THE ASH
Melbourne/Sydney, 1968-72
(Click on the image to see a
larger version)
(Click on the image to see a
larger version)
|
1968-70
Criston Barker (aka Christon Somerset) (vocals)
George Edwards (guitar)
Dennis Johns (drums)
Ian Ryan (bass)
1970-71
Criston Barker (vocals)
Peter Gregory (guitar)
Ron Hood (guitar)
Gary Mason (bass)
Derek Pellicci (aka Derek Allen) (drums)
Gary Porterhouse (bass)
1971-72
Criston Barker (vocals)
Kim Dawson (guitar)
Warwick Wilkes (Warwick Ford) (organ)
Tim Partridge (bass)
Gary "Boofhead" Porterhouse (bass)
Derek Pellicci (drums)
LEFT: the first two
lineups of The Ash
Above - The Ash (Mk I) at the Thumpin' Tum
Below: The Ash (Mk II)
(Photos courtesy of Criston Barker) |
History
This Melbourne-based hard rock band, which operated between
1969-72, was strongly influenced by Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Jethro
Tull. There were three different lineups; the second (1971) included
several members of noted Sydney band Lotus. The
central member, and the only person common to all three lineups, was
vocalist Criston Barker (also known as Criston Somerset) but the second
lineup is also notable for the presence of drummer Derek Pellicci, who
went on to play with Mississippi and LRB.
The Ash's debut single "Avignon" / "Sable", produced by John Farrar, is credited
as one of the first locally-produced 45s to be
released in a picture sleeve -- packaging which until then was usually
only used for EPs. Vernon Joyson describes it as:
" ... a slow ballad in the early Bee Gees
mould,
whilst the riffy, although poorly recorded, flip side displayed a
strong Anglophile influence, midways between Jethro Tull and Led
Zeppelin."
The group also made a promotional film-clip for "Avignon". Criston has
archived a copy on YouTube, and it can be viewed by clicking HERE
It was the inaugural release for the newly
established Havoc
label, which was set up by Melbourne jazz saxophonist Frank "The Lion"
Smith and agent-manager Rod De Courcy. Although the label lasted only four
years (folding ca. 1975 after Smith died suddenly in 1974) Havoc was notable for
concentrating on new releases by Melbourne-based rock bands of the
period, and their LPs, which were pressed in New Zealand, were renowned
for their superior quality compared to the local product.
There was a major lineup change after the single came out, and
by the time they recorded their next single the group consisted of
Criston (vocals), Ron Hood (guitar), Gary "Boofhead" Porterhouse (bass)
and Derek Pellicci (drums); Peter Gregory (ex The Expression) filled in on
guitar for a short time.
The second Ash single "Midnight Witch" -- written by Doug Ford
of The Masters Apprentices
-- was produced by Havoc house engineer Gil Matthews (The Aztecs). Ian MacFarlane in Freedom
Train describes it as:
" ... hard hitting prog-psych, with a
series of rich,
staccato riffs and a throbbing bass line. The flip side is in similar
mould if a little faster."
However Criston says the band was disappointed both with the
production and a perceived lack of commitment from the label,
so he and Derek moved to Sydney, hoping to make a new
start. There
they hooked up with Kim Dawson (guitar) and Warwick
Wilkes (organ) both formerly of Lotus,
plus noted bassist Tim Partridge, to become the the third and final
lineup of The Ash. They performed regularly at Whisky A
Go-Go, Chequers and numerous other Sydney venues until the group ended in 1972.
After The Ash ...
Criston, Tim and Derek were soon headhunted for a new
band, teaming up with Leith Corbett (Heart'n'Soul, Dave Miller Set) on
guitar, to form Arthur
& The Argonaughts. After just
two rehearsals, they were late
entries into the Bonopart's Battle of the Sounds, and
in front of a panel of judges which included John
McDonald and Stuart Coupe they won the contest outright. They then
returned
to Melbourne where they became an immediate hit on the local
circuit. Ian Ferguson replaced Tim on bass, and the group's brief
career culminated in a performance at
the Sunbury festival in January 1973.
Leith Corbett then went to England, and Criston went back to
Sydney, where he joined a band called
Sunday Mourning
before returning to Melbourne and forming Freeway, which consisted of
Criston (bass). Steve Welch (guitar), Frank Chic (vocals), John Grant
(keys), and Bill Lincoln (drums). They recorded one album Riding High.
In 1979. Criston joined Air
Supply as bass guitarist and he was part of the lineup that recorded the hit
album Lost In Love.
In 1983 he formed Apollo Bay with Tony Slavich (ex Ariel) on keyboards. Criston has
continued in the industry as a producer-engineer, recording several
albums, producing numerous video clips and TV shows, writing editorial and
composing music for documentaries; he has recently completed a new album
of songs, to be released in 2008.
Ian Ryan went on to Chook
and Buster
Brown.
Derek Pellicci joined the expanded lineup
of Mississippi around
the same time as Beeb Birtles, when the group (previously called Alison Gros) added
a rhythm section so that they could tour to promote their debut single
and album. Derek stayed on when Mississippi evolved into Little River Band in early 1975.
Discography
Singles
Neither of The Ash's Singles have been
commercially re-released (as yet), however Gil Matthews' Aztec Music
label has re-released a number of Havoc recordings, so the Ash tracks
might appear in future on a compilation. (2006).
1970
"Avignon" / "Sable" (Havoc HS 7003) picture sleeve
Produced by John Farrar
1971
"Midnight Witch" / "Warrant" (Havoc H 1002)
Produced by Gil Matthews
References / Links
Sincere thanks to Criston Barker
for information photos and corrections.
Criston Barker - MySpace and YouTube pages
http://www.myspace.com/cristonbarker
http://www.youtube.com/crisbarker
- includes original 1969 B&W film-clip for "Avignon"
Criston Barker official site (under construction)
http://www.cristonbarker.com.au
Ian McFarlane
Australian Encyclopedia of Rock & Pop (Allen
& Unwin, 1999)
Vernon Joyson
Dreams, Fantasies & Nightmares: Australia
(Borderline Books, 1999)
Chris Spencer, Zbig Nowara and Paul McHenry
Who's Who of Australian Rock (Five Mile Press, 2002)