Bob Richards(Bobby Rich) The Planets(Brisbane)

On Sunday Brisbane rock and roll lost an pioneer from the early days of rock with the passing of drummer and member of legendary Brisbane groups The Hucklebucks and the Planets Bob Richards aka Bobby Rich. He went to Ashgrove State School and Brisbane Grammar School and also had played in his first band while he was in high school. He played with the Hucklebucks along with Allan Reed, John Reid, John Pickering aka Johnny Pal and Brian Gagen before He, Brian, Johnny and John left the group and formed the group known as the Planets which was Rob who came up with the name which they played their very gig at the Nundah Memorial May 22nd 1959 which the line up was Johnny, John, Brian, Bob and Rob Tonge on guitar. Throughout their 6 year run as Brisbane's top rock and roll group the Planets ran their own shows which they played around Brisbane , Gold Coast, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Warwick and many other places and played at Venues including Cloudland, Railway Institute, Festival Hall, City Hall(1962-63 Tuesday nights) and had residencies at Ahepa Hall (1961-62), their own venue Birdland (October 26th 1962-December 20th 1963), TC's (1963 and 1965) and Teen City (January 3rd 1964-March 13th 65) which they were the first Brisbane group to play at TC's Sunday May 26th 1963. The Planets were the support act for American singer Fabian at the Festival Hall Brisbane October 15th 1959 which my Mum Cath were at that show. They worked on the local music show Teen Beat on QTQ 9 hosted by Geoff Atkinson an disc jockey on 4BC as well as doing other shows including the Hi Fi Club also on QTQ 9 and my mum cath besides from the Fabian saw the Planets at Railway Institue, Ahepa Hall and Birdland which she remembers seeing the DeKroo Brothers. They performed with many of the Australian rock and roll acts of the era and also local singers including Billy Thorpe, The Bee Gees, Mandy Sheridan, Sherry Wheeler, Tony Worsley and others. Rob also owned the coffee lounges the Shiralee and the Cave and he along with Brian and Steve Neale the piano player not long after their formation remained in the group with line up changes Rob left in about 1960 replaced by Mike Casey which he was there until 1964, Len Austin(Dominoes/Red Caps/Hucklebucks) joined in the early 60's, John Reid left in 1963 to form the Pacifics which he was replaced by Vance Lendich, Glenn Mooney joined for a short time in 1964 and Keith Johnson joined until the end in 1965. Ron Ashton did an stint with them too and the Planets came to an end in 1965 which Vance, Keith, Steve and Len formed the Sounds of Seven. I first saw Bob Richards at the Rock and Roll Reunion at Riverside Ballroom April 2008 which he said an few words on stage about the group and it was on Sunday April 7th 2013 that I got to meet Bob at Riverside which was an honor and I got an autograph and an photo which I am glad that I got that and also saw him again the following year on Sunday May 18th 2014 which the last rock and roll reunion there. It is an sad time for his family and an sad time for Brisbane rock and roll as the Planets were an part of those early days of rock here in Brisbane which they an impact and their part of Brisbane rock and roll should be acknowledged considering they were not an recording act but were very popular. may their legacy in Brisbane rock be remembered and Bob was an inspiration to many Brisbane groups and singers at that time.Thank You for the legacy.

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