By NOEL MURPHY
A GENERATION of rock fans grew up to the strains of Grasshopper belting out ’60s and ’70s hits on the Geelong pub circuit.
The Golf View, now the Sphinx, the Sundowner, Dinosaur, Grovie hotel and Waurn Ponds pubs were all jam-packed stomping grounds for the band’s long-haired four-part harmonies and thumping tunes.
Grasshopper covered everyone from the Stones through Procul Harum, The Doors and The Beach Boys to Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Hollies and The Beatles.
Spearheaded by Greg Bee, the band appeared on national television, backed The Searchers and worked as support for major Aussie artists of the day such as Ronnie Burns, Mississippi, Col Joy and Brian Cadd.
Now the group’s back and playing better than ever on all cylinders, says keyboard player Frank Adams.
The band was a live-music fixture for a decade before packing for 30 years, bar one of two special reunion performances.
But Adams said the members met up five years ago “for a few red wines to talk over the old days”.
“Out came the guitars and the harmonies, they still worked and we looked at one another and said, ‘Let’s get together again and have a bit of fun’,’’ he said.
“Since then we’ve recorded six CDs for ourselves at the lead singer’s studio and over a period of time we’ve become very serious. We’ve done a lot of jobs in the past couple of years.”
Adams said Grasshopper would “return to the scene of the crime” next at North Geelong’s Sphinx on 9 November.
Grasshopper comprises original members Adams, Bee on lead vocals and guitar, George Juszczak on bass and newcomer Colin McIntosh.
“We written few original things but our criteria has been a focus on classic sixties song – Beatles, Stones, Beach Boys, Creedence, The Hollies, Spencer Davis,” Adams said.
The band’s set list includes songs like Gimme Some Lovin’, Down on the Corner, Surfin’ USA, Sergeant Pepper, Back in the USSR, Satisfaction, Love her Madly, Whiter Shade of Pale, Sherry Baby, Venus, Yellow River and Eagle Rock.
“For us, it’s really special thing to be back together and sounding better than ever – there’s better equipment, PA systems and mics and bit more musical knowledge,” Adams grinned.
“We played the RSL on our first gig back and it was packed out. We did harmonies warm-up upstairs then walked down and everyone started clapping.
“We were on a real high.”
