| MILESAGO: Australasian Music & Popular Culture 1964-1975 | Groups & Solo Artists |
THE UNION
Melbourne 1965-66
Ken Lincoln (guitar)
Neville Lunn (drums)
Trevor Lunn (guitar)
John McKay (bass)
David Pepperell (vocals)
History
This obscure 60s outfit from Melbourne was originally known as The Boys. They were described in the 117 fanzine as "sub-mod, sub-soul and sub-R'n'B" They recorded on the equally obscure Melbourne label, Trend, which only managed three releases in all. The Union's only single, "Thump" / "The End" (reissued on the Devil's Children collection) is usually considered the best of the Trend releases, and the A-side is certainly one of the minor classics of Sixties 'garage' pop.
Their single re-emerged in the late '70s thanks to the renewal of interest in the first generation of Aussie garage bands, and Keith Glass's Missing Link label released an EP, Thumpin Tum Disco and a further 45, Ultimate Garage Band, by the band in 1977.
The Union's main claim to fame is their lead singer, David "Dr Pepper" Pepperell. A leading identity on the Melbourne scene for many years, David and musician Keith Glass founded Australia's first specialist rock record import store, the legendary Archie'n'Jugheads in Melbourne in 1971. Through the 1970s and beyond he has been a leading contributor to major publications including Go-Set, Daily Planet, Juke, Rolling Stone, Digger and Nation Review. He was also a close friend of and collborator with musicians like Ross Wilson and Gulliver Smith and was the force behind the 1975 reformation of Co. Caine, the reissue of their classic LP A Product Of A Broken Reality and their ultra-rare second LP Dr Chop. Pepperell and Wilson also co-wrote Norman Gunston's 1977 single A-side "I Might Be A Punk (But I Love You Baby)".
Discography
Singles
1965
(Trend TT-102)
"Thump" / "The End"
References / Links
Vernon Joyson
Dreams Fantasies & Nightmares: Australia (Borderline Books, 1999)
Chris Spencer/Zbig Nowara
Who's Who of Australian Rock (Five Mile Press, 2002)