BLACK STUMP

Lead Vocals, Guitar: John Jones

Guitar: Eddie ??

Guitar: Glen McCoy

Bass or Guitar: Alan Bottle

Sax: Clive Button am

Keys: ??

Drums: Barry ??

unplaced musicians: Alan Fish, bass / Christine Hitler, bass

This group are distant relations to the Sydney band The Missing Links. Although not an original member, singer-songwriter Jones was in the group during its most successful period (Mar65-Aug66).

Little is confirmed about the rest of the line-up and the following information is taken from two articles sourced from the EEN. The group appear to be playing under the name Born and left Australia around 1968 heading for The Top Ten Club, Hamburg. There - and for no reasons given, they ran in trouble and were deported. Under the management of Mike Vaughan, also manager of The Easybeats (Friday on my Mind) the group end up in the UK and are helped by Norwich Artistes.

Agent Phil Beevis, set up contacts and bookings for the band and in return, Jones gave the agency two of his songs for their artistes to record; Sitting On Top Of The World was given to Eyes Of Blond and Make Love In The Daytime was given to Memphis Index. Unfortunately, neither of the songs were used.

The group becomes Black Stump around September 1969 and from here appear to continue for a short period into the seventies, augmented by Norwich musicians. Jones then departed the band, at first moving to London and later America.

Keith Lamb, then of the Norwich band Mister Toad, said it was Bottle who planted the seed that he and roadie Robin Jackson should think about emigrating to Australia. They both took his advice and went on to form the top Australian band, Hush.

Mediography:

Norwich Artists Scoop H&N EEN 16/06/69

A ‘plum’ each for two city groups H&N EEN 25/08/69

Emigrating to escape the rat race H&N EEN20/04/70

<>