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Digger Revell and the Denvermen

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Digger Revell and the Denvermen, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 29 November 2025
Digger Revell and the Denvermen
Company typeMusical group
IndustryMusic
Founded1961 in Sydney, Australia
Defunct1965
Headquarters
Sydney
,
Australia
ProductsSurf music, rock and roll recordings and performances

Digger Revell and the Denvermen were an Australian surf and rock 'n' roll group established in 1961. The ensemble featured lead vocalist Digger Revell (born Gary Hildred, 1943) alongside the Denvermen members: Phil Bower on drums, Allan Crowe handling bass guitar, Les Green as lead guitarist, and Tex Ihasz on rhythm guitar. They secured several top 40 placements on the Kent Music Report with tracks such as "Surfside," "Blue Mountains," "Avalon Stomp" (all released in 1963), and "My Little Rocker's Turned Surfie" (1964). The band dissolved in 1965, after which Revell embarked on a solo path.

Early Years

Gary Benjamin Hildred entered the world in Dubbo in July 1943. While residing in Sydney, he was neighbors with rock artist Warren Williams. Hildred launched his rock 'n' roll journey under the stage name Digger Revell in 1958, performing at dances organized by Williams in suburban areas. Starting from 1959, Revell made appearances on Sydney television programs and formed the rock 'n' roll group Digger Revell and the Lonely Ones.

Formation of Digger Revell and the Denvermen

The band known as Digger Revell and the Denvermen originated in Sydney during 1961, fronted by Digger Revell as lead singer. The lineup included Phil Bower on drums, Peter Burbidge playing saxophone, Allan Crowe on bass guitar, Les Green as lead guitarist, and Tex Ihasz on rhythm guitar. Members came together from two previous rock 'n' roll outfits: Paul Dever and the Denvermen and Digger Revell and the Lonely Ones. Throughout their inaugural year, they frequently performed at dance venues and featured on Sydney television broadcasts.

Their first single, "Outback" (1962), released under Digger Revell's Denver Men, was an instrumental piece highlighting Green's innovative guitar techniques influenced by Hank Marvin and Duane Eddy. Their follow-up single, "Surfside" (1963), co-written by Johnny Devlin and Nat Kipner, climbed to No. 1 in Sydney, No. 6 in Melbourne, and reached No. 17 on the Kent Music Report charts. Johnny Devlin also took roles as manager, producer, and songwriter for the group while maintaining his own musical career. In 1963, saxophonist Burbidge departed from the band. That same year saw two additional top 40 hits: "Blue Mountains" and "Avalon Stomp."

The Denvermen also provided backing for artists such as Johnny Devlin with "Stomp the Tumbarumba" and Tony Weston’s "The Hootenanny Stomp." Their last top 40 success was "My Little Rocker's Turned Surfie" in 1964. The band continued releasing singles into 1965 adopting a mod-influenced style; however, none entered the top 100 charts. Their vocal rendition of the Everly Brothers’ "Bird Dog" (1965) notably did not feature Revell's vocals. In May 1965, Kenny Kramer replaced Crowe on bass guitar. The final single credited to Digger Revell and the Denvermen was a cover of Jerry Lee Lewis’ "High School Confidential." Afterward, Revell left to pursue solo work and was succeeded by Frank Kennington as lead vocalist; shortly after, Green exited and Mick Liber took over lead guitar duties. The Denvermen released their concluding single titled "I Can Tell" on His Master's Voice label before disbanding later that year.

Subsequent Developments

Following his departure from the Denvermen, Les Green joined the Sundowners. Both Frank Kennington and Mick Liber became founding members of the rock band Python Lee Jackson in December 1965. Digger Revell’s solo release "You've Got What It Takes" appeared in 1966; this MOR pop track reached No. 38 on the Go-Set National Top 40 chart. He continued to issue singles until 1967. Between late 1967 and early 1968, he performed for Royal Australian Air Force personnel stationed at Vũng Tàu Air Base during the Vietnam War. During this period, Terry Hearne (formerly of the Allusions) joined Revell’s backing ensemble as lead guitarist and vocalist.

Revell completed eleven tours to Vietnam between 1967 and 1972. Transitioning into country music during the early 1980s, he released the album Alive and Kicking in September 1982 along with the single "The World's Gone Crazy." As of October 2023, Revell continues to perform on nostalgia tours alongside fellow veterans Little Pattie, Dinah Lee, and Lucky Starr during the Good Old Days of Rock'n'roll tour.

Members

  • Digger Revell (Gary Hildred) – lead singer
  • Phil Bower – drummer
  • Peter Burbidge – saxophonist
  • Allan Crowe – bass guitarist
  • Les Green – lead guitarist
  • Tex Ihasz – rhythm guitarist
  • Kenny Kramer – bass guitarist
  • Frank Kennington – lead vocalist
  • Mick Liber – lead guitarist

Albums

  • Let's Go Surfside (1963) – released by RCA

Digger Revell (solo)

  • Alive and Kicking (September 1982) – RCA

Extended plays

Singles

  • "Outback" (1962) – His Master's Voice
  • "Surfside" (1963) – His Master's Voice
  • "Blue Mountains" (1963) – His Master's Voice
  • "Building Castles in the Air" (1963) – His Master's Voice
  • "Avalon Stomp" (1963) – His Master's Voice
  • "Over the Rainbow" (1963) – RCA
  • "Stomp Fever" (1963) – RCA
  • "Stomp the Tumbarumba" (November 1963) – RCA
  • "Mystery Wave" (1963) – RCA
  • "Hootenany Stomp" (1963) – RCA
  • "My Little Rocker's Turned Surfie" (1964) – RCA
  • "The Rebel" (1964) – RCA
  • "Just Call Me" (1964) – RCA
  • "Don't You Know" (1964) – RCA
  • "Surfers Blues" (1964) – RCA
  • "Jenny, Jenny" (1964) – RCA
  • "Route No. 1" (1964) – RCA
  • "A Shot of Rhythm and Blues" (1964) – RCA
  • "Bird Dog" (1965) – RCA
  • "High School Confidential" (1965) – RCA
  • "I Can Tell" (1965) – His Master's Voice

Digger Revell (solo)

  • "You've Got What It Takes" (1966) – RCA
  • "You Won't Find that Kind in Me" (1966) – RCA
  • "All Our Love is Slipping Away" (1966) – RCA
  • "All for the Love of a Girl" (1967) – RCA
  • "Funny How Time Slips Away" (1967) – RCA
  • "The World's Gone Crazy" (1982) – RCA

References


External links

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