Little River Band is a Legendary Rock Band who became the first Australian Group to reach mainstream success in America

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-- BAND MEMBERS --

Lead Vocals
Glenn Shorrock 1975-1982, 1987-1996
John Farnham 1982-1986
Steve Wade 1996-1999
Wayne Nelson 1999-present

Lead Guitarists
Graham Davidge 1974-1975
Ric Formosa 1975-1976
David Briggs 1976-1981
Stephen Housden 1981-present
Rich Herring 2006-present

Guitarists
Graham Goble 1975-1990
Beeb Birtles 1975-1983
Peter Beckett 1990-1998
Paul Gildea 1998-1999
Greg Hind 2000-present

Bassists
Roger McLachlan 1975-1976, 1998-1999
George McArdle 1976-1979
Wayne Nelson 1980-1996, 1999-present
Hal Tupea 1996-1998

Drummers
Derek Pellicci 1975-1984, 1986-1997
Steve Prestwich 1984-1986
Kevin Murphy 1998-2004
Billy Thomas 2005-present

Keyboardists
No keyboardist 1975-1979
Mal Logan 1980-1981
No keyboardist 1982-1983
David Hirschfelder 1984-1986
James Paddle 1988-1990
Tony Sciuto 1990-1998
Adrian Scott 1998
Glenn Reither 1999-2004
Chris Marion 2005-present


-- BIOGRAPHY --

Little River Band (also known as LRB) is an Australian rock music band. The band was formed in Melbourne, and named for the Victorian township of Little River, near Geelong.

The band's original members were Glenn Shorrock (vocals), Ric Formosa, Beeb Birtles and Graham Goble (guitars), Roger McLachlan (bass) and Derek Pellicci (drums).

The group evolved from the harmony-rock group Mississippi in 1975. Prior to that, Birtles had been the bassist in 1960s pop band Zoot (which also included singer-guitarist Rick Springfield) and Shorrock had been the lead singer of leading Australian 60s pop band The Twilights and early 1970s country rock band Axiom.

They found immediate success in Australia, but individual members had greater ambitions. Like many other Australasian groups of the period, both Axiom and Mississippi had tried to break into the UK record market without success. Remembering the indifferent reaction they had received in the UK, they decided the new band would focus on establishing themselves in the United States.

A key factor in their eventual success was their manager Glenn Wheatley, who had been the bassist in the highly-regarded Australian rock band The Masters Apprentices. Wheatley's first-hand experiences of the rip-offs in the 1960s music scene, combined with his subsequent experience working in music management in Britain and the United States in the early 1970s, enabled him to help LRB become the first Australian group to enjoy sustained commercial and chart success in the United States.

Fuelled by a very successful Australian hit single "Curiosity Killed The Cat", the band began making promotional visits to the US in 1976. This resulted in a hit single, "It's A Long Way There", which broke into the Top 30 and galvanised the commitment of the band members. More concert performances in the US followed, and in 1977 "Help Is On Its Way" (an Australian number one single) and "Happy Anniversary" both narrowly missed the US Top 10. During this period McLachlan left the group and was replaced by George McArdle while lead guitarist Formosa was replaced by David Briggs.

From 1978 until 1981, Little River Band achieved six consecutive US Top 10 singles with "Reminiscing", "Lady", "Lonesome Loser", "Cool Change", "The Night Owls" and "Take It Easy On Me". During their career the band have sold more than 20 million records and scored 13 American Top 40 hits

In 1982 Shorrock left to pursue a solo career. In the US he failed to make an impression but in Australia he had one substantial hit, a cover version of Bobby Darin's "Dream Lover".

The pressures of success and constant touring gradually took their toll on LRB and all the original members gradually left. John Farnham replaced Shorrock in 1982 and the first single with Farnham, "The Other Guy" reached #11 in the US. Subsequent singles were only minor hits. In Australia the band continued to be favourites and songs such as "Down On The Border" and "Playing To Win" were major hits. Farnham's popularity in Australia was increasing at this time, and he left the band to return to his solo career, achieving huge success in Australia (he was also managed by Wheatley). Birtles left in 1983; Farnham left in 1986 to be replaced by the returning Shorrock, who left (again) in 1996; Goble left the group in 1990.

Bassist and vocalist, Wayne Nelson joined in 1980 and is currently the lead singer. In 1981 he sang lead vocals on their top ten US hit "Night Owls". Stephen Housden joined the band in 1981 replacing David Briggs and now owns the rights to the name Little River Band.

LRB are considered to be among Australia's most significant bands. The "classic lineup" of the band (Birtles, Shorrock, Goble, Pellicci, Briggs and McArdle) were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame at the 18th Annual ARIA Music Awards of 2004. They also performed "Help Is On Its Way" that night.

Three of the six original members, Birtles, Shorrock and Goble, have also performed a number of reunion concerts, but due to the fact that they lost their rights to the LRB name when they left the band, they agreed to appear under the name Birtles Shorrock Goble: The Original Voices of the Little River Band.

Reminiscing, written by Goble, was recognised by BMI as one of the most frequently played songs in the history of American radio, with more than four million plays to its credit. Lady has also accumulated more than two million plays, and Goble is the first and only Australian songwriter ever to win four "Million Air" awards from BMI. According to Albert Goldman's biography, John Lennon named Reminiscing as one of his favorite songs of all time.

Little River Band continues to work in the US and performs around 100 shows every year.


-- ALBUMS --

(Little River Band)
Year 1975 1976 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1996 2001 2002 2003 2005

Album Title Little River Band After Hours Long Way ThereDiamantina CocktailSleeper CatcherFirst Under the WireBackstage Pass - LiveTime ExposureGreatest HitsThe NetPlaying to Win No Reins Monsoon Get Lucky Worldwide Love Classic Collection Live Classics Too Late to Load - Rarities Where We Started From One Night in Mississippi - Live Test of Time Taste of Addison - Live

(Glenn Shorrock)
Year 1983 1985 1993 2000

Album Title Villain of the Peace The First Twenty Years Blazing Salads Spin Me 'Round

(Birtles, Shorrock, Goble)
Year 2003

Album Title Full Circle - Live


-- SINGLES --

NOTE:  All singles are based on North American charts

(Little River Band)
Year 1976 1977 1977 1977 1978 1979 1979 1979 1980 19811982198219821982 1983 1983 1985 1988

Song Title It's A Long Way There I'll Always Call Your Name Help is on It's Way Happy Anniversary Reminiscing Lady Lonesome Loser Cool Change It's Not A Wonder The Night Owls Take it Easy on Me Man on Your Mind The Other Guy Down on the Border We Two You're Driving Me Out of My Mind Playing to Win Love is A Bridge

Canada #72 #76 #10 #21 #3 #7 #3 #7 #95#7#13#37#17-- #30 -- -- #47

United States #28 #?? #14#16#3#10#6#10#51#6#10#14#11-- #22 #35 #60 --

(Glenn Shorrock)
Year 1971 1972 1975 1979 1982 1983 1983 1983 1983 19862000

Song Title Let's Get the Band Together Rock and Roll Lullaby Daydream Sunday Dream Lover Rock and Roll Soldier Don't Girls Get Lonely Angry Words We're Coming to Get You Goin' Back American Flyers Orchestra of Grunt

Canada -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ------

United States -- -- ------#69----------


-- MUSIC VIDEOS --

Reminiscing | Lonesome Loser | Man on Your Mind | Playing to Win

Little River Band....one of my favorite all-time bands...when I listen to their music...I feel at ease. ;)

"Lady" is my favorite song by Little River Band