Redhouse
Originally formed as The Redhouse Roll Band, this Geelong
(Victoria, Australia) quartet was that city's premier rock
attraction during the mid-1970s. The Redhouse Roll Band provided a
very theatrical stage show - along the lines of Alice Cooper -
with band members dressing up in skeleton suits or Superman
outfits.
In 1973 the band signed a record deal with Atlantic, which
resulted in the single Oh! Lucky Man. Taken from the
British feature film of the same name, the band's version of Alan
Price's song became a regional hit. But the band went into
hibernation and re-emerged in late 1975 as Redhouse, with a
completely revised line-up comprising Green, John Dallimore,
Jacques De Jongh and Gary Crothall.
Redhouse built up a strong following on the Melbourne pub
circuit as a hard-working heavy rock band. In July 1976, De Jongh
left the band to join Hush. Graham Matters (on vocals) and Garry
Quince (on guitar and keyboards) took his place.
In September, Redhouse entered the studio to record a debut
album, One More Squeeze. The album did not reflect the
band's onstage energy and presented as a lightweight guitar-pop
LP. The album produced the singles I Like Dancing
(October 1976) and Who's Foolin' Who? (February 1977).
I Like Dancing peaked at number 17 in Melbourne during
December 1976, and in March 1977 Quince left to join Finch, with
Robin Riley coming in as his replacement.
A third single, Thank You, was released in August 1977
before Graham Matters departed to join the cast of the stage
musical A Chorus Line. Riley left in October and De Jongh
returned briefly while Hush were off the road.
In December, long-serving bass player Jack Green took over
management of the band and Redhouse re-formed with a new line-up
of Dallimore, Crothall, Gary's brother Rick Crothall on bass, and
Joey Amenta (ex-Taste) on guitar. Amenta did not last long and
left in March 1978 to join the Russell Morris
Band. Redhouse
continued as a three-piece for several months before finally
calling it quits.
In late 1978, John Dallimore and Rick Crothall formed a new
band - a loud, heavy rock band in the tradition of Rose Tattoo and
AC/DC. The band were modestly called Dallimore. The band issued
one single (and a very catchy one at that), called We Are The
Kids, in August 1980.
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