Ray Arnott
Encyclopedia
Raymond "Ray" Walter Arnott is an Australian rock drummer, singer-songwriter, he was a member of Spectrum
(1971–1973), which had a number one hit with "I'll Be Gone
" (recorded before Arnott joined) in January 1971. He also had short stints with The Dingoes
in the 1970s and Cold Chisel
in 1980s.
and he remained with them until they split in early 1973. He sang backing and lead vocals with the band, as well as drumming, and he contributed several songs to their repertoire.
Arnott left Spectrum to join Mighty Kong
, a new band formed by ex-Daddy Cool
members Ross Wilson and Ross Hannaford
, but the new group was very short-lived and broke up soon after recording its only LP in late 1973.
Arnott took over the drum stool from the original drummer in two of the most prominent Australian groups of the period, The Dingoes
in the late 1970s and Cold Chisel
in 1983, but in both cases his tenure was relatively short.
Cold Chisel frontman Jim Barnes took on Arnott for his first two solo releases, the Bodyswerve
album in 1984 and For the Working Class Man
album in 1985.
Arnott now lives and works on the Mid North coast of Australia as a teacher at Lismore Heights Public School and occasional band member.
Spectrum (band)
Spectrum is an Australian progressive rock band that formed in Melbourne in 1969 and, in its original period, remained in existence until 1973. Its members also performed under the alter-ego Indelible Murtceps...
(1971–1973), which had a number one hit with "I'll Be Gone
I'll Be Gone
"I'll Be Gone" or "Some Day I'll Have Money" is a song by Australian progressive rock group Spectrum released as their debut single by EMI on Harvest Records in January 1971. It peaked at #1 on the national singles chart, while it reached Top 5 in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The song was...
" (recorded before Arnott joined) in January 1971. He also had short stints with 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 the 1970s and Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel is a rock band that originated in Adelaide, Australia. It is one of the most acclaimed Australian rock bands of all time, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s and huge sales that continue to this day, although its success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to...
in 1980s.
Biography
In early 1971 he replaced original drummer Mark Kennedy in the renowned Australian progressive rock group SpectrumSpectrum (band)
Spectrum is an Australian progressive rock band that formed in Melbourne in 1969 and, in its original period, remained in existence until 1973. Its members also performed under the alter-ego Indelible Murtceps...
and he remained with them until they split in early 1973. He sang backing and lead vocals with the band, as well as drumming, and he contributed several songs to their repertoire.
Arnott left Spectrum to join Mighty Kong
Mighty Kong (band)
Mighty Kong were an Australian 'supergroup' successor to Daddy Cool, which broke up in August 1972. It was also the fifth in the line of groups that featured singer-songwriter Ross Wilson and guitarist Ross Hannaford, which began with Pink Finks in 1965...
, a new band formed by ex-Daddy Cool
Daddy Cool (band)
Daddy Cool is an Australian rock band formed in Melbourne in 1970 with the original line-up of Wayne Duncan , Ross Hannaford , Ross Wilson and Gary Young . Their debut single "Eagle Rock" was released in May 1971 and stayed at number 1 on the Australian singles chart for ten weeks...
members Ross Wilson and Ross Hannaford
Ross Hannaford
Ross Andrew Hannaford is an Australian musician. He is often referred to by his nickname "Hanna". Widely regarded as one of the country's finest rock guitarists, he is best known for his long collaboration with singer-songwriter Ross Wilson, which began as teenagers, and with whom he formed the...
, but the new group was very short-lived and broke up soon after recording its only LP in late 1973.
Arnott took over the drum stool from the original drummer in two of the most prominent Australian groups of the period, 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 the late 1970s and Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel is a rock band that originated in Adelaide, Australia. It is one of the most acclaimed Australian rock bands of all time, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s and huge sales that continue to this day, although its success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to...
in 1983, but in both cases his tenure was relatively short.
Cold Chisel frontman Jim Barnes took on Arnott for his first two solo releases, the Bodyswerve
Bodyswerve
Bodyswerve was the debut solo album by former Cold Chisel vocalist Jimmy Barnes. The album was released in on 10 September 1984 and went to No. 1 on the ARIA music chart. It contained covers of tracks by Sam Cooke and Janis Joplin. "No Second Prize" was the album's first single. The song was...
album in 1984 and For the Working Class Man
For the Working Class Man
For the Working Class Man is the second studio album by Australian rock singer Jimmy Barnes, released in 1985. The album was released in the United States on Geffen as Jimmy Barnes. It was re-released in 2005 in a special 20th anniversary edition, CD/DVD box set...
album in 1985.
Arnott now lives and works on the Mid North coast of Australia as a teacher at Lismore Heights Public School and occasional band member.