Buster Brown (Australian band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1973 in Melbourne, Australia |
| Defunct | November 1975 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Buster Brown was a rock ensemble originating from Melbourne, Australia, established in 1973. The group featured lead singer Angry Anderson alongside drummer Phil Rudd. Their musical style was a fusion of hard rock and blues rock elements. The band's inaugural album, Something to Say, produced by Lobby Loyde, debuted in 1974. Following this, Rudd departed to become part of an early incarnation of AC/DC, while Anderson maintained the band with various personnel changes until its dissolution in November 1975. Subsequently, Anderson became a member of Rose Tattoo, a band that also included former Buster Brown musicians Geordie Leach on bass and Dallas "Digger" Royall on drums.
History
Formed in Melbourne during 1973, Buster Brown's lineup consisted of Gary 'Angry' Anderson (formerly of Peace Power and Purity) on lead vocals, guitarists John Moon and Paul Grant, drummer Phil Rudd, bassist Ian Ryan (previously with Ash and Chook), and keyboardist Chris Wilson. They quickly earned a local following and performed at the 1974 Sunbury Festival. Mushroom Records issued a live compilation featuring their performances of "Roll Over Beethoven" and "Buster Brown". Early in 1974, Geordie Leach took over bass duties from Ryan. Alongside contemporaries such as Coloured Balls and Billy Thorpe, they attracted support from suburban sharpie gangs.
Their debut single, titled "Buster Brown," was launched in July 1974 under Mushroom Records. The album Something to Say, produced by Lobby Loyde, was released in December of the same year. By the end of 1974, the group had disbanded as Rudd moved on to join an early version of AC/DC. A follow-up single named "Something to Say" came out in January 1975. Between April and June 1975, the band's roster featured Anderson, Leach, Wilson, Dennis Millar on guitar, and Trevor Young on drums. In July 1975, Anderson assembled a third lineup including Ken Firth on bass, Billy Miller handling guitar and vocals, Dave Springfield on guitar, and Dallas "Digger" Royall on drums.
The band ceased activities in November 1975; Anderson briefly collaborated with Loyde on a new project afterward. Meanwhile, Firth, Miller, and Springfield went on to form The Ferrets. By late 1976, Anderson had joined the Sydney-based group Rose Tattoo, which eventually incorporated former Buster Brown members Leach and Royall. According to Australian rock historian Ian McFarlane, Buster Brown was regarded as "one of the most notorious streetlevel/boogie outfits of its day," enjoying considerable popularity in pub venues and among suburban skinhead communities. In 2005, Aztec Music reissued Something to Say on CD with six additional bonus tracks after remastering.
In 2025, the band revisited their debut work by re-recording Something to Say as Something To Say 2025 Redux, motivated by the belief that the original recording did not fully capture their intended sound. This updated version was distributed digitally through Laneway Records on Spotify.
Members
- Angry Anderson – lead vocals (1973–1975)
- Ken Firth – bass guitar (1975)
- Paul Grant – guitar (1973–1974)
- Geordie Leach – bass guitar (1973–1975)
- Tony Lunt – drums (1974)
- Dennis Millar – guitar (1975)
- Billy Miller – guitar and vocals (1975)
- John Moon – guitar (1973–1974)
- Dallas Royall – drums (1975)
- Phil Rudd – drums (1973–1974)
- Ian Ryan – bass guitar (1973)
- Dave Springfield – guitar (1975)
- Chris Wilson – keyboards (1973–1975)
- Trevor Young – drums (1975)
Albums
- Something to Say - 2025 Redux – Issued through Laneway Records in July 2025
Track listing
Singles
- "Buster Brown"/"Rock and Roll Lady" – Issued by Mushroom (K-5558) in July 1974
- "Something to Say"/"Let Me In" – Released on Mushroom (K-5731) in January 1975
Notes
References
- General
- Specific