By NOEL MURPHY
NOT too many Aussie rock stars can lay claim to 10 major hits in the US, a couple of ARIA Hall of Fame gongs, chart-toppers in the 1960s and a singing, radio, TV and theatre career still flourishing today.
But, then, Glenn Shorrock’s never been just anyone.
His distinctive voice put him at the front of leading bands as far back as 1962, with seminal Oz rock act The Twilights before breaking onto the world stage with The Little River Band – named after the country town at the foot of the You Yangs.
He’s been up there with the world’s top acts, helped open the tough American market for all manner of Australian bands and knocked up 25 million in album sales.
Now into his 50th year in the business, Shorrock’s showing no signs of easing up. He’s still writing and performing, has a new album up his sleeve and is working with a happy amalgam of the new and the nostalgic.
And he’s headed Geelong’s way with the latest Apia Good Times Tour, alongside fellow Australian music veteragns Kate Ceberano, Brian Cadd and Joe Camilleri to perform a grab-bag of hits from the ’60s through to today.
“I’ve lived and worked through the golden age, as I term it,” Shorrock told the Independent.
“Some people call it other things, I call it the golden age of popular music. It brought people a lot of pleasure, a lot of amazing music and, yes, it has a lot to answer for but that’s another story.
“I had a good seven years with LRB, my purple patch, and getting to the top of the charts in America was a great thrill. Establishing ourselves as an A-plus grade act alongside the likes of The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac was very satisfying.”
Shorrock first came to Australia’s attention as lead singer of The Twilights with hits Needle In a Haystack and What’s Wrong with the Way I Live? He later formed Axiom, which had hits Arkansas Grass and A Little Ray of Sunshine.
He also penned international hits Help Is On Its Way, Emma and Home On Monday.
Reaching Geelong next month, the national Good Times tour show features a solo set of hits from each performer, with the four sharing the stage in a showcase finale.
“I’ll be down in Melbourne for rehearsals beforehand with Joe, Kate and Brian. This will be the first time I’ve done this, Joe’s done it twice before – it’s just a way of my contemporaries getting together and making music,” Shorrock said.
“I’ve done it before with Doug Parkinson and Wendy Matthews with Reminiscing. Brian and me also did The Story of Sharky and the Caddman (album).”
The Good Times tour will play Costa Hall on 23 May.
