Harold Frith (The Thunderbirds)

2 weeks ago on Facebook I saw the news about the passing of Melbourne Musician and founding member of Melbourne's as well as Australian early rock and roll groups the Thunderbirds Harold Frith which was very sad to see that. Harold was from Essendon, played in an fife and drum band as well as getting drum lessons from Bill Fleming, played in an jazz band called the Dixie Flyers, then formed the rock group The Thunderbirds in 1957 with Laurie Bell, Mickey Borg, Don Tenni, Don Henderson and Marion Grossman which they played their first gig at the Ascot Vale Progess Hall August 29th 1957 which they played there for a few months as well as the Maison Deluxe in Elwwod opposite the Henri Bource All Stars as the original line up lasted only until early 1958 and then Harold and Laurie reformed the group with Peter Robinson on bass guitar and Murray Robertson on piano which later that year Colin Cook and Graeme Lyall who came from the Melbourne group the Sapphires joined on sax later that year as well as Henri Bource on sax . The group played at Earl's Court in St Kilda Which they played 5 times a week which they added 3 singers Billy Owens, Billy O'Rourke and Judy Cannon as well as playing at the Preston Town Hall and in 1959 were the support act for Fabian when he played in Melbourne. They began recording for the Rex label which was connected with Festival Records at the time as they released 2 EP's and 2 Singles with Billy O'Rourke, Billy Owens and Judy Cannon in 1960 and in that year Laurie Bell, Colin Cook and Peter Robinson left which they were replaced by Charles Gauld and Gordon Onley which it would the classic line up that did the recordings for W&G label which iconic Melbourne DJ Stan Rofe played a part in them getting signed. The group released 8 singles for the label from 1961-64 which among them were Wild Weekend (number 13 in Melbourne in 1961 and number 31 in Melbourne 1963), New Orleans Beat number 10 in Melbourne and Machine Gun number 16 in Melbourne also in 1961 as well as releasing 1 EP The Thunderbirds' Big 6 and the live album Quiet A Party on the GEM label which was connected with W&G that was recorded at Preston Town Hall which they backed up singers Johnny Chester, Jillian Buckley and Noel Watson. Besides themselves the Thunderbirds backed up on Johnny Chester's early W&G recordings including Hokey Pokey, California Sun, Shakin All Over and That's How It's Gonna Be, Betty McQuade on Midnight Bus and Tonuge Tie, The Thin Men and Bobby Cookson and even Normie Rowe and Marcie Jones started their early careers performing with the Thunderbirds live at the Preston Town Hall. The Thunderbirds toured with Roy Orbison, Jack Scott, Dion DiMucci, Ray Peterson and Johnny Chester in September 1961 which they did Sydney at the Stadium, Melbourne Festival Hall in Melbourne and Brisbane Festival Hall in Brisbane on September 5th, Cliff Richard and the Shadows in October 1961 in Melbourne and in October 1962 were the support act for British singer Helen Shapiro as well as Frankie Davidson, Rob EG, Arthur Worsley and Tony Lavelli in Sydney and Melbourne. The Thunderbirds lasted until 1965 when they disbanded and Harold went on to play in The Charlie Gauld Trio, Nite Train, Doctor Feelgood, the Promised Band and the country rock band Saltbush which featured Bernie O'Brien (ex The Rondells) which they released 2 albums and 4 singles. The Thunderbirds got back together in 1983 with the line up of Harold Frith, Murray Robertson, Gordon Onley, Henri Bource and Charlie Gauld briefly for a 60's revival concert which had Judy Cannon, Betty McQuade, Malcolm Arthur and Billy Owens and in 1996 the Thunderbirds with Harold, Murray, Henri, Peter Robinson and Laurie Bell got back together at the suggestion of promoter Greg Lynch for a Elvis Presley Fan Clubn dance at the Moorabbin Town Hall which was a huge success that lead to the group playing more shows as well as recording the Thunderbirds self titled album that was on CD on the Canetoad label in 1998 which included an song called Bell Boogie that was recorded in 1958 at AWA Studios. Henri Bource passed away September 4th 1998 after a battle with Leukemia and the Thunderbirds came back together for a few shows in 2007 to celebrate 50 years when they were formed playing shows in Melbourne to promote their CD The Thunderbirds In The 21st Century which including 3 songs Queen Of The Hop, Mess Around and Peter Gunn. Harold played in other bands in the 90's and 2000's including Rite On the Nite, Black Smith Hopkins, Steve Purcell's Pearly Shells, Brandi and the Badcats, Brunswick Blues Shooters and Stackfull and I got to see Harold Frith live the one time at Wintersun at the Nightowl Store Sunday June 12th 2005 when he was playing in the Melbourne rockabilly band Brandi and the Badcats which were the reason I first heard of them because of Harold which I saw the first 20 minutes as I was going to the Nightowl Stage to see Legendary Australian singer Digger Revell and after Digger's show went to see the last 15 minutes of Brandi's show which after the show met Brandi and met Harold which I got his autograph and photo as I chatted with him for a few minutes which included the Thunderbirds which it was an honour and an thrill to have met him as well as getting a photo with him. Harold Frith has left an great legacy of music that he made with the bands he played with including the Thunderbirds as the songs that the group made including Wild Weekend, New Orleans and Machine Gun will live on forever as it still sounds great today as it holds up very well and Harold's drumming on the Thunderbirds is just AWESOME including the drumming on Machine Gun which is just Brilliant. Harold Frith should be among the great Australian drummers particuarly in the early days of Australian rock as he should be up there with Catfish Purser from Johnny O'Keefe and the Dee Jays, John Bogie from the Joy Boys, Peter Hood from the Atlantics and Leon Isackson from Dig Richards and the R'Jays, The Rajahs and The Mighty Guys and The Thunderbirds should be considered for an ARIA Hall of Fame induction for the impact they made on the scene at the time in the late 50's and early 60's with great musicians who went to successful careers with Peter Robinson in the Strangers and the Seekers, Graeme Lyall on the Don Lane Show and Colin Cook as an successful solo singer. Thank You Harold Frith for the music and the legacy as well as the pleasure you gave the audiences throughout the years.