Glenn Shorrock On Being Replaced By John Farnham in Little River Band

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lp.constantcon... Interview Clip #10- Glenn Shorrock On Being Replaced By John Farnham in Little River Band
July 20, 2019- Being replaced in a band is not an easy gig. It's usually a stab in the back ask Steve Perry of Journey. When the Little River Band replaced Shorrock with John Farnham the band had nine U.S hits under their belts.
Glenn Shorrock's new album is “Glenn Shorrock Sings Little River Band.” He also wrote his autobiography recently called, “Now, Where Was I.”
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John Beaudin has been in major market radio (Edmonton, Vancouver & Calgary) for 35 years and a music journalist since 1989. He graduated from Broadcasting school as a newsman so he would have the skills to write about the artists that inspired him since he bought his first album, “Madman Across The Water” by Elton John as a teen. In the '80s Beaudin was the host of the syndicated radio show “The Cross Canada Report” which had two versions (Rock and A/C). Beaudin was also asked to be a judge at the Juno Awards (Canada's answer to the Grammys) Twice. He has anchored every position in radio including morning and afternoon drive and was a Program and Music Director for The Breeze and California 103 in Calgary. He currently hosts the popular Lovesongs at QM-FM in Vancouver and on iHeartRadio.
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[@drumz700]

Glenn is the man! A date stamp to our youth. Fantastic voice and timeless songs

[@lynseycstormster4689]

John Farnham has one of the finest voices to ever bless this planet. ❤ and a lovely bloke too.

[@teresa6775]

true. 2nd to glenn's.

[@thelmus3914]

If you want tovhear something amazing listen to john farnham with the melbourne symphony orchestra. His performance of help is one of the greatest live performances ever!

[@sallywilliams5444]

I think Glenn Shorrock has a better voice.

[@NEVAB4]

Glenns voice is a wonder of the world. never tire of listening to him

[@x0539p]

Glenn is the only lead singer of LRB that i enjoy listening to. It just does not sound the same without him.

[@karenj3611]

I totally agree

[@FendergtrJam]

Listen to the music...no brainer... Shorrock is and was the the best for little River band and the hit songs tell a story in every song and hit...Cheers Shorrock..👍🤘😎

[@stephanienewbern769]

Glenn is, and always will be, the Little River Band.

[@braddawson4496]

LRB is thought of the Shorrock version in the US market no question. That is the version and the voice we know and love. I like a couple of the Farnham songs but.. it's not the same.

[@agonzalesjr]

John Farnham was, is very strong singer plus had a great on stage personality (watch his videos). But Glenn is the one people remember as an LRB original lead singer. Both singers contributed to the success of the LRB. And I will continue to enjoy their music!

[@allymayful]

Like you, l have equal respect for both of them. AND what we have to remember, esp for us Aussies, was how exciting it was witnessing John reveal another dimension to his performing style. Taking on this role, enabled the complete performer to evolve, in preparation for the 2nd chapter of his solo career. BUT Glenn, and the harmonies with the others, was the unique LRB sound.

[@wayneo1269]

John Farnham done a great job with LRB I have no complaints about him he was great and still is as is Glen Shorrock.

[@allymayful]

Glen forgot to mention that relationships within the band were really struggling after lots of exhausting touring of the States, with Glenn, being the grumpiest, and being the hardest to get on with, at the time. Graeme Gobble was a big fan of John's and had already written songs for him as a solo artist. It was Graeme, who used this moment in time, to engineer the change over, assuming Glen had spat the dummy. Where as all Glen needed was a good rest. No one actually asked Glenn where he was at. The saddest part of it all was Beebs Birtle ended up leaving cos he didn't enjoy working with John's way of performing. So Graeme lost his most loyal musical mate, and those superb harmonies, were never used again to create new music. AND Glenn had no choice but to go solo.

[@aussiekat6379]

Yep! that remark he makes about John.. he wasn’t me! like WTH! Ego much! not John’s fault glenn was let go as lead singer.. with what was going on with the band at the time people need to remember that

[@modspell]

@@aussiekat6379 Glenn is only remarking that John wasn't going to be filling his shoes in the hit department. Their voices were night and day, but Glenn was the most soulful and relatable. I enjoy Farnham's work but Glenn owned the sound of that band.

[@carolynh8866]

They wouldn't have needed a replacement if there hadn't been so much infighting between all the members the band. None of that was Johns fault. And it didn't stop after he joined nor after he left. The bamd was just toxic. It also sucks that the best song John ever wrote got chewed up by the greedy LRB members all wanting to take their cut. Sounds like both Glenn and John were well off out of that band..

[@brainrussell6811]

Two incredible singers... period... to front an equally incredible group of players.

[@terrykemp1876]

Both singers did a fantastic job.

[@TallCoolOne5378]

Both had what was needed to make their songs great..imho..it wouldn't be the same, or odd if they tried doing each others' songs..once it's in your 💖..only that person will do..is my personal sentiment.😍.

[@rickyelvis3215]

dancing in the dark ... walking through the park and ... thanks glenn !

[@markdp1983]

Glenn is correct. Little River Band were the first Australian band to go gold then platinum in the US and Canada in the mid 70's. Hell of an achievement and it paved the way for the others as he said. AC/DC did it soon after and eclipsed everyone combined! But then Air Supply, Men At Work, INXS and others in the pop-rock vein. Good times....

[@TallCoolOne5378]

"Patience, Perseverance and Passion.." Perfectly said..😍 this!..

[@davidrice3337]

How in the hell could this have happened I've always thought these songs were under rated - the complexity of the chord structures along with the quality of the musicianship and the beautiful harmonies Damn what a shame

[@loveleamoon3005]

His voice sent me to another dimension. John Has a great voice, no doubt, but Glenn, it was a classy, smooth, omg...like butter...all over you! Lol!

[@darrenjray]

Gotta stick up for Farnham here. LRB made some great recordings with John, particularly ‘We Two’ and ‘Playing to Win’. Saw them in concert - Farnham, Goble, Nelson, Housden, Hirschfelder and Prestwich - in ‘85, and they hit it out of the park.

[@jeffm9975]

bulll shit!

[@markkeegan7535]

Always loved Glenns songwriting and voice. One of my favorite albums of Glenns was Villain Of The Peace. Blessed with outstanding talent.

[@karmicselling4252]

To most Australian fans, the true Classic Lineup of Little River Band were the six members who recorded LRB's first Album self titled "Little River Band", Birtles, Goble, Shorrock, Pellicci, Ric Formosa and Roger McLachlan. Those six guys were the heart and soul of the LRB sound. Listen to the Album version of "It's a Long Way There." for you proof. And when LRB are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, those six members and Briggs and McArdle must be included. LRB with Shorrock was LRB. LRB with Farnham was basically John Farnham with a great backing band.

[@Ken5244]

I agree, but I'll add that I fully accepted David Briggs and George McArdle because they were really good players and they also fit in chemistry-wise. Ric Formosa was an excellent lead guitarist, and if they had to lose him, it was a real stroke of luck to find someone as good as Briggs to replace him. David wasn't a clone of Ric's, but he was really good in his own way, with his own style that fit in seamlessly with the group. The only thing missing from David's time in the band was a showcase lead guitar tune like, as you mentioned, the album version of "It's a Long Way There." I'm sure David could've stretched out and played some long and really tasteful solos if he'd been given the space to do so. Oh well ... they were so good that I'll appreciate what we got from them anyway.

[@robmac6508]

Karmic Selling - Agree with you 💯 %

[@MarleneGreen]

It's 2022 and I'm still going gaga over "Reminiscing" by the Original LRB! I play the video on a loop and have a huge crush on Glenn! Nothing beats the original music! Cheers!

[@johanneshuitink3884]

Happy Birthday! You are the only LRB lead singer!

[@garychambers5850]

Met them all back in the early 90's. They played at "Toads Place" in New Haven, Ct. The band sounded like their records! They were so tight! We had a few drinks with Glenn, he was a really great guy! The entire band was great! The also played "Baby Come Back" by the band "Player" shit, they sounded just like them, vocals and music! Amazing!

[@smokestackstudiosgem]

The imposter LRB better not come to Australia... 27 million will throw bottles at them.. Original LRB rule!!!!

[@TallCoolOne5378]

Yasss!!..😉🤗.

[@ouidajohnson9155]

Still love the O-LRB & Glen Shorrock's Amazing voice . There is only one Original - LRB - Thanks for sharing !

[@robf6105]

Glenn Shorrock, to me, brings a humanity to his vocals that I don't hear with Farnham, who, I think, always seems to be showing off. When Glenn sings "Cool Change", I believe what he's singing.

[@jimfletcher789]

John was just too shouty. Seemed to always be trying to just be as powerful as possible and lacked the subtlety that was needed in LRB

[@brennieW-s4o]

As far as I’m concerned you couldn’t be replaced! Your voice and your looks were the whole group!

[@awesome_comment]

Shorrock was LRB, Farnham never was.

[@stephengriffin9992]

Discussing who was the best singer in L.R.B. is like asking whether you prefer Gabriel or Collins as best lead singer in Genesis: it’s all down to personal taste. Like ‘em both equally actually. Shorrock has the soul in his voice whilst Farnham has the chops so take your pick.

[@johnoksys7713]

Glenn Was The Real Voice of L R B

[@chrissiesmall365]

Glenn is an incredible singer and a lovely very funny guy to boot! Sad to think that the name Little River Band was taken by a ring in guitarist who registered the name as his, leaving all original band members unable to use the name.

[@awm8221]

Agreed, that was a bizarre thing that happened. For a period Shorrock toured with Goble and Beetles under the name 'Shorrock, Goble and Beetles' because they could no longer use the name they created. How awful.

[@modspell]

"John sings higher, faster..." LOL. LRB ruled my record player and Glenn had the vocal vibe unlike anyone else on the radio. He was a treasure to many of us in the US, and replacing him was not an option. Goble may have had vocal fireworks in mind in his songwriting, but it takes a front man like Glenn to make it connect. For Goble to go crawling back to Glenn was his crow-eating moment, but by then LRB's wave had peaked. Oh well Goble, hope you enjoyed it while it lasted.

[@allymayful]

Plus Beebs leaving before Glenn returned, meant the harmonies would never be the same.

[@TheCookycooks]

John Farnham is the best vocalist I know of and deserved more international recognition but I agree he he wasn’t right for lrb

[@Fuzcapp]

Farnham was too strong a singer to sit properly in the layers of LRB. Shorrock was perfect for LRB.

[@luvthedrake1375]

Agreed. John has stated that Greaham and Beeb put a limit on his cord length so he wouldn't wander too far afield from their formation. They were a very disciplined operation.

[@normatible9795]

Shorrock was perfect to sing what he wrote as songwriter

[@FreeTheRocks]

Helen Reddy had her own American TV show.

[@tinostabile3256]

Hi John. Wow what a story. Love the original singer and I know You're the voice of John Farnham and is such a great song. It must have been difficult for Glenn. This business can be tough I suppose.... the cookie could crumble in several ways. However one has to look at the great side of it.... and that's the end result... the music. God bless and keep up the excellent work, Tino

[@drumz700]

Love your channel man..your a great interviewer

[@michaelburd6455]

Followed Glen since the early sixties in my view his Band from Adelaide I think The Twilights was one of the best ever Aussie rock Bands around the time of the Great EAsyBeats [ the best ever ] Masters Apprentices , Loved Ones, MPD ltd etc Glen is a Aussie rock king and went on to form more successful bands .

[@stephenhayston4314]

I remember John Farnhams 60s hit Saydie the cleaning lady , oh boy I'm getting old

[@WendywdjnyJ]

glad that the are interwing these guys too .... would be great if you could get an interview with the remaining band members of'Sherbet' (you might know them as 'the Sherbs or 'Highway') they were huge here in Australia way before ACDC took off (even though they didn't crack it there)

[@Onehappyworlds]

Glenn Shorrock will ALWAYS be the main voice of LRB. John Farnham was ok. Liked his vocals on The Other Guy, We Two & Down On The Border. Little River is one of my favorite bands, era 1976-1982 besides the Beatles.

[@scottyhotty1003]

Glenn Is Little River Band!!! They Suck without him!!!

[@carbine5378]

I loved Glen Shorrick with LRB but I do not like him as a person, never have. He always had a big ego. I’ve heard different variations on this story. One thing I do know, John Farnham would never have tried anything underhanded with Glen. John and the band weren’t a good fit anyway. John is a solo performer and he’s certainly a showman and I don’t think it sat well with the band.

[@keylearning5746]

John Farnham is freaking brilliant!! But Glen is the sweet voice of the LRB.

[@jeffm9975]

idiot!

[@khmak9387]

Ahh, I was wondering why "Shorrock" looked and sounded so different on some KZbin videos 😂

[@neilforbes416]

Glenn Shorrock *WAS NOT* replaced by John Farnham in Little River Band. Farnham was *ALWAYS* a solo artist, all the wayback to 1967 and his first single, *Sadie(The Cleaning Lady)/In My Room* (EMI-Columbia DO-5032 issued 17th November that year. What actually happened is that the then-leaderless Little River Band were reduced to being the backing group for John Farnham's further solo records until Shorrock returned and the LRB moved over the the insignificant-but-greedy MCA label in April, 1988.

[@aries898]

This would be absolutely hilarious if it wasn’t mostly true 🤣 especially Wayne Nelson and David hirschfelder

[@awm8221]

And when Glenn returned they had a huge hit with 'Love is a bridge'.

[@michaelwright664]

Great interview John, I would love an interview with Peter Beckett of the band Player which I think is very very under rated band, Even his solo Album Beckett is Amazing 😉

[@RockHistoryMusic]

We actually contacted Peter but we have not set up a date yet. Thanks for the reminder.

[@welshieallovertheplace]

Wasn't he actually in a 'later' line-up of LRB?

[@Ken5244]

@@welshieallovertheplace I think just about every musician and singer on earth was in a later lineup of LRB at one time, weren't they? Look up the list on Wikipedia -- it's laughable.

[@billscherer207]

I saw the little river band a bunch of times with Glenn Schrock, never with John Farnum. I do love them both for different reasons. I think Glenn was perfect NL RB, but the stuff that John Farnum did particularly the net album was incredible. They were always great players. The first time I saw the little river band was when they were opening for foreigner on foreigners first big tour. Foreigner were awful, and the little river band word oops the little river band were incredible. I loved Glenshire rocks voice. I met them a couple times over the years, and they couldn’t have been nicer people.

[@jeffreyschaefer3979]

Good job John. I really enjoyed this one.

[@petermcculloch4933]

Farnham said he was never a team player and consequently, being in a band where each member had equal input never worked for someone who was essentially a solo act.

[@mariogullette4795]

YES GLEN SHERROCK IS THE ONE & ONLY VOICE OF LRB!

[@xaj1543]

There is something strange about this. I saw an interview at the time with John Farnham, Beeb Birtles and Graham Goble, and they said that Glen Shorrock wanted to leave the band and he suggested they get John Farnham. I even remember Goble saying that John could sing anything they wrote, and Farnham said, “ yeah but I am sick of singing your mother in laws letters” Not sure why Shorrock is telling this version now.

[@Steadylife2]

... depends on which side of the bed they wake up on that day.

[@nelsonmaud1]

Thanks for the series on him big fan maybe beebs birtle next? I'm I big fan of old and new lrb great interviews

[@scottapthorpe6172]

I always likened LRB as Australia’s version of the eagles... great vocals liked em a lot...

[@garychambers5850]

LRB have better singers... hey. .Its true

[@margaretcunningham7146]

Glenn Shorrock...the original and the best in my opinion...went downhill after he left...wish him all the best.

[@RockHistoryMusic]

Thanks for watching Margaret.

[@allymayful]

Well he never got the opportunity to produce any more big hits, but Glenn is still an amazing singer and performer.

[@deep6483]

lRB are like vanhalen two great singers with great songs

[@graciesmom1477]

Robbie Williams holds the record for Brit awards at 18 (twice as many as the runner up Coldplay and Adele). He''s known all over Europe annd isn't known in the US. Strange and he's a Brit who I think lives in LA part of the time.

[@veddyveddygood]

Another UK act that never even had a minor hit in the US was Westlife. They had like 14 #1s in the UK - not that any them were memorable though 😄😄

[@Neil-Aspinall]

I believe as legend would have it, that Glen Shorrock was in the UK in 1967 and brought back Sgt. Peppers and was covering the songs in Australia before the Ozzie public had heard the real thing?

[@336ytube]

Glenn is LRB.

[@williamrochelle9756]

Wouldn't it be great if the original members of LRB make it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? The organization, as most Americans already know, is notorious for ignoring later contributors. Instant karma

[@awm8221]

Was really sad when Glenn left LRB. John Farnham was trying to relaunch his career, and the remaining LRB asked him to join. They had some OK hits eg. The Other Guy, but were never the same without Glenn. Farnham had his big comeback in Australia in 1986, with Whispering Jack album. Yet he never made it big overseas and I think that is because he didn't fit the mould. I personally felt Farnham tried to over impress with his vocal range

[@markjames3522]

John Farnham told manager Glenn Wheatley not to make him successful in the USA after he left LRB . John didn’t like the long tours away from his family and had zero interest in relocating there to live .

[@markmark5269]

Gotta go with this, and I will add I think Farnham is hugely over-rated. Yes, he's very good, but he's not great.

[@sallywilliams5444]

@@markmark5269 Glenn Shorrock is great. Just a lovely voice.

[@deep6483]

It's like david lee roth and Sammy hagar ,they were both great

[@1970sRacing]

replaced???? Shorrock left the band and wanted to go solo.

[@Richiezbrasjr]

Shamrock left the band, so they found a replacement. It’s not difficult to understand

[@allymayful]

No, not exactly. Relationships within the band were struggling after lots of exhausting touring of the States, with Glenn, being the grumpiest, and being the hardest to get on with, at the time. Graeme Gobble was a big fan of John's and had already written songs for him as a solo artist. It was Graeme, who used this moment in time, to engineer the change over, assuming Glen had spat the dummy. Where as all Glen needed was a good rest. No one actually asked Glenn where he was at. The saddest part of it all was Beebs Birtle ended up leaving cos he didn't enjoy working with John's way of performing. So Graeme lost his most loyal musical mate, and those superb harmonies, were never used again to create new music. AND Glenn had no choice but to go solo.

[@rodneymcshane5620]

Just thought there must have been a lot of in fighting between Beeb, Graham and Glenn and they wanted Glenn out.. even to the detriment of the LRB sound..

[@devi_-]

I've heard three different versions of this story now 🤣

[@blueycarlton]

Twilights, Axiom, LRB

[@digimontexcelguy1114]

Yeah...nah! It's interesting that Shorrock's version of events isn't the same as Goble's...

[@teresa6775]

yeah, no....or maybe goble's is different than shorrock's. judgmental fkr you are.

[@markmark5269]

I trust hard working band member's words over walk in singers.

[@westaussie965]

Could have had a bit of a tidy up in your room Glenn😂

[@infinightsky]

It’s strange hearing an American say John Farnham lol

[@Diesel0807]

That band died in 1982 period... Farnham was way to cheesy to make it work.. pretty ridiculous the band carried on with Wayne Nelson and backup players...

[@r.fairlie7186]

Wayne Nelson then came to Australia to play with John Farnham’s band for a long time. I can only assume that he had a lot of respect for John. The remastered version of “Reminiscing” shows that John had a natural talent for singing jazz. He may have sounded cheesy at 21 during the early days of “Sadie” but never afterwards. There’s a series of 4 KZbin videos “John Farnham can sing anything” that confirms this to be so. One only has to watch them to realise it’s true. I still prefer the harmonies in the original version of “Reminiscing” and kudos to Graham Goble for composing this masterpiece (which Frank Sinatra said at the time that it’s his favourite song). Musicians come into their maturity at different times. I’ve watched several voice coaches do reaction videos on John Farnham. They’ve meticulously analysed his technique and sound. We’re all plebs who have our own views but I’d rather listen to the opinions of professionals and learn why they think he’s good.

[@Gbhbbgvsbnjhhdchhb]

Getting Farnham in the band was a huge mistake. The Americans didn’t like his voice... he auditioned for Toto and they passed. Shorrock was getting difficult to work with at the time and probably just needed a break.

[@Diesel0807]

Toto wanted Richard Paige that might have been a good sound... LRB died when Glenn was out

[@markjames3522]

Farnham never auditioned for Toto . Although Queen wanted him after Freddie Mercury died in mid 90’s , John turned them down .

[@7Sandie]

John Farhnam is a far superior singed imo,

[@sallywilliams5444]

No way. Glen Shorrock has an excellent voice.

[@jimfletcher789]

He may technically be better but he did not have the same style and voice that Glenn had which was the voice of LRB

[@jeffwilson7100]

That's like saying water is wet. John Farnham is EASILY a superior vocalist. Glen Shorrock is good at what he does, but as a singer he's not qualified to carry John's microphone stand.

[@keylearning5746]

@@jeffwilson7100 Glen’s sweet baritone lacks the power and acrobatic range that John possesses, but Glen is the lead voice of LRB and nobody does it better. Johnny is in a class of singers with Steve Perry, Freddie, and a few others. It’s not a contest, but great genetics and a pure heart can take you a long way.

[@anton6795]

Sorry but being replaced by John Farnham must be like Usain Bolt walking up to you in your local track team and say he is going to run your part in the relays. It's like step aside the lord has appeared and baby Jesus is walking on water!

[@dennishatzidimitriou7899]

It was the worst thing that ever happened to the band he was terrible

[@dennishatzidimitriou7899]

Long live glen

[@karenj3611]

I agree

[@sallywilliams5444]

@@karenj3611 I second that.

[@BobE316]

Glenn, you're a great songwriter and singer, but John is a much better singer than you, and to be fair, a lot of other singers too

[@sweetypie9711]

They have 2 totally different voices, styles etc Glenn a deeper more masculine voice, John is an irritating yelper! John's so much better that's why he was asked to leave the band you pelican... yeah right!

[@allymayful]

Come on you guys!!! They are both amazing vocalists - 2 of Australia's very best - just totally different.

[@mariogullette4795]

GLEN SHERROCK WAS THE ONE & ONLY ORIGINAL LRB!

[@markdp1983]

I disagree. I like both; but Glenn had a better grittier soul than Farnham; that suited LRB songs and American AM radio. Farnham probably had a better range though.

[@cocolossal69]

Meh, John Farnham is overrated AF. Probably an unpopular opinion but I don't care, I think he sounds awful. Screeching cats comes to mind. Glenn Shorrock has a great voice 😍

[@fryingpanhead8809]

More popular opinion than you think. Farnham blows.

[@starwind7041]

John is the superior singer. You people who like the other washed up guy need to get a life!!!

[@user-lt4cz5ld6r]

Definitely not

[@Onehappyworlds]

Starwind. You need to piss off. Go away little boy. The men are talking.

[@AussieOutlaw]

CMON Shorrock , you did fck all after you left, seen you often dropping into the Roxy Hotel in South Melbourne and getting up with Coxy and the guys and you were so drunk it was not good , Did you create a successful Solo career after leaving LRB....your choice of course

[@mebeasensei]

You are taking the piss? GS is a funny guy and I appreciate his wit. he can go sit on an island all day and drink Jamaica rum if he likes. If I had one once of the success he's had I'd feel blessed.

[@topdog1128]

Watching this video and his calm demeanor despite what they did to him, made me like him more....I like the original LRB better...