elvis Presley's recording of "All Shook Up" on a gramophone and strumming on a cardboard guitar. When the record player stopped he was forced to continue singing by himself and realised he had a good voice.[10]
In 1962, Shorrock formed his first band, the Checkmates, with Clem McCartney, Mike Sykes and Billy Volraat.[11] They were a doo-wop harmony group covering the Platters and the Crew Cuts material.[12] Sometimes teaming up with instrumental groups the Vector Men or the Hurricanes, the Checkmates performed in Adelaide cafes and folk clubs.[13] As a result of the Beatles' popularity, members of the Checkmates and the Hurricanes merged to form the Twilights in 1964.[12][13]
In 1964 Shorrock, with McCartney as co-lead vocalist, formed the Twilights by merging with the Hurricanes' Frank Barnard on drums, Peter Brideoake on guitar, Terry Britten on guitar and John Bywaters on bass guitar.[12][13] Their debut single, "I'll Be Where You Are", co-written by Shorrock and Britten,[14] was released in June 1965.[13] The band had eight consecutive hit singles, including covers of the Velvelettes' "Needle in a Haystack" and the Hollies' "What's Wrong with the Way I Live" (recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London).[13] With two lead singers, two guitarists and five vocalists, the Twilights performed note-perfect covers of pop-rock songs and were famed for their live prowess.[13] They relocated to Melbourne late in 1965 and were popular with teenage audiences and respected by fellow musicians. In July 1966, they won Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds with the prize including a trip to London.[13] In 1967, shortly after returning from London, the group regularly performed the entire Sgt Pepper's album live in sequence, weeks before it was released in Australia.[13] The Twilights disbanded in January 1969 and Shorrock became band manager for Brisbane pop group the Avengers.[9]
In May 1969 in Melbourne, Shorrock formed an early Australian "supergroup", Axiom, with Brian Cadd on keyboards and vocals, Don Mudie on lead guitar (both ex-the Groop), Doug Lavery (The Valentines) on drums and Chris Stockley (Cam-Pact) on guitar.[15] They recorded two highly acclaimed albums, Fool's Gold and If Only ...; and had three top10 singles, "Arkansas Grass", "Little Ray of Sunshine" and "My Baby's Gone" on the Go-Set national charts.[15] Axiom travelled to the UK but disbanded there in March 1971.[5][6]
Shorrock remained in the UK to pursue his solo career; he signed with MAM Records and released the self-penned "Let's Get the Band Together" single in October 1971.[9] This was followed by a cover of "Rock and Roll Lullaby" in March 1972.[9] As Andre L'Escargot and His Society Syncopaters, he released "Purple Umbrella" with his backing band being Quartet members Britten, Kevin Peek, Trevor Spencer and Alan Tarney.[9] He joined the multinational progressive rock band Esperanto, which released their debut album, Esperanto Rock Orchestra, in 1973 with the Shorrock-written track "Statue of Liberty".[9] He left Esperanto before their third album was released in 1974 and performed backing vocals for Cliff Richard.[4][9]
Mississippi was an Australian rock band which was working in the UK, with Beeb Birtles on vocals and guitar, Graham Goble (later Graeham Goble) on guitar and vocals and Derek Pellicci on drums. They contacted Glenn Wheatley (former bass guitarist for the Masters Apprentices) to become their manager. Birtles, previously in Adelaide band Zoot, called Shorrock to take part in the line up. Shorrock returned to Australia in October 1974 and joined Mississippi in January 1975 in Melbourne.[16] They were soon renamed as Little River Band with the original line up of Birtles, Goble, Pellicci, Shorrock and lead guitarist Ric Formosa and bassist Roger McLachlan.[5] The group went on to become one of the most successful bands ever to come out of Australia and the first to achieve major commercial success in the United States.[6] For Little River Band, Shorrock wrote the hits "Emma", "Help Is on Its Way" (Australian No.1) and "Cool Change".[9]
While still a member of Little River Band, Shorrock released a solo single, a cover of Bobby Darin's 1959 hit "Dream Lover" in April 1979 on EMI, which peaked at No.8 on the Kent Music Report singles chart.[11][17] In February 1982, Shorrock left Little River Band and was replaced by John Farnham who was managed by Wheatley.[13] Shorrock returned to Little River Band in 1988 but, despite several quality albums, they did not regain the earlier stellar recognition. He left again in 1991 leaving the naming rights with guitarist Stephen Housden.[6] In May 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), as part of its 75th-anniversary celebrations, named "Cool Change" as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time.[18]
Later solo career
In 1982, Shorrock released the solo album Villain of the Peace and a single, "Rock and Roll Soldier", on Capitol Records recorded in Los Angeles with John Boylan (Charlie Daniels, Little River Band) producing. "Rock and Roll Soldier" reached the Australian top40 in November but he did not achieve the international success attained with Little River Band. Late in 1982 he toured Australia and then teamed with Renée Geyer to release a duet, "Goin' Back", on Mushroom Records in February 1983. One of his backing singers was Wendy Matthews who had been a session singer in Los Angeles.[19] "We're Coming to Get You", which peaked at No.6 in October, was recorded with folk group, the Bushwackers. It was the theme for the film We're Coming to Get You. He released "Don't Girls Get Lonely?" in November. In 1984, he recorded "Restless" for the documentary World Safari II: The Final Adventure.[9]
In 1985, Shorrock released The First Twenty Years, which was a double-LP album compilation of his career work with tracks by the Twilights, Axiom and Little River Band as well as solo work.[20] He was compere of Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) TV music series Rock Arena in 1986 and as a breakfast announcer for radio station Magic 11 in Sydney.[21] His solo single, "American Flyers", appeared in July. He performed on the tour of the stage showOne for the Money in 1986–87.[21] He appeared in other stage shows including Evita (1989)[22] and his own showcase productions Go Cat Go (1990–91) and Two Up (1996).
Long Way to the Top was a 2001 ABC TV six-part documentary on the history of Australian rock and roll from 1956 to the modern era.[25] Shorrock provided some interviews, "In Awe of The Beatles", "Being Pop Stars" and "Coming from the UK", about his early years with the Twilights.[26] A Long Way to the Top Tour followed in August–September 2002 with Shorrock appearing with the Twilights in the first set performing "What's Wrong with the Way I Live?" and "Needle in a Haystack"; he returned in the second set with Axiom to perform "Arkansas Grass" and "Little Ray of Sunshine".[21][27]
In 2002, Shorrock reunited with other Little River Band founders Beeb Birtles and Graeham Goble to form Birtles Shorrock Goble.[21] On 17 October 2004, the 1970s members of Little River Band: Birtles, David Briggs, Goble, George McArdle, Derek Pellicci and Shorrock, were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.[28] The later members, including fellow Australian John Farnham and US-based musicians, were not included in this induction.[28] Due to a 2002 legal ruling on their right to use the band's name, they performed "Help Is on the Way" as the "classic lineup" of Little River Band.[28] Birtles Shorrock Goble recorded a successful DVD and CD, Full Circle (2005), and toured until 2007. In August–September, the trio played a medley of Little River Band hits at the Countdown Spectacular two concert series.
In 2005, Shorrock also undertook his career-spanning "The Reminiscing Tour – Glenn Shorrock & Friends" with invited guest singers including Doug Parkinson and Wendy Matthews.[21] In May–June 2006, he partnered actress Judy Nunn on the first season of a reality TV singing competition, It Takes Two. They were voted off after week three.[29] His first solo CD for seven years, Meanwhile, which contains acoustic versions of his career hits was released in 2007 on the Liberation Blue label. He performed a Beatles tribute show, Let It Be, with Parkinson, Sharon O'Neill and Mark Williams.[30]
In 2008, Shorrock toured with the musical Shout! The Legend of the Wild One based on the life of Australian rocker Johnny O'Keefe.[30][31] In July 2010, Shorrock performed a retrospective of his 45 years in the music industry.[5][10] Currently Shorrock continues to tour Australia performing for public and private events in Australia and promotes new local music artists. In early 2013 he and his band were headlining performers in Macau, New York and London for the media launch of the Titanic II project. This was at the personal invitation of Australian entrepreneur Clive Palmer.[32]
In October 2014, Shorrock was inducted into the South Australian Music Hall of Fame alongside Bon Scott's former band Fraternity, Chris Finnen and David "Daisy" Day.[33]
Shorrock released his autobiography, Now, Where Was I?, in June 2018.[34]
Shorrock was appointed an honorary member of the Order of Australia (AM) on 26 January 2020, awarded for significant service to the performing arts as a singer, songwriter and entertainer.[35]
Shorrock met his first wife, Sue Doran, a Melbourne nurse, in 1966.[37] The couple married in 1967[38] but divorced in 1971.[39] In 1975, Shorrock met Jo Swan, a video producer nine years his junior, who worked in the same building (Armstrong Studios) where Little River band was recording its first album.[40][41] They married in 1980,[42][40] separated in 2019 and divorced in 2020.[43] Shorrock married Irene Rose, a teacher, on 21 December 2021.[44] He has at times had arthritis, anxiety and stage fright.[45]
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony which recognises excellence, innovation and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987. Shorrock was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1991.
The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards, commonly known as the Mo Awards, were annual entertainment industry awards held from 1975 to 2016 which recognised achievements in live entertainment in Australia. Shorrock won an award in 2015.[51]
Little River Band (LRB) are a rock band formed in Melbourne, Australia, in March 1975. The band achieved commercial success in both Australia and the United States. They have sold more than 30 million records; six studio albums reached the top 10 on the Australian Kent Music Report albums chart including Diamantina Cocktail and First Under the Wire, which both peaked at No. 2. Nine singles appeared in the top 20 on the related singles chart, with "Help Is on Its Way" (1977) as their only number-one hit. Ten singles reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Reminiscing" their highest, peaking at No. 3.
Beeb Birtles is an Australian musician, singer, songwriter and guitarist. He has been a member of various Australian groups including Zoot (1967–71), Mississippi (1972–74), Little River Band (1975–83) and Birtles Shorrock Goble (2002–07). He has also worked as a solo artist, including releasing an album, Driven by Dreams (2000). In 2004, Birtles and other members of the classic line-up of Little River Band were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
Brian George Cadd AM is an Australian singer-songwriter, keyboardist, producer and record label founder, a staple of Australian entertainment for over 50 years. As well as working internationally throughout Europe and the United States, he has performed as a member of numerous bands including the Groop, Axiom, the Bootleg Family Band and in America with the Flying Burrito Brothers before carving out a solo career in 1972. He briefly went under the pseudonym of Brian Caine in late 1966, when first joining the Groop.
Diamantina Cocktail is the third studio album by the Australian rock group Little River Band, released in April 1977. It peaked at No. 2 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and reaching No. 49 on the Billboard 200. A different version was released in the US by Harvest in May 1977. The album was certified Gold in the US by the RIAA in January 1978 for over 500,000 copies sold.
Graeham George Goble, is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter and record producer, best known as a founding member of Australian rock group Little River Band and Birtles Shorrock Goble.
Mississippi were an Australian soft rock band (1972–1975), which included Graham Goble on lead vocals and guitar, Beeb Birtles on lead vocals and guitar, and Derek Pellicci on drums. The band had started as Allison Gros in Adelaide in 1970 and moved to Melbourne in 1971 where they recorded as Allison Gros, Drummond and, early in 1972, became Mississippi. As Drummond they issued a cover version of "Daddy Cool", which peaked at No. 1 on the Go-Set National Top 40 for eight weeks. As Mississippi they reached No. 10 with "Kings of the World". In early 1975, with Birtles, Goble and Pellicci aboard and the addition of Glenn Shorrock, the group were renamed Little River Band.
Birtles Shorrock Goble are an Australian pop/rock group composed of the three original singers and songwriters of Little River Band, namely Beeb Birtles, Glenn Shorrock and Graeham Goble. The members are known for their extensive writing and performance of hit songs and distinctive vocal harmonies. They are sometimes referred to by the initials BSG.
Monsoon is the tenth studio album by Australian group, Little River Band, with Glenn Shorrock returning as lead singer after John Farnham left the group to release his solo album Whispering Jack. The album was released in May 1988 and peaked at number nine on the Kent Music Report albums chart.
Sleeper Catcher is the fourth studio album by the Little River Band, released in May 1978. It peaked at No. 4 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and No. 16 on the Billboard 200. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA in May 1979.
Little River Band is the debut studio album by the Australian rock group Little River Band which was released by EMI in November 1975. It peaked at No. 17 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and was certified 2× gold in Australia in November 1976. It was released in the US by Harvest in September 1976.
"Reminiscing" is a song by Australian soft rock music group Little River Band, released in June 1978 as the second single from their fourth studio album Sleeper Catcher. The song was written by the band's rhythm guitarist Graeham Goble, and sung by their lead singer Glenn Shorrock. "Reminiscing" peaked at number 35 on the Australian Kent Music Report and at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Uncovered is a solo studio album by British-born Australian singer John Farnham, produced by Little River Band's Graeham Goble, and released on 3 July 1980, which peaked at No. 20 on the Australian Kent Music Report album chart and was certified gold in 1981.
Derek Allan Pellicci is an English-born Australian drummer. He is best known as a founding member of Little River Band. Pellicci lives in Melbourne with his wife, Anne and a son.
"Cool Change" is a song by Australian rock group Little River Band written by lead singer Glenn Shorrock. It was released in August 1979 the second single from their fifth album, First Under the Wire. The song peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of 19 January 1980.
"Happy Anniversary" is a pop music song by Australian group Little River Band, released in territories outside of Australia in December 1977 as the fourth and final single from the group's third studio album, Diamantina Cocktail. It was co-written by Beeb Birtles and David Briggs. The song became the band's second top twenty single in the United States, peaking at number 16 in March 1978 on the Billboard Hot 100.
We Two Pty Ltd v Shorrock (2002) was presided by Justice Raymond Finkelstein of the Federal Court of Australia, Melbourne to determine the ownership of the name, Little River Band, its trademarks, logos and associated assets. We Two Pty Ltd, the applicant, was established in 1987 and had been solely owned by Stephen Housden of the music group, Little River Band since 1998. The respondents, Glenn Shorrock, Gerard Bertelkamp and Graeham Goble, were all founding members of the same group, in 1975. Housden had joined them in 1981.
It's a Long Way There (Greatest Hits) is the first compilation album by the Australian group Little River Band, released in Australia and New Zealand in September 1978. The album peaked at No. 4 on the Australian Kent Music Report albums chart and No. 12 in New Zealand. The album sold over 200,000 copies in Australia. Retitled It's a Long Way There (1975–1979) it was re-issued in Germany for the European market in 1979.
Stephen Frank Housden is an English-born Australian musician. He joined the rock group Little River Band (LRB) in 1981 on lead guitar and vocals and ceased performing with them in 2006. Previously, Housden had worked as a session musician for various Australian artists. During the 1970s he was a member of Stevie Wright's band and Marcia Hines' touring and session bands. Housden released his debut solo album, New World Groove, in 1993.
George McArdle is an Australian bass guitarist. He came from a violent and abusive background and was drawn to alcohol, fighting, theft and rock music.
1 2 3 Nimmervoll, Ed. "The Twilights". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music. White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd (Ed Nimmervoll). Archived from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
↑ Adelaide Music Collective (10 October 2014). "SA Music Hall of Fame Inductees". South Australian Music Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 24 May 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
↑ Shorrock, Glenn (2018). Now, Where Was I?. New Holland. p.73. ISBN9781921024733.
↑ Shorrock, Glenn (2018). Now, Where Was I?. New Holland. p.84. ISBN9781921024733.
↑ Weekly, Stephen McKenzie of Melbourne (10 June 2010). "All you need is Glenn". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
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