Glenn Shorrock | Long Play Series

Born in Kent, England in 1944, Glenn Shorrock and his family migrated to Australia during the 1950s as part of the ‘Ten Pound Pom’ program. He would go on to become an influential figure in the Australian music industry as a singer and songwriter, performing with some of the country’s most influential bands including The Twilights, Axiom, Little River Band and Birtles Shorrock Goble.
As a member of The Twilights, Shorrock experienced early success with a string of hits including with a cover version of ‘Needle In a Haystack’ in 1966. When the group disbanded in 1969, Shorrock formed ‘supergroup’ Axiom with Brian Cadd and Don Mudie of The Groop, Doug Lavery of The Valentines and Chris Stockley of Cam-Pact. The band released two highly acclaimed local albums, “Fool’s Gold” and “If Only…”, however success in the United Kingdom eluded them.
Upon his return to Melbourne in 1974, Shorrock joined Mississippi, who changed their name to Little River Band and became one of Australia’s most successful international bands of all time. During the 1970s, the band scored hits with the Shorrock-penned ‘Help Is On Its Way’ and ‘Cool Change’ and in 1978 became the first Australian band to earn a certified Gold Record in the United States.
Glenn Shorrock is one the few artists to be represented twice in the ARIA Hall of Fame having been inducted in 1991 as a solo artist, and in 2004 as a member of Little River Band.
In this interview with Brian Nankervis, Glenn Shorrock discusses his first band, The Checkmates, his experiences with ‘supergroup,’ Axiom, and the international success of Little River Band.
Interviewer: Brian Nankervis
Location: Melbourne Room, Arts Centre Melbourne, 2017
For more Australian Music Vault stories and information visit www.australianmusicvault.com.au/
As part of our commitment to capturing and sharing great Australian music stories, the Australian Music Vault asked some of the country’s most influential trailblazers and unsung heroes to open up about their lives in music.

[@DavidChristieCareerCafe]

When Glenn left LRB it broke many people's hearts, including my own. I was a huge fan of John Farnham but the combination of musos that made up the band when Glenn sang with them was perfect, and I never went back to them. LRB was the fabric of my younger life and bridged pop, somehow, with classical music, and by that I mean music that the precise combination of the invention and placement of the sounds was quite seamless and the result was a bliss.

[@marlenesullivan3113]

SAD WHEN HE LEFT

[@steveperelli3602]

I have sing lady that’s lots of times this is fun to sing it I love you all Ruckers

[@benegeserit1]

Just “happened” upon this … Glenn Shorrock, you were such a huge part of my teenage years … I lived up the road from the Burnside Town Hall where the Oxford Club held those dances. This is when I first heard “The Twilights” and had my world tipped on its head. The band had recently returned from London and were playing material by Jimi Henderix, the Beatles and other British bands. They were SO f*****g good! This is a great interview. Glenn starts tentatively and by the end is a lot more relaxed. I feel some empathy with him, having been fired from a couple of bands, but not quite at the same level! You can tell that the way he was “dumped” by LRB cut deep. It is a ruthless industry, and it IS an industry, a business, and where millions of $$$ are a part of it? Well, enough said. So, I was quite a close friend with Russell Johnson for a few years, who, in fact WAS an original founding member of Mississippi, the forerunner of LRB. I even played bass on “Day Job Song” … I WASN’T a great bass player and was intimidated totally by the recording studio environment, whereas Russell, Graham Goble and John Mower were veterans. Needless to say, I didn’t last. I had been a “ring in” via Russell. I consider him a friend and his passing saddened me, however, the two of us could sit and jam together on a couple of acoustic guitars for hours; it was telepathic. Quite something, and I’ve only ever had that connection with him, no one else. We brought out “something else” from each other. This was many years ago of course, but this interview has taken me right back there. So, apologies for the reminiscence … I’m in my mid-seventies now so, you know the saying, “old men fall into reminiscence”. Anywho, thanks for this interview.

[@rickeybillings9229]

Glenn’s voice just smooth . Just perfect for those harmonies . Best vocal band ever . And with the state of main stream music no one will touch them !!!! Thank you Glenn !

[@rickeybillings9229]

Watching the rest of the interview johns voice just wasn’t that vocals in the pocket ! To much lead singer for Lrb

[@noelroberts8199]

Glenn is truly an Aussie legend and was a great frontman for The Twilights, Axiom and The Little River Band.....

[@steveperelli3602]

I love, lady lady rocks

[@modspell]

What a great discussion with an even greater man, Glenn.

[@marlenesullivan3113]

I AGREE

[@Aussietari]

Shorro is a LEGEND.😌

[@allymayful]

Thanks for this brilliant conversation. Glenn was really relaxed with you. It was great hearing a little more of his story. Such valuable Australian history.

[@marlenesullivan3113]

🕺L E G E N D🕺🗣❤ THEIR MUSIC DIDN'T NEED NEW TECHNOLOGY LIKE TODAY

[@fisherlee3262]

A trick : you can watch series at KaldroStream. Been using them for watching a lot of movies lately.

[@raydenluciano1786]

@Fisher Lee yea, been watching on kaldroStream for since december myself =)

[@keanudawson8657]

@Fisher Lee Yup, been watching on Kaldrostream for since november myself :)

[@kathykay2010]

Glenn, just like the other members of the real LRB are unique. Nobody could replace the original LRB!

[@bluecent]

These are such insightful musical history pieces. Thanks for interviewing and recording these great conversations. I’m a great fan of Glenn’s as a vocalist, song writer and entertainer. I also love to hear of these migrant stories and how music was a key factor in settling into a new country. And wow there must be something in the water in Elizabeth.

[@australianmusicvault4604]

Thanks David for the feedback, great to hear you're enjoying these conversations!

[@marlenesullivan3113]

Their Music Didn't Need New Technology Like Today

[@psychedelicprawncrumpets9479]

Something in the Elizabeth water.. Yeah umm meth

[@jonathangold2087]

Great interview of a unique musical talent, The harmonies created by Shorrock, Birtles and Goble , were dustictive, and made LRB a resounding success for so many years. It was great to learn the backstory behind his career. I have heard the Full Circle Album, and gotta say they still have an amazing sound while performing. I hope they can continue to treat us to their wonderful sound for years to come!

[@neil2550]

Great to find,cheers

[@neil2550]

That was fantastic,thank you very much,

[@declanmcdermott]

09.50, I don't think i;m anything unique, I beg to differ Glenn, You are beyond unique sir

[@graemej2599]

When Farnham replaced Shorrock in LRB, it was said that Gobles placed an X on the front of stage where the singer had to place himself and not deviate from. That would not have pleased Farnham either as, like Shorrock, they both liked to move around.

[@positiveandhealthy2728]

Very simple self improvement principles often missed. And I observed a trend. There is a difference between self development as against personal development.

[@Neil-Aspinall]

These interviews would be so much better if Nankervis was completely edited out.

[@Tomassius100]

When I clicked on this video to watch Glenn the first thing I thought when I saw who the interviewer was "oh man I can't stand this guy", then I read this 😅

[@Neil-Aspinall]

@@Tomassius100 Yes he talks like a patronizing teacher to grade 2. Why the editor thought it important to have his face on camera or let him waffle on is beyond me?

[@philmoore71]

yes, i agree he is not very good... but the artist's talks are

[@benegeserit1]

Yes, I felt the same way. I felt that Glenn was somewhat twitchy at the beginning also. Quite amazing how some people end up doing things that they really aren’t that good at. He has an unfortunate way of questioning, as if he’s interrogating. However, it was cool to hear from Glenn. Classic G Goble to try and control everyone and everything. “X marks the spot”! 😂

[@brianambrosemcmahon8531]

Glen is fantastic irrespective of the interviewers style.

[@tmnl8037]

It’s that Raymond J Bartholemeuz guy again. How can I take him serious? I don’t care who he interviews and pretends to be someone else. He needs to wear his hat because we all know him as Raymond J. Bartholemeuz. George Reeves was Superman and this guy is Raymond no matter who he now pretends to be. “I am an Island. I am an Isthmus”. Days by the Ocean Raymond J. Bartholomeuz 1986 In the steamy, sensual rivercave of my mind I stumble, I stagger, I stammer Like some crazy South Korean circus clown Lost, lonely, lifeless, laconically lazy Marooned, marooned I'm on a lagoon I am an island I am an isthmus I come from Bermuda I don't believe in Christmas look out oh sinister holy man look out oh righteous Bolshevik I care no longer for your petty problems I make my own decisions now Today I laugh, I joke, I chitter chatter chitter But tomorrow, tomorrow I go to Phillip Island

[@psychedelicprawncrumpets9479]

There's something creepy about the interviewer