Band Of Light
 Band
of Light was a blues-based group formed in October 1972 in Sydney
(Australia) by Phil Key, with bassist Peter Roberts (had both just
left The La De Das).
Their distinctive blues-rock sound was built around the dual
slide guitar work of Key and their other superb guitarist, Norm
Roue (who had come from Sydney band Gutbucket).
Peter Roberts left after only three shows and was replaced by
Ian Rilen, who was to become a fixture on the Australian rock
scene in the 1970s and 1980s.
The band worked consistently on the Sydney and Melbourne pub
circuit, eventually signing a recording contract with WEA in early
1973.
The group had immediate success when their first single, Destiny
Song (July 1973), made the national Top 40, peaking at
#18.
 They
followed this up with a successful debut LP, Total Union
(August 1973) which made the national Top 20 album chart, peaking
at #13. A third single, the non-album track Moonstruck was
released in November, but it didn't chart.
Band Of Light continued to be a popular live draw, but in
mid-1974 - on the verge of recording their second album - Rilen,
Roue and Buettel all left the band.
Phil called on bassist Bill Williams and drummer Dannie
Davidson (ex-Tamam Shud) to replace Rilen and Buettel and cut the
LP (The Archer) which was released later in the year.
Ray Vanderby (keyboards) and Eddie Hansen (lead guitar) were
brought in to fill out the line-up for live dates, but neither the
single The Archer (November), nor the album charted, and
the group split in late 1974.
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