Sweet Folk to Bitchin' Prog Rock
Part One of Two: The Clevedonaires from Clevedon
4:10 p.m. Saturday 14 May 2011
The Clevedonaires from Clevedon, comprising brothers Ron and Graham Brown on guitar and drums and sister Gaye Brown on keyboards, along with Rob Aickin on bass were playing the local A&P shows and church dances around the eastern suburbs from the early 1960s.
They were spotted by promoter Benny Levin signed to his Impact label in 1966 and became regulars on the Auckland club with frequent appearance on the C'Mon and the We Three TV shows.
After releasing several singles the band was booked along with a number of other top acts to go to Vietnam to entertain the troops. However the war was escalating and the promoter refused to book return tickets so the band, already packed and ready to go, headed across the Tasman instead.
The polished pop band were well received in Australia and played solidly around the university circuit over the next three years, morphing into of the first progressive rock unit signed by Festival Australia for its new Infinity label. The resulting three singles and self titled LP produced by top Australia studio operator Richard Batchens is today considered one of the most collectible of Australia's progressive rock era.
The album dominated by longer atmospheric organ/fuzzed guitar tracks which interplay with tight vocal harmonies was described by Australian music writer and author Ian McFarlane as "a prime example of where psychedelic pop gave way to a more progressive aesthetic". McFarlane likened Gaye Brown's vocal styling to those of Julie Driscoll and at times even Janis Joplin.
As The Clevedonaires, then The Cleves and finally as Bitch, the unit released a total of ten singles, two EPs, and one album. A second album recorded by Warners in the UK was never released but a "best of" compilation covering the wide ranging career of the Kiwi band will be released this month.
Former band members have reformed as The North Rd Band and also plan a tour to coincide with the release.
The Clevedonaires circa 1965. From Top: original bass player Milton Lane, Graham Brown on drums, Gaye Brown on keyboards and Ron Brown on guitar.
The Clevedonaires on the NZBC's We Three Show live from the Shortland St Studios in Auckland around 1967. Graham Brown on drums, Rob Aickin on bass, Ron Brown on lead guitar and Gaye Brown on keyboards.
Part Two of Two: Between Glam and Glory
4:10 p.m. Saturday 21 May 2011
The farming family folk trio that took the name The Clevedonaires from their home town of Clevedon in 1963 could never have imagined they'd be groomed for international stardom in the UK with chart topping songs in Europe a little over a decade later.
Their 1970 progressive rock outings of an EP and several singles on Festival's newly formed Infinity label along with a self-titled LP, and an award-winning radio advert for Coke made a huge impression across the Tasman.
"We probably didn't realise it at the time how significant the album was going to become in the Australian music catalogue. It's actually getting better write-ups now than it was when we released it," says guitarist Ron Brown.
After the album was released drummer Graham Brown returned to New Zealand and was replaced by Australian drummer Ace Follington who had been with Chain. Vince Meloney who had been with Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, the Bee Gees and Fanny Adams also joined for a time.
When Meloney left In October 1971, The Cleves moved to England changed their name, to better reflect the times and the music they were playing, and became Bitch. They recorded three singles in the UK on the Anchor label distributed by Warner Brothers which were also released in the US. Their booking agency, which toured them through the UK and Europe, represented only two other bands, the Rolling Stones and Queen.
The first two Bitch singles recorded at Apple Studios were Wildcat and Good Time Comin' which failed to achieve chart action in Britain but did rate highly in Europe. Good Time Comin' was sampled by Unkle and then the band Mustard who made it a small hit again in Europe in 2008.
Bitch recorded an album for Warners which was never released, although tracks from it will be part of a 'best of' compilation later this year.
After releasing a solo single Gaye Brown returned to New Zealand. Bass player Rob Aickin returned home in the mid-1970s and ended up producing Hello Sailor, The Dudes and Golden Harvest. He currently lives in Australia.
Guitarist Ron Brown returned to New Zealand four years ago and along with Gaye and Graham Brown are now playing together again as The North Road Band.
The Cleves. From left to right: Graham Brown (drums), Rob Aickin (bass), Gaye Brown (keyboards) and Ron Brown (guitar).
Bitch. From left to right: Ace Follington (drums), Ron Brown (guitar), Rob Aickin (bass) and Gaye Brown (keyboards) front.