Axiom (Australian band)
Encyclopedia
Axiom were a rock band formed in Melbourne
, Australia
in 1969 and included musicians Glenn Shorrock
and Brian Cadd
.
in which the top Australian bands of the day performed in front of judges for the prize of a paid return trip to London
. In 1967 The Twilights
were the first winners, the next year The Groop
. Both found it difficult to settle back to the grind of the Australian pop scene after tasting the London big time. Neither band had made anything but the smallest dent in London (The Twilights being given a song by the Hollies, while The Groop's "When I Was Six Years Old" was recorded by Manfred Mann
's Paul Jones), but it was enough to leave the lingering thought amongst band members, "What if..?"
The Groop
broke up in late 1969, by which time The Twilights had already split and singer Glenn Shorrock
had moved into management. A plan was hatched to form a new group out of the two groups' frontline remnants. The Twilights' songwriter and guitarist Terry Britten was supposed to join Shorrock and The Groop's piano player and chief songwriter Brian Cadd
in the new band, but when Terry chose to go to England
instead, his place was taken by The Groop's Don Mudie, who in the latter stages of The Groop had formed a strong songwriting partnership with Cadd. The group was completed by Cam-Pact guitarist Chris Stockley, and Valentines
drummer Doug Lavery. Immediately dubbed a supergroup
, the band asked fans to suggest a name and settled on Axiom.
Almost immediately Axiom buried themselves in the recording studio. In December 1969 the group released their first single, "Arkansas Grass", heavily influenced by The Band
's "Music From Big Pink". Though the single's title appears superficially appealed to international markets, it is also a veiled anti-Vietnam war song - and in that respect addressing a very Australian concern. "Arkansas Grass" reached #7 in December 1969. Midway through the recording of the 'Fool's Gold" album, drummer Don Lebler (The Avengers) replaced Lavery. Four months later the group left for London and, as a parting gift, left their second single, "A Little Ray Of Sunshine", inspired by the birth of the child of a couple that the group knew—not by the birth of Cadd or Mudie's child, as has often been incorrectly reported. The single reached #5 in April 1970 . "A Little Ray Of Sunshine" has become one of the Australian songs most often still played on radio and was even celebrated with its own stamp in Australia Post
's 1998 Australian Rock stamp series.
In their absence the band's album "Fool's Gold" was released, one of the first true "albums" in Australian music, despite the "Arkansas Grass" single also one of the first attempts in Australian pop to write about the Australian landscape. It is also notable as one of the first Australian albums on a major label to be self-produced by the recording artist/s. It also featured one of the first uses of the didgeridoo
in Australian popular music. The songs were all of high quality as were the production values. Fool's Gold reached #18 in June and still stands as one of the best albums of the period, however it never reached its full commercial potential because Axiom were not around to promote it. A third single failed to chart. In Australia Axiom were signed to Ron Tudor's independent production company. They left Australia with Tudor's approval in order to try to secure a worldwide recording contract: he would not stand in their way.
In England Axiom signed a three-year recording contract with Warners
, cemented by a single "My Baby's Gone" produced by Shel Talmy
of early Who
, Kinks and Easybeats' "Friday On My Mind
" fame. The band completed an album at the iconic Olympic Studios in London. In international hands they just ended up sounding like everyone else. By the time the album If Only was released the band had already broken up.
Glenn Shorrock remained in England where he performed as lead vocalist of the extraordinary band Esperanto and after eventually returning to Australia, the Little River Band
found him. Brian Cadd returned to Australia and launched a successful solo career. Don Lebler remained in the UK to become a member of The Mixtures
. A couple of years later Chris Stockley became part of The Dingoes
. In October 2010, Fool's Gold (1970) was listed in the book 100 Best Australian Albums
.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1969 and included musicians Glenn Shorrock
Glenn Shorrock
Glenn Barrie Shorrock is an English-born Australian singer-songwriter. He was a founding member of pop groups The Twilights, Axiom and Little River Band as well as being a solo performer....
and Brian Cadd
Brian Cadd
Brian George Cadd is an Australian singer-songwriter, keyboardist and producer who has performed as a member of The Groop, Axiom, Flying Burrito Brothers and solo...
.
Biography
Axiom's formation was a by-product of the annual Hoadley's Battle of the SoundsHoadley's Battle of the Sounds
Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds was an annual national rock/pop band competition held in Australia from 1966 to 1972.-History:Australia's Battle of the Sounds was originally established by Australian tabloid magazine Everybody’s in 1965 as a talent quest for new unsigned bands in Sydney, Melbourne...
in which the top Australian bands of the day performed in front of judges for the prize of a paid return trip to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In 1967 The Twilights
The Twilights (band)
The Twilights were an Australian rock music group of the mid to late 1960s. Alongside their own career successes, The Twilights are also notable for the inclusion of vocalist Glenn Shorrock, who later fronted Axiom, Esperanto and Little River Band, and guitarist Terry Britten who went on to become...
were the first winners, the next year The Groop
The Groop
The Groop were an Australian folk, R&B and rock band formed in 1964 in Melbourne, Australia and had their greatest chart success with their second line-up of Max Ross on bass, Richard Wright on drums and vocals, Don Mudie on lead guitar, Brian Cadd on keyboards and vocals, and Ronnie Charles on...
. Both found it difficult to settle back to the grind of the Australian pop scene after tasting the London big time. Neither band had made anything but the smallest dent in London (The Twilights being given a song by the Hollies, while The Groop's "When I Was Six Years Old" was recorded by Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann was a British beat, rhythm and blues and pop band of the 1960s, named after their South African keyboardist, Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band...
's Paul Jones), but it was enough to leave the lingering thought amongst band members, "What if..?"
The Groop
The Groop
The Groop were an Australian folk, R&B and rock band formed in 1964 in Melbourne, Australia and had their greatest chart success with their second line-up of Max Ross on bass, Richard Wright on drums and vocals, Don Mudie on lead guitar, Brian Cadd on keyboards and vocals, and Ronnie Charles on...
broke up in late 1969, by which time The Twilights had already split and singer Glenn Shorrock
Glenn Shorrock
Glenn Barrie Shorrock is an English-born Australian singer-songwriter. He was a founding member of pop groups The Twilights, Axiom and Little River Band as well as being a solo performer....
had moved into management. A plan was hatched to form a new group out of the two groups' frontline remnants. The Twilights' songwriter and guitarist Terry Britten was supposed to join Shorrock and The Groop's piano player and chief songwriter Brian Cadd
Brian Cadd
Brian George Cadd is an Australian singer-songwriter, keyboardist and producer who has performed as a member of The Groop, Axiom, Flying Burrito Brothers and solo...
in the new band, but when Terry chose to go to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
instead, his place was taken by The Groop's Don Mudie, who in the latter stages of The Groop had formed a strong songwriting partnership with Cadd. The group was completed by Cam-Pact guitarist Chris Stockley, and Valentines
The Valentines
The Valentines may refer to:* The Valentines , an Australian rock 'n' roll band active from 1966-1970, chiefly noted for their lead singer, Bon Scott...
drummer Doug Lavery. Immediately dubbed a supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
, the band asked fans to suggest a name and settled on Axiom.
Almost immediately Axiom buried themselves in the recording studio. In December 1969 the group released their first single, "Arkansas Grass", heavily influenced by The Band
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
's "Music From Big Pink". Though the single's title appears superficially appealed to international markets, it is also a veiled anti-Vietnam war song - and in that respect addressing a very Australian concern. "Arkansas Grass" reached #7 in December 1969. Midway through the recording of the 'Fool's Gold" album, drummer Don Lebler (The Avengers) replaced Lavery. Four months later the group left for London and, as a parting gift, left their second single, "A Little Ray Of Sunshine", inspired by the birth of the child of a couple that the group knew—not by the birth of Cadd or Mudie's child, as has often been incorrectly reported. The single reached #5 in April 1970 . "A Little Ray Of Sunshine" has become one of the Australian songs most often still played on radio and was even celebrated with its own stamp in Australia Post
Australia Post
Australia Post is the trading name of the Australian Government-owned Australian Postal Corporation .-History:...
's 1998 Australian Rock stamp series.
In their absence the band's album "Fool's Gold" was released, one of the first true "albums" in Australian music, despite the "Arkansas Grass" single also one of the first attempts in Australian pop to write about the Australian landscape. It is also notable as one of the first Australian albums on a major label to be self-produced by the recording artist/s. It also featured one of the first uses of the didgeridoo
Didgeridoo
The didgeridoo is a wind instrument developed by Indigenous Australians of northern Australia around 1,500 years ago and still in widespread usage today both in Australia and around the world. It is sometimes described as a natural wooden trumpet or "drone pipe"...
in Australian popular music. The songs were all of high quality as were the production values. Fool's Gold reached #18 in June and still stands as one of the best albums of the period, however it never reached its full commercial potential because Axiom were not around to promote it. A third single failed to chart. In Australia Axiom were signed to Ron Tudor's independent production company. They left Australia with Tudor's approval in order to try to secure a worldwide recording contract: he would not stand in their way.
In England Axiom signed a three-year recording contract with Warners
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
, cemented by a single "My Baby's Gone" produced by Shel Talmy
Shel Talmy
Shel Talmy is an American record producer, songwriter, arranger best known for his work in London with The Who and The Kinks in the 1960s, with a role in many other English bands including Cat Stevens and Pentangle...
of early Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, Kinks and Easybeats' "Friday On My Mind
Friday on My Mind
"Friday on My Mind" is a 1966 song by Australian rock group The Easybeats. Written by band members George Young and Harry Vanda, the track became a worldwide hit, reaching #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1967 in the US, #1 in Australia and #6 in the UK, as well as charting in several...
" fame. The band completed an album at the iconic Olympic Studios in London. In international hands they just ended up sounding like everyone else. By the time the album If Only was released the band had already broken up.
Glenn Shorrock remained in England where he performed as lead vocalist of the extraordinary band Esperanto and after eventually returning to Australia, the Little River Band
Little River Band
Little River Band is an Australian rock band, formed in Melbourne in early 1975.The group chose the name after passing a road sign leading to the Victorian township of Little River, near Geelong, on the way to a performance. Little River Band enjoyed sustained commercial success in not only...
found him. Brian Cadd returned to Australia and launched a successful solo career. Don Lebler remained in the UK to become a member of The Mixtures
The Mixtures
-Biography:Australian musicians Terry Dean and Rod De Clerk met in Tasmania in 1965. They then met Laurie Arthur, a member of The Strangers, and the three decided to form a band together after a jam session. They quickly signed to EMI that same year and released three singles. They went through...
. A couple of years later Chris Stockley became part of The Dingoes
The Dingoes
The Dingoes are an Australian country rock band initially active from 1973 to 1979, formed in Melbourne they relocated to the United States from 1976. Most stable line-up was John Bois on bass guitar, John Lee on drums, Broderick Smith on vocals and harmonica, Chris Stockley on guitar and Kerryn...
. In October 2010, Fool's Gold (1970) was listed in the book 100 Best Australian Albums
100 Best Australian Albums
100 Best Australian Albums is a compendium of rock and pop albums of the past 50 years as compiled by music journalists Toby Creswell, Craig Mathieson and John O'Donnell. The book was published on 25 October 2010 by Hardie Grant Books...
.
Members
- Glenn ShorrockGlenn ShorrockGlenn Barrie Shorrock is an English-born Australian singer-songwriter. He was a founding member of pop groups The Twilights, Axiom and Little River Band as well as being a solo performer....
- vocals, guitar - Brian CaddBrian CaddBrian George Cadd is an Australian singer-songwriter, keyboardist and producer who has performed as a member of The Groop, Axiom, Flying Burrito Brothers and solo...
- vocals, piano - Don Mudie - bass
- Chris Stockley - guitar
- Don Lebler - drums
Discography
- "Arkansas Grass" / "Samantha" - ParlophoneParlophoneParlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
(December, 1969) - "A Little Ray of Sunshine" / "Ford's Bridge" - ParlophoneParlophoneParlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
(April, 1970) - Fool's Gold - ParlophoneParlophoneParlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
(July, 1970) - "Father Confessor" / "Time & Time Again" - Warner RepriseWarner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
(July, 1970) - "My Baby's Gone" / "Hold The Phone" - Warner RepriseWarner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
(January, 1971) - If Only... - Warner RepriseWarner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
(September, 1971) - "Fools Gold" / "Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow" - ParlophoneParlophoneParlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
(April, 1971)