The History of

Gossip

This page will actually bring you some gossipy stuff about LITTLE RIVER BAND ... nuthin' of importance but ... hey, maybe here you'll find the answers to questions you had for a long time. Who know's ...?

Here's another gossipy message, this time from Renee, I found in my mailbox on December 25th, 1997:

Subject : Merry Christmas !
Merry Christmas to you Frankie and thank you for the letter ... My name is Renee H. and I'm from St. Louis, Mo. To be honest, I knew the Little River Band, but didn't ... I know that doesn't make a lot of sense ... I knew their songs but not much about the band until I moved into this apartment and got to know my neighbor, Karen S., and found out she has been a long time dedicated fan and very good friend of the band since they started ... so now, we go to their shows whenever they're near St. Louis which was 6 times this past tour ... now I know the guys ... we had them over for a private barbecue this last July ... they truly are great guys ... to listen to them talk about how they miss their families and their home ... they really give up a lot to tour ... each one of them are very special and each one has many other activities going on in their lives as I'm sure you know ... We miss them very much and always wonder how they are ... We can't wait to see them this coming tour ... I get excited thinking about seeing them again! ...
Take Care,
Renee

P.S. You have done a fantastic job with the LRB web page ... I can't even imagine how much time you give up to maintain it ... Thank You for this ...

I received this message of Jacqueline S. Roberts on September 14th, 1997, reading ...:

Hello! Just got back from the concert at the Crestview Music Fair in Florida on September 12. The band was in their usual top form and even sound system problems didn't slow them down. They said the band was leaving for home in two days so this must be the end of the tour. Stephen Housden said he's been working on a second album with Graham GOBLE. I thought he meant this was his album and not Graham's, but after two hour's sleep in two days and a fourteen hour drive from Texas to Florida.
I was nearly brain dead and may have misunderstood him. The subject came up because I had mentioned I was trying to get a copy of his solo cd for a friend's Christmas present. They certainly have been nice about talking to fans and signing autographs and answering questions. The tour just ended and I miss them already!

J. Roberts

I found a link to British guitarist JOHN STEWARD-LADILAW, who claims he had helped LITTLE RIVER BAND work in the studio. Here's what he wrote:

Frankie,
Thanks for your eMail. I worked with Graham and Beeb for a couple of sessions in 1980/1981 when I was in Australia, so I can't really give you any real info on them except to say they were great guys (and still are, I'm certain), very professional and hard working. These are things that most people know already.

Actually being in the same room as these guys (including Glen SHORROCK - a *great* singer) playing little bits of "Reminiscing" and "Lonesome Loser" was something I'll never forget.

I wish I could help you more, but there it is - the life of a session guitarist ! By the way, I've looked at the pages and they're very impressive. Keep up the good work.
All the best
John

The following articles were found on the internet and placed here for fans and interested people to read. Both articles initially published by 'smh.com' and 'juliusmedia' necessarily represent the opinion of 'lrb.net', yet I feel they should be made available as they contain useful information and details in order to present a basis to formulate your own assessment.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/11/26/1038274302706.html

Help is far away for a famous band

By Bruce Elder
November 27 2002

Putting a toe back in the water ... left to right BEEB BIRTLES, GLENN SHORROCK and GRAEHAM GOBLE.

Let us, for a moment, engage in the fine academic discipline of semantics.

What does the term "group" actually mean in a popular music sense? Is, for example, CANNED HEAT a meaningful reality when only the drummer belonged to the original line-up? Can HERMAN'S HERMITS exist without "HERMAN" (PETER NOONE)? What is MANFRED MANN without MANFRED?

And can anyone legitimately call themselves the LITTLE RIVER BAND when they don't have the distinctive vocals of GLENN SHORROCK (the FARNHAM-led version of the group was never convincing), the harmonies provided by BEEB BIRTLES and GRAEHAM GOBLE, and the songwriting skills (between the trio they wrote such benchmark LRB songs as Help Is On Its Way, Reminiscing, Cool Change, The Other Guy, Home On Monday and Lady) which essentially established the band's musical template?

Well, this year a judge in Melbourne said BIRTLES, SHORROCK and GOBLE could not use the name the LITTLE RIVER BAND and that a strange group, happily performing all the old hits, headed by English guitarist STEPHEN HOUSDEN and comprising WAYNE NELSON, GREG HIND, KEVIN MURPHY and GLENN REITHER, could.

In fairness to HOUSDEN and his crew, it was LRB manager GLENN WHEATLEY and GOBLE who signed away the rights to the name.

So we now have a situation where BIRTLES, SHORROCK and GOBLE are performing all the old LRB hits and calling themselves BIRTLES SHORROCK GOBLE ["not BSG," says SHORROCK, "it sounds like something you get at a Chinese restaurant"], with their publicity and posters always including lines such as "formerly Little River Band" and "the original voices of Little River Band".

This is not some kind of one-off situation. The three of them are absolutely serious. Old animosities have been resolved. They are writing again and, like many a band 30 years their junior, they are excited about the prospect that "three record companies will be coming to the gig at the Enmore" with a view to signing them for a new recording contract.

"This is the toe-in-the-water tour just to see what the reaction is going to be to us stepping out in the limelight again after 20 years," SHORROCK says.

"The three of us haven't sung together for 20 years. When we started singing again this year it felt easy and good and it felt like the right time. It was about a year ago that Graeham called and suggested reforming and possibly touring America."

"Obviously our plans were stymied by the other Little Housden Band, as we call them."

So how did this strange situation occur? "Housden inherited the name. We let it slip through our fingers which is our fault. We all dropped off the branch for one reason or another but we felt legally that we hadn't officially given Stephen the name, but they found a piece of paper demonstrating that Glenn Wheatley and Graeham GOBLE had signed the name over so our case was blown out of court."

It was just one of those strange, evolving accidents. SHORROCK, who had returned to the band in 1988, left again in 1995 and gave up his rights to the directorship of the band the following year.

"Then there were two left: Derek Pellici and Stephen Housden. Pellici dropped out and that meant Stephen was left with the band for about the last three years. He's been doing very well out of it. We've got no argument about him touring the band."

"We do get upset when his publicity says that this is the band that sold over 20 million albums."

BIRTLES SHORROCK GOBLE will perform at the Enmore Theatre on Thursday at 8pm.

http://www.conpub.com.au/cxweb/

http://www.conpub.com.au/cxweb/article.asp?ID=163

Not The Little River Band - LIVE IN SYDNEY

BEEB BIRTLES, GLENN SHORROCK and GRAEHAM GOBLE reunited

Julius Grafton
Friday, 29 November 2002

Soaring harmonies. Young crackerjack backing band. Ultra tight live concert mix. Classic hits. It's Not The Little River Band, and they are back together again - fighting to use their name. There's plenty of fight in the other band too, they have hit back with a long and angry response to this review. (There's more on this issue in FORUM too.) Read on!

Sydney's Enmore Theatre hosted the prototype BIRTLES SHORROCK GOBLE concert with a full house last night, followed by two standing ovations. If ever a reunion or legacy rock act deserves success it's this one, with the three founders of LITTLE RIVER BAND reaffirming they deserve the tag bestowed upon them as 'the best singing band in the world'.

Hitting the stage with exactly the same opener as the first time I saw the group in the late 1970's, the soaring harmony of "Hey Everybody, Yeah ...... Don't You Feel That There's Something....." made hair stand on my neck. The band blazed into It's A Long Way There, and the very rare magic of truly high musical and production values kicked in. For two hours, hit after hit followed, with every complex musical part played out as well as on the original recordings.

The show was notable for most excellent sound. Sydney's Enmore Theatre is a difficult barn for a rock act, and many - including OASIS - have fought the room acoustic. Former LRB engineer ÊRNIE ROSE ventured out of his studio environment at Metropolis to drive a Soundcraft MH4 console with a Crown powered EAW KF 750 PA from Norwest, and had the audience looking at each other in wonder.

The soaring harmonies actually seemed to work better this time around, and certainly sounded stronger than on record. The band shot to number one in the USA on the back of voices that fit like a glove, and strong hits mainly penned by GOBLE.

Musicians, engineers, and industry people need to experience the BIRTLES SHORROCK GOBLE sound to reassess what is a leading edge concert sound and band package. The mainly Melbourne based musicians backing the trio are staggeringly good young musicians.

DORIAN WEST plays keyboards, plus flugelhorn and trumpet for certain songs. For example in Days On The Road, DORIAN takes the second solo on trumpet where on the record it was a flute which has made the song sound so sophisticated and leaning towards being almost jazz. He plays the flugelhorn solo at the end of Reminiscing which is just like the record.

DAVE BECK on drums plays very solidly, he's definitely a song guy as he is very observant of what is required. His "feel" for things is amazing.

JASON VORHERR plays bass and joins on certain vocal lines. The guy has learned every bass lick from every song that has been recorded and is playing them live in the set.

ALEJANDRO VEGA is from Chile, and plays percussion. The rhythm section has been extended by the addition of percussion.

Finally, young and good looking SIMON HOSFORD is on lead guitar and adds a very tasteful style. He plays very well together with BEEB BIRTLES on the dual guitar lines helps out on certain vocal lines as well. This guy encapsulates all styles from several different significant lead guitarists through the bands long history. His contribution was probably the musical highlight of the night.

The band have the five part harmony of Reminiscing on the record covered for the live shows.

Adding BEEB BIRTLES and GRAEHAM GOBLE on guitar, with lead singer GLENN SHORROCK at ease and at home in the role, the combination is smooth, tight, musical and together.

ERNIE ROSE has assumed a rare feat, being part of what at the time was one of the best sounding live acts of the 1970's and 1980's, he has now stepped back in front of new technology and produced a live concert mix that equals any of the best we have heard in the past decade.

This is a revival act that faces an uphill battle to conquer its target market, the USA heritage rock touring scene, because there is already a LITTLE RIVER BAND there. The name was assigned to a member of the band in 1992, English guitarist STEVE HOUSDEN. He maintains a band that also contains former bass player WAYNE NELSON, with pickup singers and musicians. They tour the USA each year, playing gigs like The Twin Cities Rib Fest and the Casino Rama as THE LITTLE RIVER BAND, despite never having written any of the dozen or so major hits that sold 25 million albums.

Their website possibly reflects the character of their act, go to their website.

The American Little River Band promote themselves as 'Australian', have no Australians in the line up, and didn't write the hit songs they play.

A court hearing in Australia recently upheld the legal rights of HOUSDEN and NELSON, trading as 'We Two Pty Ltd', to use the LITTLE RIVER BAND name, forcing BEEB BIRTLES, GLENN SHORROCK and GRAEHAM GOBLE to bill themselves under their own names. In Australia the inability to perform as LRB may have limited ticket sales, with a test run of regions and main city theatres selling very well this month. But as LRB the act may well sold in larger venues.

There is no announcement of the future plans of the group, which are complicated by the fact that BEEB BIRTLES now lives in Nashville. A DVD of a concert on the Australian tour will be released next year.

CLARIFICATION: Not long after posting this story, we received rocket letters from several personnel associated with The Little River Band. Their letters are posted in full, in News as "Little River Band clarify their rights to the name". They are best run in full so the anger within is properly ventilated. GO TO STORY.

Connections accept that most members of Little River Band are in fact Australian. We certainly apologize for that. We do understand that MR. HOUSDEN lives in Ireland.

The 2nd last par alludes incorrectly to MR. NELSON being a director of 'We Two Pty Ltd', despite stating correctly earlier that MR. HOUSDEN is.

We accept the court hearing did not rule on anything other than costs.

http://www.conpub.com.au/cxweb/article.asp?ID=164

Little River Band clarify their rights to the name

By Julius Grafton
Saturday, 30 November 2002

The LITTLE RIVER BAND have major objections to our review of BIRTLES, SHORROCK and GOBLE - headed 'Not The Little Band, LIVE IN SYDNEY'. We have left the story in its original form - with a new footnote - for now. This rocket mail was received from singer GLENN REITHER and Tour Manager TERRY FINLEY. They are plainly very unhappy. (See also FORUM for more on this!)

This started with our review of the BIRTLES, SHORROCK, GOBLE concert last week. (GO TO STORY)

This rocket response is just in from GLENN REITHER, headed: "And the award for poor journalism goes to...."

There is not "a Little River Band" touring the USA. It is THE Little River Band which Housden joined in 1981 and Nelson in 1980. The same band that SHORROCK left in 1982 and again in 1996. The same band that BIRTLES quit in 1983 (19 years ago!). The same band that GOBLE quit in 1990 (12 years ago!). The same band that has Wayne Nelson as lead singer. He sang two of the band's biggest hits: The Night Owls and Take It Easy On Me.

You of course wouldn't mention that would you?

The current lineup of Little River Band includes the two longest-serving members EVER. Maybe your readers would like to know that? The rest of the band are no more "pickup" singers and musicians than Steve Prestwich or John Farnham were, or for that matter the wonderful musicians you applaud in your breathless review. Those so-called "pickup" musicians are professionals who JOINED LRB and have been in it for some years now.

They have in the past toured with many famous Australian acts like Bachelor Girl, Kate Ceberano, Tommy Emmanuel and more. Two of them have been heavily involved in GOBLE'S other projects. You deliberately use a term like "pickup" to denigrate people you have never met or heard or taken the trouble to find any information on. You'd probably like us, might even think we're good-looking too.

Wayne Nelson is the only non-Australian in the band. You refer to Housden as English - why? Because he was born there? Then please preface all references to SHORROCK with the word 'Englishman', and all references to BEEB BIRTLES with 'Dutchman'.

Kevin Murphy, Greg Hind, Glenn Reither and Stephen Housden are Australians. You owe it to your readers to better research your articles and at the very least correct your errors.

You say we didn't write the hit songs we play.

That's not strictly true either. Housden co-wrote 'Love Is A Bridge' which was a chart hit in Australia in 1988 and went Top 40 in the USA. If WRITING the songs is so important then many successful and talented artists are in fact shams because they didn't write the material they perform. If WRITING the songs is important, what about having played on the hits? In that respect, Housden (lead guitar) and Nelson (bass) make the very talented and good-looking young musicians in BSG imposters. Which I don't believe but I am saying you can't have it both ways, applying an arbitrary standard selectively to support your bias and misinform your readers.

"A court hearing in Australia recently upheld the legal rights of Housden and Nelson, trading as We Two Pty Ltd"

Again, you are wrong. Nelson has no ownership of 'We Two' or the 'Little River Band' name. It is owned solely by Housden. Gee, you're not doing too well here are you? In fact, the court made no decision. Again you are grossly mistaken or deliberately untruthful. The case was settled by BIRTLES, GOBLE and SHORROCK who themselves admitted that they left the band, sold their share, and have no rights to the use of the name.

The court only ruled on costs.

As someone who could perhaps loosely be termed a journalist, you ought to be ashamed of yourself for getting so much wrong and being so blatantly biased.

Your readers deserve better.

Sincerely,
Glenn Reither
Little River Band

------- This from TERRY FINLEY: -------

Dear Mr. Grafton,
There are several glaring errors in your recent article on the BIRTLES/SHORROCK/GOBLES show in Sydney that I would hope you would have the courtesy of correcting for your readers.

1) The name was not ASSIGNED to Mr. Housden in 1992. It was in fact sold over to him solely after the last of the founding members left the group in early 1998, Derek Pellicci. This coming after Mr. SHORROCK sold his rights to the name in early 1996 to Mr. Housden and Mr. Pellicci. Prior to that Mr. Goble left after 1992, and Mr. Birtles a lifetime ago in 1983!

2) Referring to Mr. Housden as "English guitarist Steve Housden" is terribly misleading to your readers. In point of fact, if you were to be using that same logic when writing an article on THE total original lineup you would write something like "Englishman Glenn Shorrock, Dutchman Beeb Birtles, Englishman Derek Pelicci, New Zealander Roger McLachlan, Italian Ric Formosa, and the LONE Australian in the group, Graham Goble." I realize that you are probably some sort of acquaintance of one or more of these guys, but let's be a little more honest with your readers.

3) The current band does NOT use pick up musicians. All of the current members are Australians who have been in the group for a number of years now (in fact this current line up has been together longer than ANY previous addition of the group) and most were in fact auditioned for the job by both Stephen Housden and Mr. GOBLE himself!

4) Unlike the original band, this version has more than one member who was actually born in Australia.

5) As for writing the hits. The BSG band is playing several hits songs that they did not either write (Lonesome Loser) or sing (Night Owls/Take It Easy On Me - and yes I know you will say that SHORROCK sang half of Easy, but in reality the original version was sung by Wayne Nelson!)

6) The target market of the USA Heritage Rock touring scene (whatever the hell that is?) is dead. And has been dead for several years now. They missed the boat on that one. Perhaps had they been driven by an actual desire to reunite an original version of the band they might have wanted to do that in 2000 when it was the groups 25th anniversary and also coincided with the Olympics in Sydney. Instead they chose to try to do this now out of petty jealousy. They all left the band for dead years ago, and only decided to get back together now as a result of the current band getting a new recording contract in North America and Europe and releasing the groups first new project in 12 years last summer. At least try to pretend that you are an un-biased professional and write a retraction if not a more balanced and fact based article in the near future.

If you are having any problems finding the truth, I would be happy to help out in any way I could.

Sincerely,
Terry Finley
Tour Manager
Little River Band
1995-present

http://www.conpub.com.au/cxweb/article.asp?ID=171

When is a band not a band? LRB debate

FORUM

Monday, 2 December 2002

Our review of BIRTLES, SHORROCK and GOBLE (See: SHOWS) generated some furious flame mail from members of The LITTLE RIVER BAND, affronted that we may have suggested BIRTLES, SHORROCK and GOBLE may have claim to the name. Go to article So what is in a band name? NZ reader Lindsay Nelson has some ideas.....

I just logged on to the new CX website and read the LRB story.

I'd like to make some public statements about this:

"THE NAME IS NOT THE SAME"

For many years bands have arrived in New Zealand billed as something they are not. What they are, is a reincarnation or facsimile of a previously successful band, but in almost every case, they are missing one or two key components that made the original, the unique band that gained worldwide success.

For a band to truly represent the band of the past, it must, in my view contain the following:
The lead vocalist from the band's most successful period - the period that made them famous.
The musicians who wrote the music, and gave the band their uniqueness.
We have had bands tour NZ who, IN MY VIEW, do not fulfil the criteria I have mentioned. For example:

THE BEACH BOYS without BRAIN WILSON - BEACH BOYS? Yes they can be called the beach boys, but any band missing 2 members of the Wilson family cannot truly represent the sound that made this band unique. In fact both the Beach Boys and Beatles would not be able to reunite in a truly original form.

LRB - We have The Little river band touring NZ shortly. If this version of LRB does not contain SHORROCK, BIRTLES or GOBLE, it should be made clear. Wayne Nelson, in his defense, contributed to LRBs uniqueness, but not enough for him to claim naming rights.

Creedence Clearwater Revisited - we have the original drummer and bass player joining with 2 other muso's - not the Fogerty brothers. A bit suspect in my view.

The Hollies - without Allan Clarke, they are very close to, but not really the Hollies. They did manage when Graham Nash left, but without Allan Clarke?

Bands have always been fluid things, with members leaving, being replaced, and sometimes returning. What constitutes the sound that made the band, is the key to this debate. This special sound comes from the way they have grown up, the geography and culture, and some unexplained genetic influences, plus the music they listened to, and grew up with.

Because these things are difficult to define, there will always be arguments, but I feel we are being misled by some of the acts that turn up on our shores!

Regards,
Lindsay Nelson
AV Technician
Christchurch Polytechnic
Institute of Technology

I agree with you, Lindsay. I've seen this before, and before, and before. In 1974 there was a Sydney band called, wait for it, The 69ers. Then the bass player left and formed Peter Knox's 69'ers. So the other band became 'THE ORIGINAL 69'ERS'. And so it went.

There have been many court cases revolving around the business of the band name - and it is business, after all.

There are plenty of 'almost' bands out there, THE WHO and YES spring to mind, both recently.

Caveat emptor.

http://www.conpub.com.au/cxweb/article.asp?ID=174

When is a band not a band? LRB (2)

Wednesday, 4 December 2002

Former LRB crew member ROSSFERGUSON writes about LRB: "I have read both Glen and Terry's letters. I believe that they are trading on the fame of someone else's hard work and talent. Bear in mind these are my opinions. These are my replies to the issues raised by them."

Glen,
In response to your answer The Little River Band. Yes legally you may be able to call yourself a member of The Little River Band. Unfortunately the law is not always right. I'm sure glad that they found OJ innocent, god help us if the legal system ever got it wrong.

In reference to your members being no pickup musicians ( dare I use the word)any more than Farnham or Prestwich. Both of those guys recorded and played live shows with at least one or more original members of the band. I will check all The Little River Band albums and have a look for your name in the credits.

I have not attacked your musical ability. Frankly you are so sure that this is such a great band why don't you call it your own name. From what your tour manager say's LRB has missed the boat anyway.

Your paranoia of the term pickup, which seems to be with your tour manager as well baffles me. Bands pick up different crew all the time I don't take offence to it, why should you.

Bon Scott once said in an interview similar to this issue you have with nationalities, "There are no Nationalities in Rock and Roll". I suppose you all got that one wrong including Julius. As far as Bon and I are concerned.

The bit about writing "Love is a Bridge" ask Stevie about Cairns and where that title came from. That whole paragraph is hard to comprehend. What are you getting at?

As for last paragraph. Beeb never sold his rights to the name and the GOBLE part is very grey. Have you personally heard Grahaem's side. I doubt it. If the legal side of things is more important than the realistic and moral side, I suggest you get some clubs and play golf with OJ Simpson.

In Reply to Terry's letter,
There are several glaring errors in your letter sir,

Mr Birtles did not leave a lifetime ago, otherwise how could he be on stage now singing and playing the songs that he wrote. Get your facts right he received no payment for the name and had no say in it's disposal. Again you go on about the article referring to Stevie as an Englishman, what don't you like the English or something?

I mean who really cares how many Australians are in the band , even if Julius did mention it what a petty thing to worry about. How many Australians on your crew and in your management. You see it does not matter.

You refer to your list as several songs yet you only list three, surprise me, tell me some more.

Now here is the paragraph that you really shoot yourself in the foot. If the US Rock Heritage touring scene is dead and you are saying they missed the boat. WHY are you still using the name then? As for the petty jealousy, what have they BSB (formally of The Little River Band)) got to be jealous of. They were in the original band. They wrote and played on 95% of the songs. If you are so sure of your new product why don't you give it your own name and if it is so good why has it taken 12 years to get an album out.

Personally I don't think I will be looking your way for the truth. Grab a set of clubs and join Glen and OJ. He is legally innocent.

Ross Ferguson
PS
Terry I hope I did not make the (formally of The Little River Band) too big for your legal liking and I did put it in brackets, for you.

-------------------------

Ross Ferguson (Long serving LRB and BSG crew member)

http://www.conpub.com.au/cxweb/article.asp?ID=217

LRB vs. SBG. YET MORE letters..... !

Friday, 21 February 2003

Scott Johnson, an Aussie Expat, from Taipei, Taiwan and Evan Mynard, a "Diehard" original LRB fan contribute to the debate about whether a band is entitled to its name - or not. And Shane Sullivan has done EXTENSIVE research and has another point of view.

Hey Julius
Who'd wanna be a rock journo, huh? I just read the "Not the LRB" webpage and associated hot air being blasted around, and laughed a little, and cried a little inside too, I guess.

While obviously the ability to hire a good lawyer counts for something, I would have thought the LRB-Wannabes would have also resigned themselves to the understanding that in the minds of the record buying Australian public (i.e. people like ME) LRB = Shorrock, Birtles and Goble. End of discussion. Take a look at the hits for god sake: who wrote em? Who sang em? Who played on em? 95% of the time S,B,R is the answer. Hell, some of us were aghast when John Farnham took the helm for a few years - That was 2nd rate LRB. Seeing the lads rocking during Farmhand was the greatest thing I've heard in ages.

So you were right. They were wrong. But we'll keep it our secret, huh? You, me and the 19,999,995 other Aussies who know it.

Kind regards
Scott Johnson
Aussie Expat, Taipei, Taiwan.

Hi Julius.
Bloody hell mate. I was checking Google for articles on Birtles, Shorrock, Goble (you know, the band formerly known as LRB.....) and found your site. Am I now glad I did! Good to see the article from Ross. At least someone a bit closer to the action was able to be heard.

Please yourself if you post this to the forum or not, but I thought I'd put my 2 cents worth in. And you know what?? I've earned it! The guys have been a part of my life now for 25 + years, since I was 13 or 14. And I'm just one of the countless others who have appreciated the quality and musical genius behind the sounds of that original band for many years now. Beeb, Glenn & Graeham have my undying and unequivocal support anytime they need it. Because like Ross said in his impromptu speech at The Basement (I take it that was you at the microphone Ross...?) - THEY'VE earned it!

A few points of my own...

It's true bands can be transient, and "LRB" is and has been no exception over the past 20 years. However, what makes a "band"? Is it the music, the lyrics, the line-up, the name?? Well, probably everything BUT the name actually makes the band itself. However, when there is a special synergy between the musicians in a band, it becomes something very special. What makes it all the more special and rewarding is when that synergy extends to its audience. When this band was formed 28 years ago (yikes!), that synergy existed in a big way. After time, certain things become anchors for us. After Hours, for example, is an anchor for me - the times, the music, the tranquillity, etc. Somewhere I still go to to this day (listening to that album) when I want to be in a certain place. Anchors in fact trigger emotional memories. The major emotional memory for me in this case is the voices and music of Glenn, Beeb & Graeham - the Little River Band. That cannot, and never will, change. Thus, my lack of interest during the Farnham years, etc. Still great music, but I didn't feel the need to follow it's progress.

The gig at the Enmore on the 28th Nov 2002 was a very special evening for me, as it was something I never thought I would have the opportunity to see in my lifetime. Those special synergies were more apparent live than I could ever have imagined or experienced just listening to an LP. I didn't get the chance to see the Little River Band perform live "way back then", and after Glenn & Beeb left, never thought I would. Of course, Glenn returned 6 years later for the Monsoon days, though I remember wondering at the time "where's Beeb?".

My point is this: there can be all this to-ing and from-ing over the name "Little River Band" from a legal point of view. But in the hearts and minds of the fans and the listening public, the Little River Band will always be Birtles, Shorrock, Goble. And I'm only one person....... How many others out there have those same anchors?

To the "legal" LRB: - guys, you are ALL excellent and hardworking musicians. Wayne and Steve have kept the band together through all the ups and downs, and both have made considerable contributions to the band over the past 20 years through all it's line ups. I have to tell you though, I had a listen to your tracks on Steve's LRB site the other day to check out what the music sounds like. Listening to Cool Change for example was a very different experience from hearing Glenn do it. It just wasn't the same at all. For me as a long term fan, it was really no comparison. The competence of the music was never in question. It just wasn't the "Little River Band". Do you know what I mean?

My intent here is definitely NOT to insult anyone in any way. I'm just putting the words down from a fans perspective. That's not to say that Steve's band hasn't earned the right to continue, because it certainly has. I'm just don't think it should be as the Little River Band though.

As far as the fidelity part of this argument goes, I absolutely agree with you Julius about what Ernie Rose did at the Enmore. I don't care what the equipment was, for a theatre like that the fidelity was brilliant. I mentioned this to Jason at The Basement on the Sunday after, to which he replied that he also thought it was the best sound out of all the gigs they had done. If I had have actually know that it was Ern doing that there, I would have made the effort to go and shake his hand on the job he did. I've never been to the Enmore before, so I really don't know how hard it usually is to get a good sound, to which you refer. I thought it was just like that all the time!

Anyway, Birtles Shorrock Goble will continue with Simon, Jason, Dave, Alejandro and Dorian and continue to delight multi generations with their magic, whatever name they use.

Yours truly,
Evan Mynard
"Diehard" Original LRB fan.

----------------

Shane Sullivan writes:

Hey,
Caught your articles from last year on the LRB - not LRB issue and thought I might put my thoughts to paper and help clarify some of the inaccuracies that have been proported.
Some of the following material I stumbled upon while studying this issue for a university paper:

LRB SINGLES BY ALBUMS

LITTLE RIVER BAND (1975)
Emma - Written and sung by SHORROCK.
Curiosity - Written by BIRTLES Sung by SHORROCK
I'll Always Call your Name - Written & Sung by Beeb (US HIT)
It's a Long Way There - written by GOBLE sung by B S & G

AFTER HOURS (1976)
Days on the Road - Written by GOBLE Sung by SHORROCK
Another Runway - written by BIRTLES and Formosa Sung by BIRTLES
Everyday of my Life - Written and Sung by BIRTLES
Burbon Street was written and sung by Ric Formosa but wasn't a single.

DIAMANTINA COCKTAIL (1977)
Help is on its Way - Written and sung by SHORROCK (US HIT)
Witchery - Written and sung by BIRTLES
Home on Monday - Written by BIRTLES/SHORROCK and Sung by SHORROCK
Happy Anniversary - written by David Briggs/BIRTLES sung by all (US HIT)

SLEEPER CATCHER (1978)
Reminiscing - written by GOBLE sung by SHORROCK (US HIT)
Lady - written by GOBLE sung by SHORROCK (US HIT)
Shut Down Turn Off - Written and sung by SHORROCK (US HIT)

FIRST UNDER THE WIRE (1979)
Cool Change - written and sung by SHORROCK (US HIT)
Lonesome Loser - written by David Briggs and sung by SHORROCK (US HIT)

BACKSTAGE PASS/LIVE IN AMERICA (1980)
Lets Dance - Written by Briggs sung by SHORROCK
It's Not a Wonder - written by GOBLE sung by SHORROCK (US HIT)

TIME EXPOSURE (1981)
Night Owls - Written by GOBLE sung by Wayne Nelson (US HIT)
Man on Your Mind - written and sung by SHORROCK (US HIT)
Take it Easy on Me - Written by GOBLE and sung by Nelson & SHORROCK (US HIT)
Briggs contributed the song Don't Let the Needle Win

GREATEST HITS VOL II (1982)
Down on the Border - written by GOBLE sung by Farnham
Other Guy - written by GOBLE sung by John Farnham

THE NET (1983)
You're Driving Me Out of My Mind - written by BIRTLES/GOBLE sung by Farnham (US HIT)
We Two - written by GOBLE sung by Farnham (US HIT)
Also Steve Housden (w/Malcolm Wakeford) wrote Falling and Nelson sang GOBLE's Easy Money.

PLAYING TO WIN (1985)
Playing to Win - written and sung by John Farnham all LRB members contributed additional lyrics and music. (US HIT)
The rest of the Album is made up of mainly compositions written by the group as a whole.

NO REINS (1986)
Time for Us - written by GOBLE sung by Nelson
Paper Paradise written by David Hirshfelder and Nelson sung by Farnham
When the War is Over written by Steven Prestwich Sung by Farnham
There are also song writing contributions from GOBLE & Housden. GOBLE has gone on record saying that this is his favorite LRB album. Half of the songs on this album are lead voiced by Wayne Nelson.

MONSOON (1988)
Love is a Bridge - written by Housden/GOBLE sung by SHORROCK. (US HIT)
Son of a Famous Man written by GOBLE sung by SHORROCK
This album also contains a song written by Pellicci (Rhythm King) a Nelson vocal (Inside Story) and a number of all band style compositions.

TOO LATE TO LOAD (1988)
D - Written by GOBLE sung by Farnham
When Will I Be Loved - written by Everly sung by SHORROCK

GET LUCKY (1990)
Most of the material on this album was outsourced. Songwriters like Mike Chapman, Dennis Lambert and Peter Beckett (not yet a full member) are present. Three of the tunes are sung by Wayne Nelson who writing-wise contributed the single biggest missed single opportunity LRB ever had with the aptly names 'One that Got Away'. Glenn SHORROCK only contributed one song, a melody to Pellicci's lyric 'I Dream Alone'.

1990s Singles
Worldwide Love (1991)
Walk Together (1992) are both sung by SHORROCK and come from sources outside the band.
My Own Way Home (1992) written by SHORROCK/Cadd sung by SHORROCK

A variety of LRB associated musicians played on both SHORROCK & Cadds Blazing Salads and GOBLE's three album projects.

WHERE WE STARTED FROM (2000)
No singles.
The songs are written by each of the current members and the lead vocals are shared between Nelson, Hind and Murphy with nelson taking the bulk of the vocal duties. Some of the songs were written by Steve Wade - former LRB, and Graham GOBLE Encounter singer. The two re-recordings are Cool Change and Night Owls.

-------

As is quite clear from this. The assertion that BIRTLES GOBLE and SHORROCK were the writers and Singers of all of the LRBs biggest hits is in many ways faulted. If one is to say that Mr. Birtles has a right to use the LRB name because of his hit song contributions one must also allow that right to David Briggs, Rick Formossa, Steve Housden and Wayne Nelson.

An issue with the BIRTLES SHORROCK GOBLE that your article did not choose to mention also was that their original intention was to reform a quasi-original lineup of Shorrock, Birtles, Goble, Pellicci, McLachlan and Briggs (Glenn Wheatley announced this in Dec 2001).

A source on the net suggests that Shorrock objected to ever working with Pellicci again (reasons given are the court action taken against Pellicci and Housden in 1996 by Shorrock - over the loss of the band's most important asset [goodwill?] should they tour without him after he refused to meet a previously organized touring schedule - Shorrock was unsuccessful.)

The source goes on to say that it was decided that just the three singers would be more profitable. If BIRTLES SHORROCK and GOBLE were meant to be the real LRB why have they not involve as many of the prominent former members. Birtles Shorrock and Goble calling themselves the Original Little River Band is not even a legally descriptive title. They were not and are not the Original Little River Band That Included at least two other people.

LITTLE RIVER BAND LINEUPS
These lineups are based on Album listings and information from the Little River Band and Birtles Shorrock Goble websites.

L R B's Genesis. London 1974
Glen Shorrock - Vocals
Graham Goble - Vocals Beeb Birtles - Vocals Derrick Pellici - Drummer Glenn Wheatley - Manager

L R B # 1 1975 (recorded "When Will I Be Loved") Glen Shorrock - Vocals
Graham Goble - Guitar & Vocals
Beeb Birltes - Guitar & Vocals
Derrick Pellici - Drums
Graham Davidge - Guitar

L R B # 2 1975-1976 (2 LPs self-titled and "After Hours") Shorrock Goble Birtles Pellicci Ric Formosa - Lead Guitar & Vocals Roger McLachlan - Bass Guitar

L R B # 3 1977-1978 (2 LPs "Diamantina Cocktail" & "Sleeper Catcher") Shorrock Goble Birtles Pellicci David Briggs - Lead Guitar George McArdle - Bass At some point during this tour Pellicci was replaced by Malcolm Wakeford.
Pellicci was recovering from burns injuries.

L R B # 4 1979 (LP "First Under The Wire")
Shorrock
Goble
Birtles
Pellicci
Briggs

L R B # 5 1979 (US Tour LP "Backstage Pass")
Shorrock
Goble
Birtles
Pellici
Briggs
Mal Logan - Keyboards
Barry Sullivan - Bass

L R B # 6 1980-1982 (LP "Time Exposure")
Shorrock
Goble
Birtles
Briggs (LP not Tour)
Logan (Tour 1981)
Wayne Nelson - Bass
Steven Housden - Lead Guitar (Tour 1981)

LRB # 7 1982-83 (LP "The Net")
Goble
Birtles
Pellicci
Nelson
Housden
John Farnham - Vocals

LRB # 8 1984-1986 (LPs "Playing to Win" & "No Reins")
Goble
Nelson
Housden
Farnham
David Hirshfelder - Keyboards Steven Prestwich - Drums

LRB # 9 1988-1990 (LPs "Monsoon" & "Get Lucky")
Goble
Nelson
Housden
Shorrock
Pellicci

LRB # 10 1991-1996 (Album "Worldwide Love" 1991)
Nelson
Housden
Shorrock
Pellicci
Peter Becket - Guitar & Vocals
Tony Scuito - Keyboards
Richard Bryant - Keyboards (US Tour, 1992)

LRB # 11 1997 (US Tour)
Nelson (no touring?)
Housden
Pellicci
Becket
Scuito
Hal Tupea - Bass
Steven Wade - Vocals

LRB # 12 1998 (US Tour)
Nelson (non touring?)
Housden
Wade
Roger McLaclan - Bass
Adrian Scott - Keyboards
Kevin Murphy - Drums
Paul Gildea - Guitar & Vocals

LRB # 13 1999 (US Tour)
Nelson
Housden
Wade
Murphy
Gildea
Glenn Riether - Keyboards and vocals

LRB # 14 2000-present (2 CDs "Were We Started From" & "One Night in Mississippi") Nelson
Housden
Murphy
Reither
Greg Hind - Guitar & Vocals

And for that matter -

Birtles Shorrock Goble # 1 early 2002
Beeb Birtles - Guitar & Vocals
Glenn Shorrock - Vocals
Graeham Goble - Guitar & Vocals
Simon Hosford - Lead Guitar
Alejandro Vega - Percussion
Jason Vorherr - Bass
John Watson - Drums
Dorian West - Keyboards

Birtles Shorrock Goble # 2 October 2002-
Birtles
Shorrock
Goble
Hosford
Vega
Vorherr
West
Dave Beck - Drums

From these lineups one can clearly assume that Little River Band membership was never a stable entity. Mr. Reither and Mr Finley may have been incorrect to claim that the current lineup was the longest lasting. It is the second longest after the early nineties (1991-1996) lineup. Claims that the current lineup sprang up out of nowhere are false.

Kevin Murphy is respected veteran drummer who has played for, amongst other bands, respected UK fusion group Graham Bond Organisation and had a short stint in Billy Thorpe's Aztecs in the 70s. Hind and Reither have played in bands together throughout the 80s and 90s. Former member Steven Wade was the feature vocalist on Goble's albums Nautilus and Stop!. Those albums also featured Paul Gildea, Kevin Murphy and Steve Housden. Goble has called Steve Wade the second most interesting voice (after John Farnham) that he had ever heard. I wonder were Mr. Shorrock ranks?

Also In your article your suggested that We Two was a new company. We Two P/L was incorporated in 1988 when the band reformed with a new "original" lineup. The original members of this company were Shorrock, Nelson, Goble, Housden and Pellicci. The trademarks of the band and logos which had previously been owned by Graham Goble solely were transferred from the previous parent company "Little River Band P/L."

This process is known as creating a clean slate company and is a common practice for bands that have reached a low ebb financially. This is the main event that led to the current state of affairs with respect to the trademark ownership. It has been suggested by some documents that I have studied that, had Goble Pellicci and Shorrock ("Original members") wished to guard the trademark from the ownership of Nelson and/or Housden, they should not have incorporated them into the company.

The other important issue is of course the effect of the LRB sound by Producers and engineers. It is clear from a survey of their studio albums that much of the LRB sound is owed to people like John Boylan and Ern Rose. It is clear that neither the current Little River Band and Birtles Shorrock Goble are not the complete package. They both amount to about a half to 3/4 of the LRB experience. While they are both around I will support them both.

But as far as I can only won of these groups sound like a band. There only really two LRB albums that have sounded like the work of a cohesive band - fresh, energetic with a sense of urgency. Those albums are Monsoon and Where We Started From. The funny thing is that both of those albums feature Housden and Nelson.

If Birtles Shorrock and Goble want to be a Little River Band they need to make a few phone calls because those three alone were never "The Original Little River Band".

One more thing. Ever Wondered why Birtles Shorrock Goble isn't alphabetical (as all LRB listings were). It's because the contraction of Birtles Goble Shorrock would be BGS therefore infringing another bands copyright (the Bee Gees).

Thank for your time,
Shane Sullivan
groups.msn.com/littleriverband

[ Site map ]

[ Top ]