Headband (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1971 in Adelaide, Australia |
| Defunct | 1974 |
| Headquarters | Adelaide , Australia |
Key people | Chris Bailey, Joff Bateman, Peter Head, Mauri Berg |
| Products | Album: A Song for Tooley; Singles: "Scratch My Back", "Land of Supercars", "Country Lady", "A Song for Tooley" |
| Website | www |
Headband emerged as a progressive blues rock ensemble originating from Adelaide in February 1971. The group was composed of bass guitarist Chris Bailey, drummer Joff Bateman, singer-songwriter and keyboardist Peter Beagley (later known as Peter Head), along with singer-songwriter and guitarist Mauri Berg. They had the opportunity to open for prominent artists such as Elton John during his 1971 Sydney tour and The Rolling Stones in 1973. In the 1972 edition of the national contest Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds, the band achieved a third-place finish. Headband's discography includes one album, A Song for Tooley (released September 1973), and four singles before their dissolution in 1974. Following the breakup, Bailey became a member of The Angels and later GANGgajang; Berg joined Fraternity; and Head went on to establish Mount Lofty Rangers alongside pursuing solo projects.
History
Originating from Adelaide in 1971, Headband featured Chris Bailey (formerly of Red Angel Panic) on bass, Joff Bateman handling drums, Peter Head on keyboards, and Mauri Berg contributing guitar, harmonica, and vocals. Their management was overseen by Hamish Henry’s Grape Organisation, which also represented rival group Fraternity fronted by Bon Scott. The band cultivated a distinctive sound that combined progressive blues rock with elements drawn from symphonic music, country, and pop genres. They maintained an intense performance schedule, frequently playing at schools and various venues throughout Adelaide to refine their skills. Peter Head noted that their songwriting was influenced by a wide spectrum of styles, including jazz and electronic music.
On 22 October 1971, Headband served as the supporting act for Elton John’s concert in Adelaide. Their initial single "Scratch My Back," distributed locally via RCA, failed to enter the charts. They followed with "Land of Supercars" and "Country Lady," which saw national release in 1972. That same year, after being finalists the previous year, they earned third place in the Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds competition.
In February 1973, Headband opened for The Rolling Stones during their Sydney engagements and released the single "A Song for Tooley." Their debut album bearing the same title was launched in September through Polydor Records. This record showcased a blend of heavy rock riffs, psychedelic pop melodies, and progressive jazz influences, featuring contributions from members of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra as well as a 110-member children’s choir. It remained on the charts for five weeks, peaking within the Top 50. The album’s visual presentation and promotional designs were crafted by acclaimed Adelaide artist Vytas Šerelis.
The band relocated to Sydney in 1973 where they became fixtures on the pub circuit with residencies such as at Whisky a Go Go. After extensive national tours supporting international headliners including The Rolling Stones, Elton John, and John Mayall, they returned to Adelaide before disbanding in 1974.
Afterwards
Following Headband’s breakup, Chris Bailey joined Australian rock outfit The Angels in January 1977 and subsequently co-founded GANGgajang. Mauri Berg rejoined a refreshed lineup of Fraternity in late 1974 featuring John Swan alongside his brother Jimmy Barnes (Cold Chisel). By 1978, Bateman and Berg collaborated to form Mickey Finn with former Fraternity colleagues after returning from London. Peter Head initiated the musical collective The Mount Lofty Rangers in 1974, incorporating musicians from both Fraternity and Headband—most notably Bon Scott, who left that year to join AC/DC. This collective produced the stage musical Lofty through The Circle Theatre Company. By the early 1990s, original vinyl copies of A Song for Tooley had become highly prized among collectors of psychedelic and progressive rock.
On April 1, 2016, Headband was honored with induction into the South Australian Music Hall Of Fame at The Goodwood Institute in Adelaide.
Members
- Chris Bailey – bass guitar, backing vocals (1971–1974)
- Joff Bateman – drums, vocals, backing vocals (1971–1974)
- Peter Beagley (known as Peter Head) – keyboards (1971–1974)
- Mauri Berg – guitar, harmonica, lead vocals (1971–1974)
Studio albums
| Album Title | Details | Highest Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | ||
| A Song for Tooley |
|
44 |
Singles
| Year | Single Title | Peak Chart Positions |
Associated Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | |||
| 1972 | "Scratch My Back" / "Musical Man" | - | non album single |
| 1972 | "Land of Supercars" / "Oh, How I Miss the Country" | 80 | Headband |
| 1973 | "Country Lady" / "Stay with Me" | 48 | |
| "A Song for Tooley" / "Brand New Morning" | - |
South Australian Music Awards
Since 2012, the South Australian Music Awards have annually celebrated outstanding achievements within South Australia's modern music scene. The South Australian Music Hall of Fame pays tribute to influential contributors in the local music industry.
! |- | 2016 | Headband | Hall of Fame Inductee | |-