Hush (band)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1971 in Seven Hills, New South Wales, Australia |
| Defunct | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Seven Hills , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Keith Lamb (lead vocals), Les Gock (lead guitar), Rick Lum (bass), Chris 'Smiley' Pailthorpe (drums), Robin Jackson (lead guitar), John Koutts (drums), Chris Nolan (keyboards), Jacques de Jongh (rhythm guitar, bass guitar) |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Hush was a glam rock pop ensemble from Australia, established in 1971 and active until 1977. The primary members included lead vocalist Keith Lamb, lead guitarist Les Gock, bassist Rick Lum, and drummer Chris 'Smiley' Pailthorpe. The group attained commercial acclaim with several top 10 singles on the Kent Music Report, notably their renditions of "Bony Moronie" and "Glad All Over" in 1975. Their frequent appearances on the TV program Countdown alongside nationwide tours significantly boosted their popularity.
Rise to prominence in Australia: 1971–1977
Originating in Seven Hills, New South Wales in 1971, Hush began as a five-member pop band consisting of Keith Lamb (vocals), Robin Jackson (guitar), John Koutts (drums), Rick Lum (bass), and Chris Nolan (keyboards). Lamb and Jackson had recently relocated from England, while Nolan had prior experience with Grandmars Observers.
Their initial single, "Over You," was released late in 1971 through Philips Records. By April 1972, Les Gock (formerly of Chariot) joined on lead guitar, and Chris "Smiley" Pailthorpe took over drums from Koutts, forming a streamlined four-piece lineup with Lamb and Lum. The band advanced to the state finals of the national contest Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds and issued a cover of "White Christmas" in December. According to music historian Ian McFarlane, Gock's arrival introduced a more robust guitar tone. In 1973, Hush supported tours by the Jackson Five and Status Quo.
Hush entered the Kent Music Report singles chart for the first time in October 1973 with "Get the Feeling," which peaked at No. 40. Their debut album, Aloud 'n' Live, also reached No. 40 on the albums chart. The subsequent single "Man Eater" attained No. 88 in early 1974.
Their sophomore album, Get Rocked! (released July 1974 via Wizard Records), climbed to No. 9. Although critics offered mixed reviews, it reinforced their position within the glam rock genre. The album’s title track became infamous for its daring live performances that stirred local debate. The band's highest-charting original single, "Walking," co-written by Gock and Lamb and released in August 1974, peaked at No. 22. Their third album, C'mon We're Taking Over (November 1974), reached No. 26.
In 1975, Hush featured on Countdown performing a glam rock version of Larry Williams' "Bony Moronie", which rose to No. 4 amid the glam rock wave sweeping Australia. Their fourth studio album, Rough Tough 'n' Ready (November 1975), achieved a peak position of No. 15.
McFarlane identified their rendition of "Bony Moronie" as a pivotal moment in Australia's 1970s pop culture, highlighting Lamb’s magnetic stage presence and the group’s flamboyant glam style. Later that year, their cover of "Glad All Over" by the Dave Clark Five reached No. 8.
In August 1976, Jacques de Jongh (formerly of Shadowfax and Redhouse) joined as an additional guitarist; three months later Rick Lum left, prompting de Jongh to switch to bass duties. Hush supported Alice Cooper during his Australian tour in March 1977 and released their final album, Touché, in July. This record featured a dual-concept design with one side focused on rock ("A Touch of Decadence") and the other showcasing slower tunes ("A Touch of Class"). Drummer Pailthorpe departed at the close of 1977, shortly followed by Gock.
Post-breakup era: 1977 to present
Following the dissolution of the band in 1977, Keith Lamb and Jacques de Jongh initiated a new project called New Hush, also referred to as Hush 2. In April 1978, de Jongh departed to join John Paul Young and the All Stars. Lamb sustained New Hush with members Criston Barker on bass, Con Gallin and Paul Grant on guitars, and Nat De Palma on drums. Subsequently, Lamb formed several other groups including the Keith Lamb Band, Larry, and Airport. Beyond music, he became a partner at Rajmahal, an international embroidery company, and co-created the card game series TAOC: The Art of Conversation. Additionally, Lamb co-wrote "Ol' Rag Blues," a top 10 hit for Status Quo in 1983.
Les Gock carved out a prominent career as a music and sound designer within the advertising industry, contributing soundtracks for the movie Puberty Blues and the television series Water Rats. Chris Pailthorpe shifted his professional focus to architecture. Jacques de Jongh continued in music while also working as a chef. Rick Lum pursued a career in graphic design.
In November 1979, Keith Lamb reunited Hush for a special Concert of the Decade event held at the Sydney Opera House forecourt. The band came together once more in August 2004 for a Nordoff-Robbins charity concert, featuring original members Lamb, Gock, Lum, and Pailthorpe performing collectively for the first time in 25 years; notably, Les Gock’s son Adam joined them on stage. In September 2006, Hush embarked on an Australian tour as part of the Countdown Spectacular Tour, with original guitarist Robin Jackson returning to perform after a break from music and success with his band Cheek.
Jacques de Jongh, who played rhythm and bass guitar, passed away on 23 February 2025.
Members
- Keith Lamb – lead vocals (1971–77, 1979, 2004, 2006)
- Robin Jackson – lead guitar (1971–72, 2006)
- John Koutts – drums (1971–72)
- Rick Lum – bass guitar (1971–76, 2004, 2006)
- Chris Nolan – keyboards (1971–72)
- Les Gock – lead guitar (1972–77, 2004, 2006)
- Chris Pailthorpe – drums (1972–77, 2004, 2006)
- Jacques de Jongh – rhythm guitar, bass guitar (1976–77; died 2025)
Studio albums
| Title | Album information | Highest chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| Aloud 'n' Live |
|
40 |
| Get Rocked! |
|
9 |
| C'mon We're Taking Over |
|
26 |
| Rough Tough 'n' Ready |
|
15 |
| Touché |
|
36 |
Compilation albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | ||
| Nothing Stays the Same Forever (The Best of Hush Volume One) |
|
57 |
| The Best Of Hush |
|
– |
EPs
| EP Title | Details of EP Release |
|---|---|
| Hush Power |
|
| Get Hushed! |
|
Singles
| Release Year | Single Title | Associated Album | Peak Chart Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | |||
| 1971 | "Over You" | non-album single | – |
| 1972 | "White Christmas" | non-album single | – |
| 1973 | "Get the Feeling" | Aloud 'n' Live | 40 |
| 1974 | "Man Eater" | Hush Power | 88 |
| "Walking" | Get Rocked! | 22 | |
| "C’Mon We’re Taking Over" | C’Mon We’re Taking Over | – | |
| 1975 | "Bony Moronie" | Rough Tough 'N' Ready | 4 |
| "Glad All Over" | 8 | ||
| 1976 | "Rough, Tough & Ready"/"You Really Gotta Hold on Me" | 49 | |
| "Too Young to Know"/"Lies" | Nothing Stays the Same Forever | 33 | |
| "Sunday" | 80 | ||
| 1977 | "Nothing Stays the Same Forever" | Touché | 52 |
| "Messin' Around" | Touché | 91 |