Rabbit (Australian band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Founder | Jim Porteus, Phil Screen, Mark Tinson |
| Defunct | 1977 |
| Headquarters | Newcastle, Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Jim Porteus, Phil Screen, Mark Tinson, Dave Evans, Greg Douglas, David Hinds, Barry Lytten |
| Products | Albums: Rabbit (1975), Too Much Rock n Roll (1976) |
Rabbit—initially known as The Cherries—was a glam rock ensemble originating from Newcastle, Australia, established in 1973 by Jim Porteus (bass), Phil Screen (drums), and Mark Tinson (guitar, vocals). In October 1974, they incorporated lead singer Dave Evans, formerly of AC/DC. The band moved to Sydney and produced two albums: Rabbit (1975) and Too Much Rock n Roll (1976), before disbanding toward the end of 1977. Subsequently, Porteus, Screen, and Tinson formed the hard rock group Heroes in Newcastle, releasing a self-titled record in October 1980 prior to their split in 1982.
History
Formed in 1973 as a glam rock trio with Porteus on bass, Screen on drums, and Tinson handling guitar and vocals, The Cherries soon rebranded as Rabbit. Their repertoire included original songs alongside covers of artists such as Alice Cooper, the Who, and the Sweet. Early in 1974, Greg Douglas joined as lead vocalist but was replaced by Dave Evans—ex-AC/DC frontman—in October after Evans was captivated by their live performances.
According to Australian music historian Ian McFarlane, Rabbit delivered "a powerful commercial glam-boogie sound," distinguished by extravagant costumes and Screen’s fire-breathing stage antics. After relocating to Sydney, they secured a deal with CBS Records Australia. Their debut single, "Lady La Di Da," was a rendition of a track originally by Swedish band New Quidesty Blaise, penned by Elisabeth Åhlander, and accompanied by a promotional video. The single’s B-side, "Marvel Man," was co-written by Evans and Tinson.
Their first album, self-titled Rabbit, was released in 1975, followed by the December single "Running Bear." In 1976, David Hinds (formerly of Marshall Brothers) joined as lead guitarist. Renowned for their high-energy performances and indulgent style, Rabbit issued two singles ahead of their sophomore album: "Wildfire" in May and "Too Much Rock n Roll" in August—both entering the top 100 on the Kent Music Report singles chart. The album itself reached the top 60 on the Kent Music Report albums chart.
In early 1977, Tinson and Screen exited the band; Barry Lytten took over drumming duties while Tinson’s position remained vacant. July saw the release of their cover version of Paul Revere & the Raiders' "Let Me." With Evans’ departure in October 1977, Rabbit dissolved. Following this, Porteus, Screen, and Tinson established the hard rock outfit Heroes in Newcastle; their eponymous album appeared in October 1980 before they disbanded in 1982. Meanwhile, Hinds joined Sydney-based hard rock band Finch in 1977. After Heroes split up, Screen and Tinson collaborated with Swanee and later joined the Tex Pistols. Evans went on to engage in various musical ventures including Dave Evans and the Line-Ups and Thunder Downunder.
Former members
- Jim Porteus – bass guitar (1973–77)
- Phil Screen – drums, percussion (1973–77)
- Mark Tinson – lead and rhythm guitar, vocals (1973–77)
- Greg Douglas – lead vocals (1973–74)
- Dave Evans – lead vocals (1974–77)
- David Hinds – lead guitar (1976–77)
- Barry Lytten – drums (1977)
Studio albums
| Title | Album information | Highest chart ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Rabbit |
|
- |
| Too Much Rock n Roll |
|
53 |
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart ranking |
Album association |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | "Lady La Di Da"/"Marvel Man" | - | Rabbit |
| 1975 | "Running Bear"/"Lets Go Rockin' Rollin' Tonight" | - | |
| 1976 | "Wildfire"/"Bad Girls" | 86 | Too Much Rock 'n' Roll |
| "Too Much Rock n Roll"/"Shake That Thing" | 64 | ||
| 1977 | "Let Me"/"Kiss Me Goodnight" | - | Single not included on an album |
Further reading
- Highway to Hell: The Life and Times of AC/DC Legend Bon Scott, Clinton Walker, 1994
- Who's Who of Australian Rock, Chris Spencer, Paul McHenry, Zbig Nowara 2002