Uncle Bob’s Band (UBB) enjoyed a relatively brief but colourful history between 1974 – 1976 in Sydney and Melbourne. The bands lineup was rich in experience and talent: Tony Burkys, Bob McGowan and Terry Darmody had all been members of the Original Battersea Heroes. Keith Shadwick had been in Sun with Renee Geyer and John Taylor had played with Hot Rocket.
From its inception, the band was drawing crowds at inner city dances, catching the attention of 2JJ radio (which then became 2JJJ FM), becoming one of their go-to bands for live-to-air and other concerts, usually in support of major Australian bands of the day. Throughout 1975 and 1976, UBB were consistently drawing on a range of blues, jug, country and jazz swing as well as their own compositions to produce a distinct rock sound. This was demonstrated further through the band’s various guises at the Adventures in Paradise shows – utilizing 5 different band name “versions” of UBB such as “The Ordinaires”. McGowan even presented himself as the nude guitarist preempting Flea by decades.
Playing and living somewhere between Paddington and Dural N.S.W. took its toll and manager Steve Hill encouraged the band to move to Melbourne in 1976; where Dave Flett (Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band) recorded some excellent material, but a record deal was not forthcoming and the tapes themselves were scrubbed. The band imploded then Shadwick left for the UK leaving his own copies of all 1976 tapes with his brother Ian. After the demise of the band Tony Burkys would join Captain Matchbox Whoopie Band, Warwick Kennington, The Fabulous Zarsoff Brothers and John Taylor went on to Little Heroes.
In 2008 the band re-emerged with the album ‘Unfinished Business’, in memory of original sax player Keith Shadwick who died in the same year. A second album ‘Now And Then’ was recorded 2018, which marked the passing of Uncle Bob McGowan. In 2022 Ian Shadwick restored his brother’s tapes of the 1976 sessions; and ‘Django Rock: 1976’ was released as a 2 x CD on the ETT Imprint Pty Ltd label. The album was mastered by Dave Marett.
Members
Tony Burkys (guitar, vocals), Bob McGowan (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Terry Darmody (vocals, harmonica), Warwick Kennington (drums, vocals), Keith Shadwick (sax, flute, vocals),
John CJ Taylor (bass, vocals)
References
John Taylor
