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Revision as of 05:30, 20 September 2009

Dragon

Dragon is a popular New Zealand rock band, they were formed in Auckland, New Zealand in January 1972 and relocated to Sydney, Australia in May 1975.[1][2][3][4] They were previously led by singer Marc Hunter[5][6] and are currently led by his brother bass player Todd Hunter.[7] They performed and released material under the name Hunter in Europe and United States during 1987.[2][4][7]

Keyboard player Paul Hewson wrote or co-wrote most of the group's hits: "April Sun in Cuba"[8] peaked at #2 on the 1977 Australian singles chart;[9] "Are You Old Enough?"[10] reached #1 in 1978;[9] and "Still in Love With You"[11] reached #15 also in 1978.[4][7][9] The Hunter brothers with Todd's partner, Johanna Pigott, wrote "Rain"[12] a #2 hit in 1983.[9] The name, Dragon, came from a consultation of I Ching cards by early band vocalist Graeme Collins.[13]

Dragon have endured tragedy and notoriety: members dying including drummer Neil Storey of a heroin overdose in 1976,[6] Paul Hewson of a drug overdose in 1985[6] and Marc Hunter of smoking related oesophageal cancer in 1998;[2][6] the Stewart Royal Commission (1980-1983) investigated the Mr. Asia drug syndicate[14] and obtained evidence that Dragon members were clients;[5] the band's disastrous 1978 tour of USA ended when Marc Hunter accused his Texan audience of being "faggots" and they were pelted off stage.[5] On 1 July 2008 the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) recognised Dragon's iconic status when they were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.[2][15][16]

History

1972-1975: Early years in New Zealand

Dragon formed in Auckland, New Zealand, in January 1972 with a line-up that featured Todd Hunter on bass guitar, guitarist Ray Goodwin, drummer Neil Reynolds and singer/pianist Graeme Collins.[1][7] All had been in various short-lived bands in Auckland, Collins is credited with using I Ching to provide the name Dragon. Their first major gig was an appearance at the The Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival in early January 1973.[4] By 1974 several personnel changes had occurred, with Todd Hunter's younger brother Marc Hunter joining on vocals and Neil Storey on drums.[1][7] The band recorded two progressive rock albums in their native New Zealand, Universal Radio in 1974 and Scented Gardens for the Blind in 1975 both on Vertigo Records.[1][7][17] Despite being New Zealand's top live attraction by late 1974,[1] neither albums nor related singles had any local chart success,[1] and they recruited Robert Taylor (ex-Mammal) on guitar as they searched for a raunchier pop sound.[1] By early 1975, manager Graeme Nesbitt (ex-Mammal), who had obtained regular gigs and organised their first New Zealand tours,[4] felt they should tackle the larger Australian market.[17] Nesbitt was unable to travel with them to Australia - he had been arrested for selling drugs.[4][17]

1975-1979: Initial stardom

Dragon relocated to Sydney in May 1975, they toured Australia as support act to Status Quo in October.[1] The band sent for keyboard player Paul Hewson who had a reputation, in New Zealand, as a pop songwriter.[4] Hewson had been scouted by Nesbitt when Dragon were still in New Zealand but had declined to join at that time.[4] In 1976 they secured a residency at the Bondi Lifesaver club,[1] and landed a contract with CBS Records after being seen by record producer Peter Dawkins.[3][4][17] Often courting or creating controversy, the band was rocked by the heroin overdose death of drummer Neil Storey in September 1976, aged 22.[5][17][13] By then, founding member Goodwin had left the group, and their single "This Time" had begun charting.[1][17]

After considering disbanding, Todd Hunter consulted with Nesbitt who advised him to continue and organised for Kerry Jacobson (ex-Mammal) to join on drums.[4] Between 1977 and 1979, the line-up of the Hunter brothers, Taylor, Hewson and Jacobson had a string of major hits on the Australian National charts with singles "April Sun in Cuba", "Are You Old Enough?" and "Still In Love With You" and albums Sunshine, Running Free and O Zambezi.[1] These releases made them one of Australia's most popular rock acts.[2][5] They attempted a breakthrough into the American market with a tour supporting Johnny Winter, starting in November 1978, but this was foiled after a disastrous show in Dallas Texas,[1] at which Marc Hunter incited a crowd by suggesting all Texans were "faggots": band members had to dodge flying beer bottles.[3][4][17]

In 1994, Marc Hunter related his version of the Texas show to rock journalist Glenn A. Baker:

"I remember seeing someone standing holding a pistol and shouting 'Im gonna kill you, you son of a bitch'... I didn't know it but by this point the rest of the band had left the stage. I was still singing because I could still hear the music in my head. It took ages to clear the pile of debris on the stage - broken glass, bottles, chairs, half a table - but I was totally unaware of this, I thought I was going over really well and I'm standing there in a crucifixion pose with my arms out, really gone, with heaps of eye make-up on, looking like some sort of twisted priest. And apparently Johnny Winter was taking bets on the side of the stage as to how long it would take before somebody shot me. Then I turned around and saw no one was on stage so I realised I wasn't going over too well after all and I went back to the dressing room and everyone was just standing there... I said 'We went great, weren't we terrific?' At that stage of the band I was really a shocking sod. And all the record company people were just staring at me like I was an insectoid from Mars. And so that was it for us for that trip to America."[18]

— Marc Hunter, 1994

Upon returning to Sydney, Marc Hunter was sacked from Dragon in February 1979 due to drug problems which were seriously affecting both his vocal performances and his general health.[1][4][5][17] According to Todd Hunter:

"Things like Dallas happened all the time... Most of the time I wasn't drinking or anything and, from my perspective, this Fall of the Roman Empire thing was pretty wild. I hated a lot of it. People came along because they wanted to see Dragon decombust. They were enjoying it but Marc was just killing himself. We had to fire him or he'd have destroyed himself."[18]

— Todd Hunter, 1994

Singer Billy Rogers formerly of Perth group Last Chance Cafe and violinist Richard Lee from Melbourne band Sidewinder were recruited and Dragon recorded the commercially unsuccessful Power Play LP before breaking up in December 1979.[1][4][5][7]

1979-1982: First split

Marc Hunter cleaned up in the post-Dragon years and released two successful solo singles, "Island Nights" (1979) from Fiji Bitter and "Big City Talk" (1981) from Big City Talk.[17] "Big City Talk"'s video was filmed in the Broadway Tunnel, a long and dreary pedestrian walkway linking Sydney's Central Station with Broadway. It captured the seedy and unsettling atmosphere of the tunnel, adding extra mood to the song's words.

Todd Hunter had meanwhile teamed up with his partner (and later second wife) Johanna Pigott, formerly of indie punk group XL Capris,[7] and together they became a successful songwriting team.[2] XL Capris were not commercially successful, although their memorable re-working of crooner Tommy Leonetti's "My City Of Sydney" became a minor cult classic. Todd Hunter produced both their albums Where's Hank? (March 1981) and Weeds (October 1981), and was a member of the band for the second.[1][7]

Paul Hewson moved back to Auckland and joined The Pink Flamingos, they became one of New Zealand's top musical acts in the early 1980s.[1] They were led by Dave McArtney ex-Hello Sailor, which had toured with Dragon but had also split.

1982-1997: Reformation

Dragon reformed in August 1982 to pay off outstanding debts,[1] not long after Jacobson left the band for health reasons and was replaced by British drummer Terry Chambers (ex-XTC),[1] with the band then staying together when their second comeback single, "Rain", proved to be a #2 hit in 1983,[19] American keyboard player and Dragon's producer Alan Mansfield also joined.[1][7] Mansfield had worked for Robert Palmer (including guitar for the "Johnny and Mary" single from Palmer's album Clues) and Bette Midler in the late 1970s,[20] by 1982 Mansfield was living in Sydney and produced tracks for Marc Hunter.[21] Marc Hunter convinced Mansfield to also produce Dragon's single "Rain".[21]

Dragon's 1984 album Body and the Beat became one of the biggest-selling albums in Australia and New Zealand;[1] they were restored to something close to their late 1970s glory. Their public profile was further raised by Marc Hunter's solo album, Communication. Its title track became a moderate hit in Australia and featured a loosely cabaret-oriented video-clip filmed in Amsterdam in which Marc — resplendent in a bright red cowbot hat — was flanked by two women who also danced away under red Stetsons. Body and the Beat yielded further successful Australasian singles, notably "Magic" and "Cry".[1] Mansfield and New Zealand-born singer-songwriter Sharon O'Neill met on Dragon's Body And The Beat tour: they later became domestic and professional partners.[22]

Paul Hewson left Dragon and died of a drug overdose in New Zealand on 9 January 1985;[17][23] fellow members Terry Chambers and Robert Taylor left some time after.[1] Dragon performed three songs for the 13 July 1985 Oz for Africa concert (part of the global Live Aid program) - "Speak No Evil", "Rain" and "Are You Old Enough?"; which was broadcast in Australia (on both Seven Network and Nine Network) and on MTV in the US.[24] American drummer Doane Perry replaced Chambers, and Taylor was eventually succeeded by local Sydney guitar ace Tommy Emmanuel.[1] This line-up recorded the Todd Rundgren-produced Dreams of Ordinary Men album in 1986 and toured Europe with Tina Turner under the name Hunter in 1987. By this time Mansfield was writing with O'Neill they wrote "Western Girls" for Dreams of Ordinary Men and then three tracks for her 1987 solo album Danced in the Fire.[22]

Dragon briefly split up in 1988 but the Hunter brothers and Mansfield had regrouped with guitarist Randall Waller and drummer Barton Price (ex-Models) for the Bondi Road album released in April 1989 on RCA,[1] it also featured Emmanuel's guitar work.[7] Bondi Road reached #18 on the Australian albums charts[9] and the single "Young Years" written by Mansfield and O'Neill[25] also reach #18.[9] The pair had written two other tracks: "Ice in this Town" and "Good Time Girl".[22] Dragon continued to record and tour with varying line-ups centered around the Hunter brothers and Mansfield. Todd Hunter worked on Heartbreak High (TV series) from 1994 for six years as Music Composer[26] he retired from Dragon in 1995 after the release of Incarnations.[5][7]

Dragon continued on without Todd Hunter. Then, in November 1997, Marc Hunter was diagnosed with severe oesophageal cancer and died on 17 July 1998.[5] A memorial service for him was held at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Sydney; and, a compilation CD Forever Young was released on Raven Records, highlighting his solo career.[7]

1997-2006: Second split

Dragon broke up a second time after Marc Hunter's illness had been diagnosed. Todd Hunter continued composing music for TV and film with Heartbreak High to 1999, Walk the Talk (2000 film), Out There (2003 TV series) and Out of the Blue (2008 BBC-TV series).[27] Mansfield and O'Neill continued songwriting including "True Love" co-written with Robert Palmer[28] for his 1999 album Rhythm and Blues.[29] They both performed with Leo Sayer during his tours in 2006 and 2007, O'Neill would sing "Young Years" in honour of Marc Hunter.[22]

Reformation - 2006-

Todd Hunter (bass) reformed Dragon in 2006 with a line-up of Mark Williams (vocals, guitar), Bruce Reid (guitar), and Pete Drummond (drums).[7] This new Dragon line up released Sunshine to Rain under the Liberation Blue Acoustic Series Label. Dragon is currently touring Australia.

On 1 July 2008, Dragon were inducted by Richard Wilkins into the ARIA Hall of Fame, Dragon were joined on-stage by James Reyne and Ian Moss to perform "April Sun in Cuba" and "Rain":[30]

Dragon's performance featured Ian Moss and James Reyne on vocals, alongside founding member Todd Hunter. During a fiery version of "April Sun in Cuba", the late Dragon singer Marc Hunter was incorporated into the chorus via a stirring performance video shown on a huge screen behind the band. Reyne said: "I used to go and see Dragon play in the mid to late 1970s before I even had a proper band, so it's great to be able to do this. I'm a big Dragon fan, and did tours with them when Marc was alive, and I knew him quite well. He'd think this is a blast." According to Todd Hunter, Dragon has had, at last count, 35 members and umpteen reincarnations. "Well, Wikipedia says 35 members so far," he said. "We had a long break as a band, but we started doing acoustic shows a couple of years ago. But we couldn't be heard above the crowd because they were singing so loud, so now we're back doing electric shows."[31]

— Andrew Murfett, James Reyne, Todd Hunter, 2 July 2008

Personnel

In chronological order:[1][7][32]

  • Todd Hunter (bass guitar, vocals) 1972–1995, 2006–current
  • Ray Goodwin (guitar, keyboards, vocals) 1972–1976
  • Graeme Collins (vocals, piano) 1972
  • Neil Reynolds (drums) 1972
  • Neil Storey (drums) 1972–1975 (replaced Reynolds) d. 1976
  • Ivan Thompson (vocals, keyboards) 1973–1974 (replaced Collins)
  • Marc Hunter (vocals) 1973–1979, 1982–1997 d. 1998
  • Geoff Chunn (drums) 1974
  • Robert Taylor (guitar) 1974–1984 (replaced Thompson)
  • Paul Hewson (keyboards) 1975–1985 d. 1985
  • Kerry Jacobson (drums) 1976–1983 (replaced Storey)
  • Richard Lee (vocals, guitar, violin) 1979–1980 (replaced Marc Hunter)
  • Billy Rogers (harmonica, sax, piano, vocals) 1979
  • Alan Mansfield (keyboards) 1982–1997
  • Terry Chambers (drums) 1983–1985 (replaced Jacobson)
  • Tommy Emmanuel (guitar) 1985–1988, 1995
  • Don Miller-Robinson (guitar) 1985 (replaced Taylor)
  • Doane Perry (drums) 1985–1988 (replaced Chambers)
  • David Hirschfelder (keyboards) 1987–1989
  • Peter Grimwood (guitar) 1988
  • Lee Borkman (keyboards) 1988–1989
  • John Watson (drums) 1988–1989
  • Andy Sidari (bass, guitar, keyboards) 1989
  • Randall Waller (guitar) 1989
  • Barton Price (drums) 1989
  • Mike Caen (guitar) 1989–1995, 1996–1997
  • Jeffrey Bartolomei (keyboards) 1989–1996
  • Mitch Farmer (drums) 1989
  • Rajan Kamahl (keyboards) 1991(?)–1993(?)
  • Peter Northcote (guitar) 1995
  • Ange Tsoitoudis (guitar) 1996–1997
  • Dario Bortolin (bass) 1996 (replaced Todd Hunter)
  • Bradley Ford (drums) 1996
  • Mick O'Shea (drums) 1996–1997
  • Billy Kervin (bass) 1996–1997
  • Mark Williams (vocals, guitar) 2006–current
  • Bruce Reid (guitar) 2006–current
  • Pete Drummond (drums) 2006–current
  • Darren Percival (guest vocals) 2007
  • Bernie Segedin (guest vocals) 2007

Discography

Albums

Year Title Label Catalogue No. Peak chart position
AUS[9][33] NZ[34]
1974 Universal Radio Vertigo Records 6360902
1975 Scented Gardens for the Blind Vertigo Records
TRC Records
6360903
1994 CD: TRC045
1977 Sunshine CBS
Portrait
SBP234946
JR35068
24
1977 Running Free Portrait
CBS
PR33005
1989 CD: 465720-2
6 16;
1978 O Zambezi Portrait PR33010 3 17
1979 Power Play CBS SBP237352 64
1984 Body and the Beat Polydor 817874-1 5
1985 Live One Polydor 825860-1 62 49
1986 Dreams of Ordinary Men
Released in U.S. / Europe by Hunter in 1987
Polydor 829828-1
Hunter1987 CD: 831760-2
18
1989 Bondi Road RCA SFCD0170 18
1995 Incarnations Roadshow Music 14251-2
2006 Sunshine to Rain Liberation Music Blue090.2
2008 Dragon Remembers Ozmo Records ozmo101
2008 Live 2008 Ozmo Records

Compilation albums

Year Title Label Catalogue No. Peak chart position
AUS[9][33] NZ[34]
1979 Dragon's Greatest Hits Vol. 1 CBS
Portrait
SBP237294
462440-2
8
1988 So Far: Their Classic Collection J & B JB325
1989 CD: JB526
26
1998 Snakes Eyes On The Paradise Greatest Hits 1976 - 1989 Raven CD: RVCD-76
1998 Tales From the Dark Side Greatest Hits and Choice Collectables 1974-1997 Raven CD: RVCD-80
2007 The Essential Dragon Sony BMG 88697069592
2008 Dragon Remembers Ozmo Records ozmo101

Singles

Year Title Album Label Peak chart position
AUS[9][33] NZ[34]
1975 "Vermillion Cellars"/"Rock N Roll Ponsonby" Single only release Vertigo
1975 "Education"/"Swell Foot Sue" Single only release Vertigo
1975 "Star Kissed"/"Crystal Dove" Single only release Vertigo
1976 "Wait Until Tomorrow" Single only release CBS
1976 "This Time"
aka "In the Right Direction"
Sunshine CBS
Portrait
26
1977 "Get that Jive" Sunshine CBS, Portrait 13
1977 "Sunshine" Sunshine CBS, Portrait 36
1977 "April Sun in Cuba" Running Free CBS, Portrait 2 9
1977 "Konkaroo" Running Free CBS, Portrait 40
1978 "Are You Old Enough?" O Zambezi Portrait 1 5
1978 "Still in Love with You" O Zambezi Portrait 27 35
1979 "Love's not Enough" Single only release CBS 37
1982 "Ramona" Single only release Polydor 79
1983 "Rain" Body and the Beat Polydor 2
1983 "Magic" Body and the Beat Polydor 33
1984 "Cry" Body and the Beat Polydor 17
1984 "Wilderworld" Body and the Beat Polydor 42
1985 "Speak No Evil" Dreams of Ordinary Men Polydor 19
1986 "Dreams of Ordinary Men" Dreams of Ordinary Men Polydor 17
1986 "Western Girls" Dreams of Ordinary Men Polydor 58
1987 "Celebration" Bondi Road RCA 11
1988 "River" Single only release RCA 78
1989 "Young Years" Bondi Road RCA 18
1989 "Here Am I" Bondi Road RCA 72
1990 "Summer" Bondi Road RCA 49

Awards

  • 1977 - Best New Group (TV Week King of Pop Awards)[35]
  • 1978 - Outstanding Local Achievement (TV Week King of Pop Awards)[35]
  • 2008 - ARIA Hall of Fame Award (for contributions to Australian pop music). Awarded Tuesday, 1 July 2008 in Melbourne.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Dragon'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1864487682. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e f "ARIA Hall of Fame - Dragon". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 2008-05-22. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
  3. ^ a b c "Groups & Solo Artists - Ariel". Milesago. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Dragon". Bruce Sergent. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i ""Marc Hunter (1953–1998)"". MILESAGO. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
  6. ^ a b c d Simmonds, Jeremy (2006). Number one in heaven - the heroes who died for rock n roll. London: Penguin. ISBN 9780141022871.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Dragon". Australian Rock Database. Magnus Holmgren. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
  8. ^ ""April Sun In Cuba" at Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)". APRA. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0646119176. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help) Cite error: The named reference "Kent" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  10. ^ ""Are You Old Enough?" at APRA". APRA. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
  11. ^ ""Still in Love With You" at APRA". APRA. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
  12. ^ ""Rain" at APRA". APRA. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  13. ^ a b "Dragon history". Dragon Online. Retrieved 2007-10-21.
  14. ^ Hughes, Gary (2007-02-24). "War on drugs failing: ex-judge". The Australian. Retrieved 2008-05-21. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ Cashmere, Paul (2008-05-17). "Dragon and Russell Morris to be Inducted into ARIA Hall of Fame". undercover.com.au. Retrieved 2008-05-17.
  16. ^ Mangan, John (2008-05-18). "Old rockers never die, says ARIA". The Age. Retrieved 2008-05-20. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Ed Nimmervoll (ed.). "Dragon at Howlspace". Howlspace. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
  18. ^ a b Baker, Glenn A. ""Marc Hunter biography"". Hotdigital. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
  19. ^ "The best of 1983". Oz Net Music Chart. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  20. ^ "The Independent Major: Alan Mansfield". peermusic. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  21. ^ a b "Marc Hunter". Bruce Sergent. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  22. ^ a b c d Taylor, P J (2006-08-24). "The Times interview, Sharon O'Neill explain yourself to PJ Taylor". The Times (Auckland, New Zealand). Retrieved 2008-05-25. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  23. ^ Jewel Brown, Jen. ""wave to wave" - goodbye to my friend Paul Hewson, piano player in Dragon (25 October 1952 - 9 January 1985)". University of Melbourne. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
  24. ^ ""Oz for Africa"". liveaid.free.fr. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
  25. ^ ""Young Years" at Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA)". APRA. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  26. ^ "Heartbreak High (1994)". Internet Movie Database (IMDb. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
  27. ^ "Todd Hunter entry at Internet Movie Database (IMDb)". IMDb. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  28. ^ ""True Love" at APRA". APRA. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  29. ^ "Rhythm & Blues by Robert Palmer". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  30. ^ "ARIA announced all-star cast to induct and perform" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  31. ^ Murfett, Andrew (2008-07-02). "Rockers hail Rolf in Hall of Fame". The Age. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  32. ^ "Albums by Dragon". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  33. ^ a b c "[[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA)". Australian charts portal. australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2008-05-22. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) Cite error: The named reference "aus-charts" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  34. ^ a b c "[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand]] (RIANZ)". New Zealand charts portal. charts.org.nz. Retrieved 2008-05-22. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) Cite error: The named reference "nz-charts" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  35. ^ a b "Australian Music Awards". Retrieved 2007-10-25.