Ross Hannaford
Encyclopedia
Ross Andrew Hannaford is an Australia
n 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 seminal early '70s Australian rock band Daddy Cool
.
, which enjoyed moderate local success. This was followed by the more progressively-oriented The Party Machine, They released a single "You've All Gotta Go" in 1969; their printed songbooks were confiscated and burned by the Victorian Vice Squad for being obscene and seditious. The Party Machine disbanded in 1969, with Wilson travelling to London.
After a short stint in the UK, Wilson returned to Australia and reunited with Hannaford ca. 1970 in the even more avant garde Sons of the Vegetal Mother
, which embodied Wilson's enthusiam for the music of Frank Zappa
.
This band eventually evolved into Daddy Cool
, which had started out as an informal offshoot of the Vegetals but soon overtook. After the release of their hugely successful debut single "Eagle Rock
" and their debut LP Daddy Who? Daddy Cool
, the band became one of the most popular and successful rock acts of the decade, breaking all previous sales records for an Australian act.
Hannaford's unique guitar stylings won wide praise from critics and his goofy stage presence, distinctive baritone voice and trademark 'helicopter' cap made him a favourite with fans. He also wrote several of the group's songs and co-designed the sleeve of their second album, Sex, Dope, Rock'n'Roll: Teenage Heaven
.
After the first split of Daddy Cool at the end of 1972, Wilson and Hannaford formed the short-lived Mighty Kong
with former members of Spectrum
and Company Caine
and they recorded one album, All I Wanna Do Is Rock, but they split just after the record was released.
Daddy Cool reformed in 1974 and continued until 1976, when they split again. Hannaford and Wilson's last collaboration in this period was on the soundtrack for the 1976
movie Oz
.
Hannaford subsequently did a considerable amount of session work and played in many bands. His group and recording credits including The Black Sorrows
, Paul Madigan & The Humans, Ian Moss
, Steve Hoy, Mark Gillespie
, Billy T, Ram Band and Goanna
. In the 1990s he and his band Diana's Kiss had a long-standing residency at the famous Esplanade Hotel
in St Kilda
, Melbourne.
In 2005 the original members of Daddy Cool reunited for a one-off performance at a Melbourne benefit concert in aid of the Asian Tsunami disaster, and this led to the 2006 reformation of the group and the recording of a new single and album.
In November 2007, the original Daddy Cool line-up reformed for a national tour of Australia with the Beach Boys & Christopher Cross
. The tour took in Melbourne, Hunter Valley, Adelaide, Perth, Wollongong & Sydney.
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...
n 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 seminal early '70s Australian rock band 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...
.
Biography
Hannaford and Wilson first teamed up in the hometown of Melbourne in early 1965, in the R&B band The Pink FinksThe Pink Finks
The Pink Finks was an Australian pop/R&B band of the mid-1960s. Based in Melbourne, Victoria, the group is most notable for being the first in the series of bands that featured Ross Wilson and Ross Hannaford, which culminated in the hugely successful Daddy Cool.-History:The Pink Finks formed in...
, which enjoyed moderate local success. This was followed by the more progressively-oriented The Party Machine, They released a single "You've All Gotta Go" in 1969; their printed songbooks were confiscated and burned by the Victorian Vice Squad for being obscene and seditious. The Party Machine disbanded in 1969, with Wilson travelling to London.
After a short stint in the UK, Wilson returned to Australia and reunited with Hannaford ca. 1970 in the even more avant garde Sons of the Vegetal Mother
Sons of the Vegetal Mother
Sons of the Vegetal Mother were an Australian "esoteric special-occasion progressive band", formed in late 1969, with a floating lineup based around the nucleus of Ross Wilson and Ross Hannaford. A side-project of the band, formed in 1970 was Daddy Cool, which played 1950s doo-wop music plus some...
, which embodied Wilson's enthusiam for the music of Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
.
This band eventually evolved into 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...
, which had started out as an informal offshoot of the Vegetals but soon overtook. After the release of their hugely successful debut single "Eagle Rock
Eagle Rock (song)
"Eagle Rock" is a classic Australian song, released by Daddy Cool in May 1971 on the Sparmac Record Label. It went on to become the best selling Australian single of the year, achieving gold status in eleven weeks, and remaining at #1 on the national charts for a record ten weeks. "Eagle Rock"...
" and their debut LP Daddy Who? Daddy Cool
Daddy Who? Daddy Cool
Daddy Who?... Daddy Cool was the debut album by Australian rock band Daddy Cool. Released in July, 1971 it was the first on Robie Porter's Sparmac label...
, the band became one of the most popular and successful rock acts of the decade, breaking all previous sales records for an Australian act.
Hannaford's unique guitar stylings won wide praise from critics and his goofy stage presence, distinctive baritone voice and trademark 'helicopter' cap made him a favourite with fans. He also wrote several of the group's songs and co-designed the sleeve of their second album, Sex, Dope, Rock'n'Roll: Teenage Heaven
Sex, Dope, Rock'n'Roll: Teenage Heaven
Sex, Dope, Rock'n'Roll: Teenage Heaven, released as simply Teenage Heaven in the US, is the second studio album by Australian rock band Daddy Cool, released in January 1972. It reached number 15 on the ARIA Charts, and contains the hit single "Hi Honey Ho"...
.
After the first split of Daddy Cool at the end of 1972, Wilson and Hannaford formed the short-lived 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...
with former members of Spectrum
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...
and Company Caine
Company Caine
Company Caine, also known as Co. Caine and Company Kane, is an Australian progressive rock band of the 1970s. The band was formed in Melbourne in 1970 with member as follows:* Gulliver Smith * Russell Smith * Jeremy Noone 1970-71, 1975...
and they recorded one album, All I Wanna Do Is Rock, but they split just after the record was released.
Daddy Cool reformed in 1974 and continued until 1976, when they split again. Hannaford and Wilson's last collaboration in this period was on the soundtrack for the 1976
1976 in film
The year 1976 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*March 22 - Filming begins on George Lucas' Star Wars science fiction film...
movie Oz
Oz (1976 film)
Oz is a 1976 Australian film written, directed and co-produced by Chris Löfvén. It stars Joy Dunstan, Graham Matters, Bruce Spence, Gary Waddell, and Robin Ramsay; and received four nominations at the 1977 AFI Awards...
.
Hannaford subsequently did a considerable amount of session work and played in many bands. His group and recording credits including The Black Sorrows
The Black Sorrows
The Black Sorrows are an Australian band founded by Joe Camilleri, the group's only constant member. Founded in 1983, The Black Sorrows are still active today, and are best remembered for their top 40 Australian hits of the late 1980s and early 1990s, including "Hold On To Me", "Chained To The...
, Paul Madigan & The Humans, Ian Moss
Ian Moss
Ian Moss is an Australian rock musician, best known as the guitarist and occasional singer of Cold Chisel. In that group's initial ten year career, Moss recorded eight albums, three of which were No. 1 national hits. His solo career began with a No. 1 album and single and five ARIA Awards...
, Steve Hoy, Mark Gillespie
Mark Gillespie
Mark Gillespie may refer to:* Mark Gillespie , English musician living in Germany* Mark Gillespie , Scottish musician* Mark Gillespie , New Zealand cricketer* Mark Gillespie , Irish cricketer...
, Billy T, Ram Band and Goanna
Goanna
Goanna is the name used to refer to any number of Australian monitor lizards of the genus Varanus, as well as to certain species from Southeast Asia.There are around 30 species of goanna, 25 of which are found in Australia...
. In the 1990s he and his band Diana's Kiss had a long-standing residency at the famous Esplanade Hotel
Esplanade Hotel
The Esplanade Hotel, built 1878, is an iconic public house in St Kilda, a beachside suburb of Melbourne, Australia. It is situated on St Kilda Beach, at 11 Upper Esplanade, overlooking Port Phillip Bay on a rise opposite the St Kilda Pier, and is a significant landmark of St Kilda...
in St Kilda
St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
, Melbourne.
In 2005 the original members of Daddy Cool reunited for a one-off performance at a Melbourne benefit concert in aid of the Asian Tsunami disaster, and this led to the 2006 reformation of the group and the recording of a new single and album.
In November 2007, the original Daddy Cool line-up reformed for a national tour of Australia with the Beach Boys & Christopher Cross
Christopher Cross
Christopher Cross is an American singer-songwriter from San Antonio, Texas. His debut album earned him five Grammys. He is perhaps best known for his Top Ten hit songs, "Sailing", "Ride Like the Wind", and "Arthur's Theme ", the last of which he performed for the film Arthur starring Dudley Moore...
. The tour took in Melbourne, Hunter Valley, Adelaide, Perth, Wollongong & Sydney.
Discography
- The Pink FinksThe Pink FinksThe Pink Finks was an Australian pop/R&B band of the mid-1960s. Based in Melbourne, Victoria, the group is most notable for being the first in the series of bands that featured Ross Wilson and Ross Hannaford, which culminated in the hugely successful Daddy Cool.-History:The Pink Finks formed in...
(1965–1969)- "Untie Me" / "Nowhere To Run" (1965)
- "Back Door ManBack Door Man"Back Door Man" is a blues song written by Willie Dixon and recorded by Howlin' Wolf in 1961. It was released by Chess Records as the B-side to Wolf's "Wang Dang Doodle"...
" / "Something Else In" (1965) - "Louie LouieLouie Louie"Louie Louie" is an American rock 'n' roll song written by Richard Berry in 1955. It has become a standard in pop and rock, with hundreds of versions recorded by different artists...
" / "Got Love If You Want It" (1965) - In Group EP (1965)
- "You're Good For Me" / "Comin' Home Baby" (1966)
- "It Hurts Me So" / "Down Mama" - From the Vault (1987)
- Louie Louie EP - Raven RecordsRaven RecordsRaven Records is an Australian record label that specializes in retrospectives and reissues or recordings by American, British and Australian artists.Raven Records was established in 1979 by Glenn A. Baker, Kevin Mueller and Peter Shillito....
(December, 1980) - "Louie, Louie", "Back Door ManBack Door Man"Back Door Man" is a blues song written by Willie Dixon and recorded by Howlin' Wolf in 1961. It was released by Chess Records as the B-side to Wolf's "Wang Dang Doodle"...
", "Comin' Home", "You're Good", "Rub My Root", "Something Else", "Untie Me"
- The Party Machine (1969)
- "You've All Gotta Go"/"Gentle Art" - EMI/Columbia (1969)
- Sons of the Vegetal MotherSons of the Vegetal MotherSons of the Vegetal Mother were an Australian "esoteric special-occasion progressive band", formed in late 1969, with a floating lineup based around the nucleus of Ross Wilson and Ross Hannaford. A side-project of the band, formed in 1970 was Daddy Cool, which played 1950s doo-wop music plus some...
(1969–1971)- Garden Party EP - Independent (1970)
- Daddy CoolDaddy 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...
(1970–1972) (1974—1975) (2005—)
- Mighty KongMighty 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...
(1972–1973)- "Calling All Cats" / "Hard Drugs (Are Bad For You)" - Wizard (December, 1973)
- All I Wanna Do Is Rock - Wizard (December, 1973)
- Billy T (1975–1976)
- No Definitions (1977)
- Diana Kiss
- The Ross Hannaford Trio
- The Ross Hannaford Trio (1996)
- Hey Gringo
- I Was There (2000)