| MILESAGO: Australasian Music & Popular Culture 1964-1975 | Groups & Solo Artists |
THE PINK FINKS
Melbourne 1964-66
Dave Cameron (guitar)
Rick Dalton (guitar, vocals)
Michael Edwards (sax, trumpet) 1966
Richard Franklin (drums)
Ross Hannaford (guitar, vocals)
Chris Kinman (bass) 1966
Leigh Landsdowne (drums) 1966
Niven, Jimmy (keyboards) 1966
Geoff Ratz (bass)
Ross Wilson (vocals, guitar)
History
The Pink Finks is an very notable group, being the first in the series of bands featuring Ross Wilson and Ross Hannaford, which eventually culminated in the hugely successful Daddy Cool. The Finks formed in early 1965 when 16 year-old R&B fanatic Ross Wilson joined forces with Ross Hannaford's schoolboy outfit The Fauves, which played Shadows and Ventures covers.
They were a part-time band, since the members were all still at school at the time. Hannaford, who was only 14 when the band formed, was often driven to gigs by his mum, and had to be sneaked in and out of the licensed venues they played at because he was underage. Inspired by the onslaught of English groups like The Stolling Stones, The Pretty Things and The Yardbirds, the young band's repertoire was chiefly R&B and blues covers.
David Cameron replaced original rhythm guitarist Rick Dalton in early 1965; Dalton later joined Running Jumping Standing Still with ex-Missing Links members Andy Anderson and Doug Ford. The Finks released four singles during their brief career; their first was their raucous version of The Kingsmen's "Louie Louie" released on the Finks' own label, Mojo (whose label was designed by Ross Wilson's brother Bruce) and it gave them an early taste of success when it was a local hit (#16) in Melbourne in June 1965.
Michael Edwards was added on trumpet and sax in August '66, but the group folded at the end of the year when Franklin, Cameron and Ratz left to go to university. It appears from the information in Who's Who of Australian Rock & Roll that they were replaced, at least temporarily, by Kinman, Landsdowne and Jimmy Niven, although in what capacity they contributed is not known. (Jimmy Niven was later a member of The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band (1973-76) and Sports (1976-80).
After The Pink Finks
- Richard Franklin became a successful feature film director whose Australian credits include The True Story Of Eskimo Nell, Fantasm, Roadgames and Patrick. He then moved to America where he directed Psycho II, Cloak & Dagger, Link and FX2: The Deadly Art of Illusion. He died in 2007.
- David Cameron graduated from NIDA and became an actor, beginning with a role in the ABC's Bellbird, in 1969; since then he has notched up an impressive string of series, mini-series and feature film appearances, including Against The Wind and Dawn!.
- Wilson and Hannaford moved on to Party Machine, Sons Of The Vegetal Mother, Daddy Cool, and Mighty Kong.
Discography
Singles
1965
"Louie Louie"/ "Got Love If You Want It" (Mojo 001)
1965
"Untie Me" / "Nowhere To Run In " (In INS-2451)
1965
"Back Door Man" / "Something Else" (In INS-2505)
1966
"You're Good For Me"/ "Comin' Home Baby" (W&G S-2625)
1987
"It Hurts Me So" / "Down Mama" (From The Vault FTV-2)
EP's
1965
In Group (In E-2558)
"In Group", plus three other tracks
12/80
Louie Louie (Raven RV-06)
"Louie Louie", "Back Door Man", "Comin' Home", "You're Good, "Rub My Root", "Something Else", "Untie Me"
References
Ian McFarlane