Re: Johnny O'Keefe

["Mark and Desiree Gilbert" <cotehele@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Peter, I know JO'K wasn't perfect and went the route of so many 50s rockers
into the "all round entertainer" roll of singing some pretty poor ballads
but don't forget when he rocked on Shout, She's My Baby, Right Now, Real
Wild Child (and a swag of others) he rocked with the best of them.
As I said in a previous post I think he was probably a bit mad and somewhat
of a control freak (have a look at the mini series Shout) but he did support
a lot of acts. I remember seeing video of the Atlantics doing The Crusher
on, I think, Sing, Sing, Sing from 1963/64.
He really was the first in Australia so he really was a trailblazer. Just
look at the film of him doing Shout - backed by the Delltones - he was one
of the real wild performers of the 50s. Someone else mentioned Col Joye et
al in relation to Johnny O'Keefe but there really is no comparison. Col Joye
couldn't rock if he worked in a quarry.

In relation to the Missing Links any news on when the new collection is
going to be released?


>
>Date: Tue, 1 Jun 1999 13:07:48 +1000
>From: "MARKMAN, PETER" <MARKMAN_P@casa.gov.au>
>Subject: RE: Wild Man Of Schlock
>
>
>Depends who you ask. O'Keefe  hosted a "rock" TV show in the '60s. He
>prohibited wild, long-haired bands (specifically the Missing Links) from
>appearing on it. Lots of bands had nice haircuts and tamed down so they
>could get on the show (good for their careers), but not the Links.
>
>Funny - O'Keefe went through drugs, booze and groupies like there was no
>tomorrow, but at least he wore a suit and tie, had short hair, and sang
>plenty of syrupy ballads.
>
>The Missing Links didn't do drugs (or even drink alcohol), but they had
long
>hair, scruffy clothes and frenzied songs.
>
>Needless to say, the Links didn't wind up on the cabaret circuit like that
>"Wild Man Of Australian Rock", Johnny O'Keefe.
>
>Peter M
>