UNKNOWN BLUES Dave & Chris

I have touched base with members of the Unknown Blues: Dave Rowlands, Ian Sullivan, Chris Brown and Phil Jones. Dave and Chris can be contacted on Facebook

 

'Hi Lynne, Great to make contact and yes it was a terrific re-union with Dave. The past has been returning at a rate .. Chris Brown (ex Unknown Blues, Ayer's Rock) .. Chris Brown'

'Hi Lynne, I am Dave Rowlands, the drummer for The Unknown Blues. I love your blog. Glad we get a mention! Phil Jones lives in the U.S. expensive. I live in Brisbane now and was down in Sydney on holidays late last year. I caught up with some friends I had not seen for forty years. Some great memories came flooding back and yes, they used to go to Beethovens too. Dave Rowlands'

I took my 8 year old son around to see the Rhubarbs (now a Spanish restaurant) and the Beethovens (who knows?) buildings. If only the walls could talk! There were some pretty wild things happening in those days and I had my share too! You have recorded a time that was truly a period of massive social change. We were all able to go out and have a good time without fear and knowing our mates would look after us if there was trouble. To top it off there was some pretty good music to dance to too. I would love to get our band back together for a reunion but there are a couple of hurdles in my way.

Vaughan Bros, organist, passed away, Bill Hodgkisson, bass- disappeared without a trace.

Good news is I have touched base with Chris Brown, guitarist. He is still playing part-time and can come up with a couple of musos to fill in the blank spaces. Chris and I were the founding members of the band. We need to do this soon as we are all getting a bit long in the tooth. If a concert/gig is possible I would give you enough notice to plan to attend if you want to.

On another topic from that era, a lady has emailed me looking for the name of a disco venue down a lane off Pitt St, not far from Town Hall. In early 1967 she used to come with a friend on Saturday afternoons to watch us play. It was in a sort of courtyard at ground level. The front was painted in gaudy colours and there was a string of lights across the front. She remembers it being very dark inside and I remember some large cushions against the walls. I cannot for the life of me remember the name. Neither can Phil or Chris. We left there to fill in for Python Lee Jackson at Rhubarbs. None of that precinct exists now as it was all demolished. By some miracle you may have gone there but I won't hold my hopes too high. I hope this finds you in good health and spirits.
Chris Brown is living in Sydney and plays part-time in a few clubs with a small combo. We hope to get a reunion band together with some musos that Chris knows. He mentioned a Blues Festival in Richmond later this year, but that is to be confirmed.

I haven't played professionally since The Unknown Blues but have a drumkit and can still play. I have been following your blog for about a year and decided that I had better make contact with you and thank you for the work you have put into saving the history of the 60's and reconnecting friends from that time. Cheers, Dave '

Vaughan Bros

Chris Brown and David Rowlands 2010

Chris Brown - Ayers Rock

1967 Beethovens

Heavens above Rhubarbs has closed!!! What were we to do? Fortunately for us Frank Martin's Beethovens, in nearby Cunningham Street was raging with Phil Jones and the Unknown Blues. The place was not a pinch on Rhubarbs, the acoustics were crap.

T’WASNT ME 1967! 

Being an ardent Leadbelly fan I was thrilled to hear Phil and the boys do their interpretations of  "Pick a Bale of Cotton" and "Bring a Little Water Silvy". 

Specializing in city blues they entertained us with: "Three Hundred Pounds", "Born in Chicago", "Parchment Farm" ... and of course, "If I Had a Ticket" .. must get a list from Dave.  Their manager Peter Conyingham as I recall had stringent rules and the boys were fined for minor misdemeanours.

The Sect and Sebastian Hardie and Gutbucket also appeared periodically.

Gutbucket (formerly Om Di Com) fronted by Normie Roue on harp and vocals. Little Norm, cupped one hand over his ear and gave us a awesome gravel-voiced rendition of "Louisianna Red".   I'm Louisiana Red and I come from behind the sun .. ♫

Seen anyone yet?” .. This was the standard greeting in those days, 'anyone' meaning 'anyone who was anyone'. “Yep, just ran into Pommy Rob and Jenny the coat-check chick from Rhubarbs!" came the cool reply. One had to be cool, this was displayed by an air of nonchalance in response to anything that was exciting. "Know where there's any stuff?"  "I think he's got some." I said, nodding in the direction of someone who will remain anonymous. About midnight, Anon approached me. "If I’m not back by one, can you take care of my gear?”  "Sure thing." I grunted and continued my conversation with Sue.

I sat outside on the footpath until two that morning, he didn't return. I picked up his belongings and trundled off to some all night den near the Taxi Club on Moore Park Road.

Next day Sue and I took a peek in the case. Hundreds of purple hearts (dexamphetamine) were ‘winking’ at us. We took a couple and closed the bag, and opened it, and closed it, and opened it .. this continued until the pills were alll gone! Beethoven's closed, Frank Martin set up Vibes in an old office block near Haymarket, we all moved onto Vibes another music venue (an old office block near Haymarket).

NOTE: Years later the owner of these pills, told me what had taken place .. he had been arrested and had to spend the night in Central Station lock-up. The next day he appeared in court and was charged with possession of a quantity of drugs. He said the informant was well known to both of us!

Moral to this Story: Don't send anyone to score from someone as they might just be ‘undercover cops’ and your name will be mentioned in court. AND, you may get into lots of trouble for your kind deed.



Phil Jones & the Unknown Blues "If I Had a Ticket" mp3

For Images and information on Beethovens

 visit Phil Jones' website

'67 Moi at Beethovens

Chris Brown-lead guitar, Ian Sullivan later joined as co-vocalist and brass

Gutbucket 

not the line-up at Beethovens, I recall Russell on guitar (girlfriend Marilyn) and Arthur 'Hamlet' on bass.

 

Sebastian Hardie  (Graham Ford-vocals)

 

Phil Jones & the Unknown Blues "Pick a Bale of Cotton"

Some guys from NSW Uni had put together a music 'mag' called ‘Drift’.  I have not as yet been able to contact any Drift members. Bill Tranchitella was a talented artist, Greg Miller is the lad that took the photo of me.  I noticed that Chris Ruhle was Layout Director.  Mort Fist has passed on.

courtesy David Rowlands

Tony 'Merv Rabies' Robinson

Ross Smythe-Kirk (Editor Drift Magazine)

Merv Rabies and Ross Smythe-Kirk
interviewing Dicky Diamonde  (ex Easybeats - bass) 

Phil Jones, Ross Smythe-Kirk interviewing Eric Burdon

Beethovens was graced by Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) and The Animals! 

1967 Beethovens

Phil Jones and Jimmy Page

Peter Conyngham (Manager)

 ....................................

 

Dave Allen .. I have been communicating with Phil on a regular basis lately, usually going on about the old days and where we both grew up, this is Phil's account of what he and his wife Jennifer, are doing .. Dave "

Dave Allen has written two very Iinformative articles regarding Phil Jones and the Unknown Blues on his site Burning Mountain Studios.

PHIL JONES PART 1 

PHIL JONES PART 2 - THE FORMING OF THE UNKNOWN BLUES

2009 (Feb) ... Contacted Phil Jones

2010 (Mar) ... I organized a group 'Bring Back the Unknown Blues' on Facebook .. it  met with a huge response.  I handed over the reins to Dave Rowlands and Chris Brown ..
2010 (Feb) ... Contacted by Dave Rowlands-drummer,  Chris Brown-lead guitar.  Dave Rowlands & Chris Brown (Reunion) 
2010 (Dec) .. Phil Jones and the Unknown Blues reuniting for the Byron Blues Festival, to be held April 2010.
2011 (Jan) ... Just been talking to Kay MacPherson and we were discussing the Baker boys, Harry and Jack.  Harry was my bopping partner for quite a few weeks.
2011 (April) ... Unknown Blues featured at the Byron Bay Blues and Roots Festival. Met up with David Rowlands, Chris Brown and Ian Sullivan