Brad Robinson (Australian musician)
Encyclopedia
Bradford Leigh "Brad" Robinson (1958 – 13 October 1996)) was a rock
musician best known as lead
and rhythm
guitarist with the 1980s band Australian Crawl
. Robinson had a later career as a manager for musicians and sports personalities.
, South Australia
, Robinson was a son of Federal Arbitration Court Justice James Robinson. He was raised in Frankston South
on the outskirts of Melbourne and educated at The Peninsula School
.
Spiff Rouch formed in 1976 in the Mornington Peninsula
suburb of Mount Eliza
on the outskirts of Melbourne. The group lineup featured James Reyne
, brothers Bill and Guy McDonough, Paul Williams, Robert Walker and Simon Binks. By early 1978 Spiff Rouch had separated and a new band was formed with Robinson, Reyne, Binks and Williams, they were joined by James Reyne's younger brother David Reyne
(drums).
, backing vocals and song writing for the Crawl. Robinson co-wrote Australian Crawls' early song "Indisposed" from the band's debut 1980 album, The Boys Light Up
. The song describes the car accident which resulted in Reyne breaking both wrists immediately before they recorded their first single "Beautiful People" (1979). Co-writers of "Indisposed" included his father James Robinson who helped him write "Way I've Been" for the album and was the B-side of their fourth single "Downhearted
". Crawl's second album was 1981's Sirocco
, which reached #1 on the Australian Albums Chart and became the best selling Australian album for the year.
Early in 1981 Robinson was briefly married to actress Kerry Armstrong
, later an Australian Film Institute
Award
winner, and they co-wrote "Easy On Your Own", which was also B-side of the single, "Errol
".
Armstrong had received a scholarship to study at the Herbert Berghof
acting
school in New York City
and so she emigrated to the USA. In order to obtain residency, Armstrong and Robinson agreed she would have to marry a US citizen, so they separated and she married her friend Alexander Bernstein. Armstrong only had a professional arrangement with Bernstein, but her long-distance from Robinson dissolved their relationship.
The Crawl's 1982 release Sons of Beaches
also reached #1 on the albums charts, this was followed by 1983's Semantics
EP
which topped the Australian Singles Charts containing the song "Reckless
". Upheaval occurred within the band with Bill McDonough leaving in 1983 and his brother Guy McDonough dying of viral pneumonia. Other members left subsequently with the only mainstays, Robinson, Binks and James Reyne, remaining until Binks' resignation forced Crawl to disband in early 1986.
's Page One
) and as a co-producer of documentaries. Robinson was an award presenter on Countdown Music & Video Awards broadcast on 20 April 1986. He was the manager for Chantoozies
(included David Reyne) in the late 1980s. In the 1990s he managed both Reyne brothers and worked as an agent for the Advantage Sports Management Group, including managing tennis player Mark Philippoussis
.
Robinson was a member of the Challenge Board of Management, which assists children with cancer. Australian Crawl had been inducted into the Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame
two weeks before Robinson died in Melbourne
on 13 October 1996, three years after being diagnosed with lymphoma
. His memorial service was held in Melbourne's Botanical Gardens
.
studio albums with Robinson:
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
musician best known as lead
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
and rhythm
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
guitarist with the 1980s band Australian Crawl
Australian Crawl
Australian Crawl were an Australian rock band founded by James Reyne , Brad Robinson , Paul Williams , Simon Binks and David Reyne in 1978. David Reyne soon left and was replaced by Bill McDonough...
. Robinson had a later career as a manager for musicians and sports personalities.
Early years
Born in AdelaideAdelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, Robinson was a son of Federal Arbitration Court Justice James Robinson. He was raised in Frankston South
Frankston South, Victoria
Frankston South is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 43 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Frankston...
on the outskirts of Melbourne and educated at The Peninsula School
The Peninsula School
The Peninsula School is an independent, co-educational, Anglican, day and boarding school, located in Mount Eliza, Victoria, Australia.Founded in 1961, the school is set on the large hilly green fields overlooking Port Phillip Bay in the Mornington Peninsula and is a member of the Associated...
.
Spiff Rouch formed in 1976 in the Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula located south-east of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is surrounded by Port Phillip to the west, Western Port to the east and Bass Strait to the south, and is connected to the mainland in the north. Geographically, the peninsula begins its protrusion...
suburb of Mount Eliza
Mount Eliza, Victoria
Mount Eliza is an outer suburb south-east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is in the Local Government Area of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula...
on the outskirts of Melbourne. The group lineup featured James Reyne
James Reyne
James Reyne is an Australian rock musician and singer/songwriter both as a member of the iconic 1980s band Australian Crawl and solo work.. He is a successful singer/ songwriter and prolific artist...
, brothers Bill and Guy McDonough, Paul Williams, Robert Walker and Simon Binks. By early 1978 Spiff Rouch had separated and a new band was formed with Robinson, Reyne, Binks and Williams, they were joined by James Reyne's younger brother David Reyne
David Reyne
David Nicholas Reyne is an Australian actor, musician and television presenter. He was educated at The Peninsula School, Mount Eliza.-Music career:...
(drums).
Australian Crawl
During the course of a night the band members went through a number of various names for the band, including Clutch Cargo, amongst many other discarded suggestions before they settled on Australian Crawl. The band performed their first live gig in October 1978. Bill McDonough replaced David Reyne within the first year. Besides guitars, Robinson also supplied keyboardsKeyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, backing vocals and song writing for the Crawl. Robinson co-wrote Australian Crawls' early song "Indisposed" from the band's debut 1980 album, The Boys Light Up
The Boys Light Up
The Boys Light Up is the debut album from Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl which was released in 1980 and contains the title track, "The Boys Light Up", "Indisposed", "Downhearted" and their previously released debut single "Beautiful People"...
. The song describes the car accident which resulted in Reyne breaking both wrists immediately before they recorded their first single "Beautiful People" (1979). Co-writers of "Indisposed" included his father James Robinson who helped him write "Way I've Been" for the album and was the B-side of their fourth single "Downhearted
Downhearted
"Downhearted" is the third single released by iconic Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl from their debut album The Boys Light Up. The song was written by Sean Higgins, Guy McDonough and Bill McDonough...
". Crawl's second album was 1981's Sirocco
Sirocco
Sirocco, scirocco, , jugo or, rarely, siroc is a Mediterranean wind that comes from the Sahara and reaches hurricane speeds in North Africa and Southern Europe. It is known in North Africa by the Arabic word qibli or ghibli Sirocco, scirocco, , jugo or, rarely, siroc is a Mediterranean wind...
, which reached #1 on the Australian Albums Chart and became the best selling Australian album for the year.
Early in 1981 Robinson was briefly married to actress Kerry Armstrong
Kerry Armstrong
Kerry Michelle Armstrong is an Australian actress on film, television, and stage. She is one of only two actresses to win two Australian Film Institute Awards in the same year...
, later an Australian Film Institute
Australian Film Institute
The Australian Film Institute was founded in 1958 as a non-profit organisation devoted to developing an active film culture in Australia and fostering engagement between the general public and the Australian film industry...
Award
Australian Film Institute Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
winner, and they co-wrote "Easy On Your Own", which was also B-side of the single, "Errol
Errol (song)
"Errol" is the second single by iconic Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl taken from their 1981 album Sirocco. The song was written by James Reyne and Guy McDonough, and is a lyrical biography about Australian-born actor Errol Flynn....
".
Armstrong had received a scholarship to study at the Herbert Berghof
Herbert Berghof
Herbert Berghof was an Austrian American actor, director and acting coach. He co-founded HB Studio in New York City with his wife Uta Hagen in 1945...
acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
school in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and so she emigrated to the USA. In order to obtain residency, Armstrong and Robinson agreed she would have to marry a US citizen, so they separated and she married her friend Alexander Bernstein. Armstrong only had a professional arrangement with Bernstein, but her long-distance from Robinson dissolved their relationship.
The Crawl's 1982 release Sons of Beaches
Sons of Beaches
Sons of Beaches is the third album from Australian rock band Australian Crawl and their second #1 in the Australian albums charts...
also reached #1 on the albums charts, this was followed by 1983's Semantics
Semantics (album)
Semantics was a 1983 EP by iconic Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl. The album marked a change in the line-up of the band as Bill McDonough was replaced first by Graham Bidstrup to record the EP...
EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
which topped the Australian Singles Charts containing the song "Reckless
Reckless (Australian Crawl song)
"Reckless" was a 1983 song from the EP Semantics by iconic Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl. The song showed a change in the line up of the band as drummer Bill McDonough was temporarily replaced by Graham Bidstrup...
". Upheaval occurred within the band with Bill McDonough leaving in 1983 and his brother Guy McDonough dying of viral pneumonia. Other members left subsequently with the only mainstays, Robinson, Binks and James Reyne, remaining until Binks' resignation forced Crawl to disband in early 1986.
Later career
After Australian Crawl disbanded Robinson moved into a career in television (with Network TenNetwork Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
's Page One
Page One
Page One is a bookstore chain and publisher founded in Singapore by Mark Tan , with locations in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Thailand...
) and as a co-producer of documentaries. Robinson was an award presenter on Countdown Music & Video Awards broadcast on 20 April 1986. He was the manager for Chantoozies
Chantoozies
Chantoozies were an Australian pop group active from 1986 to 1991. The band featured four female singers: Eve von Bibra, Angie La Bozzetta, Ally Fowler and Tottie Goldsmith; and four male musicians: Brett Goldsmith , Scott Griffiths , Frank McKoy and David Reyne...
(included David Reyne) in the late 1980s. In the 1990s he managed both Reyne brothers and worked as an agent for the Advantage Sports Management Group, including managing tennis player Mark Philippoussis
Mark Philippoussis
Mark Anthony Philippoussis is an Australian tennis player. He turned professional in 1994. His father is Greek, while his mother is of Italian ancestry....
.
Robinson was a member of the Challenge Board of Management, which assists children with cancer. Australian Crawl had been inducted into the Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame
ARIA Hall of Fame
Since 1988 the Australian Recording Industry Association has inducted artists into its ARIA Hall of Fame. While most have been recognised at the annual ARIA Music Awards, in 2005 ARIA sought to create a separate standalone "ARIA Icons: Hall of Fame" event as only one or two acts could be inducted...
two weeks before Robinson died in Melbourne
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...
on 13 October 1996, three years after being diagnosed with lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
. His memorial service was held in Melbourne's Botanical Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne are internationally renowned botanical gardens located near the centre of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on the south bank of the Yarra River. They are 38 hectares of landscaped gardens consisting of a mix of native and non-native vegetation including over...
.
Discography
Australian CrawlAustralian Crawl discography
Australian Crawl was an Australian surf / pop rock band. The band released four studio albums, three live albums, five compilations, seventeen singles, one extended play, and three video albums...
studio albums with Robinson:
- The Boys Light UpThe Boys Light UpThe Boys Light Up is the debut album from Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl which was released in 1980 and contains the title track, "The Boys Light Up", "Indisposed", "Downhearted" and their previously released debut single "Beautiful People"...
(1980) - SiroccoSirocco (album)Sirocco is the second album from Australian rock band Australian Crawl. It was released in July 1981 and on 3 August, it topped the Australian charts where it remained for six weeks, the band's first of two albums to hit #1...
(1981) - Sons of BeachesSons of BeachesSons of Beaches is the third album from Australian rock band Australian Crawl and their second #1 in the Australian albums charts...
(1982) - SemanticsSemantics (album)Semantics was a 1983 EP by iconic Australian surf rock band Australian Crawl. The album marked a change in the line-up of the band as Bill McDonough was replaced first by Graham Bidstrup to record the EP...
(1983 EP, 1984 LP) - Between a Rock and a Hard Place (1985)