The Valentines (rock band)

The Valentines
The Valentines
	The Valentines c. 1969: (L–R) Wyn Milson, Bon Scott, Vince Lovegrove, Paddy Beach, John Cooksey
Background information
Origin	Perth, Western Australia
Genres	Pop, rock
Years active	1966–1970
Labels	Clarion
Past members	Bon Scott; Vince Lovegrove; Wyn Milson; Ted Ward; Bruce Abbott; Warwick Findlay; John Cooksey; Doug Lavery; Paddy Beach; Graeme Greening

The Valentines were an Australian pop band active from 1966–1970, chiefly noted for their lead singers, Bon Scott, who later went on to great success as lead vocalist with AC/DC; and Vince Lovegrove, who subsequently became a successful music journalist and manager of Divinyls.

Band history

The band was formed in late 1966 with the amalgamation of Perth groups The Spektors and The Winstons. They capitalised on the success of both the former bands, plus the interest created by having two lead singers in Scott and Lovegrove. Inspired by The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and local stars The Easybeats, they enjoyed considerable local success and released a few singles.

In late 1967, The Valentines moved to Melbourne in search of greater success, and soon toured other major cities. With a development towards the popular Bubblegum sound late in 1968, the band became more in demand, particularly among teenage girls. However as the fashion for bubblegum music wore off, The Valentines struggled to retain their musical credibility despite a turn towards rock music. With differing opinions within the band concerning musical direction, and a much-publicised drugs bust in September 1969, group stability began to suffer. Although they still had a strong fanbase in certain areas of the country, especially back home in Perth, The Valentines decided to disband amicably in August 1970.

Scott had built a strong reputation as a powerful vocalist and soon joined Fraternity, and later AC/DC. Lovegrove found success as a music journalist, and guitarist Wyn Milson became a sound engineer.

Personnel

Bon Scott – vocals (1966-1970)
Vince Lovegrove – vocals (1966-1970)
Wyn Milson – guitar (1966-1970)
Ted Ward – guitar (1966–1969), bass guitar (1969–1970)
Bruce Abbott – bass guitar (1966–1968)
Warwick Findlay – drums (1966–1968)
John Cooksey – bass guitar (1968–1969)
Daniel Groves- drums 1968
Doug Lavery – drums (1968–1969)
Paddy Beach – drums (1969–1970)
Graeme Greening – bass guitar (1969)

Discography

Singles

"Everyday I Have to Cry"/"I Can't Dance with You" (Marriott/Lane) (5/1967)
"She Said" (Vanda/Young)/"To Know You Is to Love You" (Spector) (August 1967)
"I Can Hear the Raindrops"/"Why Me?" (February 1968)
"Peculiar Hole in the Sky" (Vanda/Young)/"Love Makes Sweet Music" (Ayers) (August 1968)
"My Old Man's a Groovy Old Man" (Vanda/Young)/"Ebeneezer" (February 1969) AUS #23
"Nick Nack Paddy Whack"/"Getting Better" (August 1969)
"Juliette" (Scott)/"Hoochie Coochie Billy" (February 1970) AUS #28

EPs

The Valentines (Clarion records, 1968)
My Old Man's a Groovy Old Man (Philips records, February 1969)

Albums

The Valentines (1987 compilation) (reissued in 1988, entitled Seasons of Change: The Early Years 1967–72 and again in 1991, entitled Bon Scott – The Early Years 1967–1972)

Several albums and CDs have been released over the years compiling Valentines material.

References

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

External links

"'The Valentines', Bon Scott (centre), Vince Lovegrove (reaching into crowd) with drummer Warwick Finlay, lead guitar Wyn Milson and guitarist Ted Ward (Ted Junko), 1966", photo, part of collection Hoadley's 'Battle of the Sounds' at Ambassadors Theatre, held by State Library of Western Australia.