Fraternity (band)

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Fraternity

Fraternity were an Australian rock band active in the early 1970s. They are notable mainly for their lead vocalist Bon Scott who was later to join AC/DC; and Jimmy Barnes, Scott's replacement, who went on to join Cold Chisel and have a very successful solo career.

Fraternity were formed in Adelaide, South Australia in 1970 by some members of the recently-split Levi Smith Clefs. They were without a regular vocalist until Fraternity's bass player Bruce Howe decided to call upon Bon Scott, whose group The Valentines had just disbanded. New Zealand musician John Bissett played keyboards in this early line up.

Fraternity released two albums and a few singles, which enjoyed moderate success in their native Australia. However, an attempt to find success in the UK was not fruitful and in early 1973 the band changed its name to Fang. By mid-1973 the group had stalled and gradually disintegrated, and the members returned to Australia. Some members formed the loosely-knit Mount Lofty Rangers with whom Bon Scott recorded a couple of songs before being seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in early 1974. When he had recovered, Scott joined AC/DC and Fraternity later reformed with a different line-up and continued until about 1975.

By late 1975 Fraternity had been renamed Some Dream. In 1978, it was renamed Mickey Finn, which comprised Bruce Howe, Uncle John Eyers, Mauri Berg and Joff Bateman. By 1980, John Freeman had rejoined and a second guitarist, Stan Koritini, had been added and this lineup cut a self-titled album for the Eureka label. Mickey Finn released two Singles in 1980 and 1981 before fading from the scene.

Personnel

1970-73

1974-75

  • Bruce Howe - bass guitar
  • "Uncle" John Eyers - harmonica
  • John Swan - drums, vocals
  • Peter Bersee - violin
  • Jimmy Barnes - vocals (1975-76)
  • Mauri Berg - guitar (1975)

Discography

Singles

  • Why Did It Have To Be Me? / Question (Moody Blues Cover) (1970) - Before Bon Scott
  • Livestock / Why Did It Have To Be Me? / Cool Spot (1/71)
  • Seasons Of Change / Summerville (5/71)
  • The Race Pt. 1 / The Race Pt. 2 (9/71)
  • Welfare Boogie / Getting Off (3/72)

EPs

  • If You Got It / Raglan's Folly / You Have A God (9/71)

Studio Albums

Compilation Albums

  • The Complete Sessions 1971-72 (3/97) ~ Double CD
  • Seasons of Change (8/03) ~ Reissue of The Complete Sessions 1971-72.

Other

  • Bon Scott: The Early Years 1967-1972 (1988) ~ Features Fraternity, The Valentines and The Spektors.
  • Golden Miles - Australian Progressive Rock 1969-1974 (1997) ~ Features Fraternity's "Seasons of Change."

External links

References

  • Highway to Hell: The Life and Times of AC/DC Legend Bon Scott - Clinton Walker, 1994. ISBN 1-891241-13-3
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