AUSTRALIAN PLAYED
AUDIO & VIDEO
To listen to audio
To watch video
BIOGRAPHY
Classic Aussie Music Live And Alive
Australian Played was first formed in October 1991 by duo partners (Not Jazz), John Backer & Graeme Craske. After
successfully auditioning for Adelaide based Rolling Stones tribute, Sticky Fingers and doing less than a handful of
gigs, the duo decided that John really didn't make a decent Mick Jagger what with having a normal lower lip and all,
and whilst the songs were all good fun and pretty easy to play & sing, they figured there must be something better!
So rather than wait until the right band came along to join they started Australian Played. After a few short months,
Graeme decided to return to his solo act after learning his wife was pregnant with their first bub and as with many
bands around the world, many other players came & went. In total, Australian Played has played host to: 13 lead
guitarists, 5 rhythm guitarists, 5 bass players, 4 keyboard players & 3, yes only 3 drummers. But we've only ever had
one lead singer.
In December 1994, John decided to relocate to NSW with the intent of starting a new line-up from scratch. On
January the 25th, 1995 the band played its final gig at Lennies Tavern, Glenelg in South Australia before a packed
house in excess of 1,200 punters. On that same night, John was introduced to Greg Lines who was, and still works
Sydney wide with his duo/trio, GTS. The pair arranged to make contact on Johns' arrival in Sydney and soon after,
John had teamed up with Greg & Scott Pendlebury as part of the GTS trio and the basis of Australian Played.
By late 1996, a firm and final line-up was forged that included Cal Rorke on drums, Steve Lyvidikos - lead guitar,
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By late 1996, a firm and final line-up was forged that included Cal Rorke on drums, Steve Lyvidikos - lead guitar,
Alan Harpley - rhythm guitar & vocals, Brett Wakeling - bass & vocals and John up front. The band worked
consistently until mid 1999 when, after a disagreement between members, it was decided that it was time for a
change. On Christmas eve that same year, the new look Australian Played performed its first live show to a packed
house in sunny downtown Port Kembla featuring:- Australian Played 1999 - Steve Lyvidikos, John Backer, Robin
Karpathy, Errol Reeves, Andrew Dawson
John Backer - Lead Vocals
Andrew Dawson - Keys/Guitar
Robin Karpathy - Bass/Vocals
Steve Lyvidikos - Lead Guitar/Vocals
Errol Reeves - Drums/Vocals
The rest as they say is history. With the exception of our lead guitarist, the band has stuck together through the ebbs
& tides of the live music scene for more than 10 years. Andrew, Errol, Robin & John have been the mainstays of the
show since that first gig in 1999 and in September 2010 we were pleased to welcome Ross Macrae on lead guitar
who slotted in to the line-up like we had played with him a 1,000 times before.
REPERTOIRE
Classic Aussie Rock Show
AC/DC - Highway to Hell
Angels Marsielle
Am I Ever Gonna See our Face Again?
Australian Crawl - The Boys Light Up
Jimmy Barnes - Working Class Man
Black Feather - Boppin' The Blues
Boom Crash Opera - Onion Skin
Choirboys - Run To Paradise
Cold Chisel Cheap Wine
Khe Sahn
Crowded House - Mean To Me
Daddy Cool - Eagle Rock
Dragon April Sun in Cuba
Rain
Hoodoo Gurus - What's My Scene?
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Hunters & Collectors - Do You See What I See?
Icehouse - We Can Get Together
INXS Don't Change
Kick
Jet - Are You Gonna Be My Girl?
Men @ Work - Who can It Be Now?
Mentals - The Nips Are Getting Bigger
Models - Out Of Mind
Mondo Rock - Cool World
Noiseworks - No Lies
Paul Kelly To Her Door
Darling it Hurts
Radiators - Coming Home
Screaming Jets - Better
Sherbet - Summer Love
Split Enz - History Never Repeats
Rick Springfield - Jessies Girl
Sunny Boys - Alone With You
Billy Thorpe - Most People I know
V Spy V Spy - Don't Tear It Down
Stevie Wright - Evie 1,2 & 3
Plus New Songs Added Regularly
The Australian Music Hit-Story Concept
Johnny O'Keefe - Shout
The Aztecs - Poison Ivy
Easybeats - She's So Fine
Normie Rowe - Shakin' All Over
Johnny Young & Kompany - Step Back
The Twilights - Needle In A Haystack
Easybeats - Women (Make You Feel Alright)
Bee Gees - Spicks & Specks
Easybeats - Friday On My Mind
Ronnie Burns - Exit Stage Right
The Twilights - What's Wrong With The Way I Live?
The Groop - Woman You're Breaking Me
Somebodys Image - Hush
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Somebodys Image - Hush
Johnny Farnham - Sadie
Easybeats - Good Times
John Farnham - One
Easybeats - St. Louise
Russell Morris - The Real Thing
Set Two - 1970's
Axiom - A Little Ray of Sunshine
The Zoot - Eleanor Rigby
Masters Apprentices - Because I Love You
La De Da's - Gonna See My Baby Tonight
Daddy Cool - Eagle Rock
Billy Thorpe - Most People I know
Daddy Cool - Hi Honey Ho
Black Feather - Boppin The Blues
The Bootleg Family - Your Mama Don't Dance
The Dingoes - Way Out West
Sherbet - Casandra
Chain - I Remember When I was Young
Sherbet - Slipstream
Stevie Wright - Evie Parts 1,2 & 3
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TESTIMONIALS
Bryan Evans says...
"On behalf of the committee I'd just like to thank you for your professionalism and your contribution to our
charity. We had a capacity crowd at Club Singleton for our Benefit Dinner/Show on 5th of March and I'm
pleased to report the night was a TERRIFIC SUCCESS!
The 120 folk in attendance ranged in ages from 40 to 70 plus and without exception, 90% of them were on
their feet for every bracket that you guys played, all due to the fantastic music. I had phone calls from as
early as the next morning asking when we could get you back!! Once again, many thanks for your support
and a fantastic night of entertainment."
Bryan Evans - Singleton Hospital Cancer Apeal Committee
Nina Sanders says...
"I have worked with many bands over the years, in a number of venues. My role as Marketing and
Entertainment Manager has sent me on searches looking for quality acts that can respond to a crowd and
turn on a good show. Australian Played is one of those bands!
Australian Played is a band which I highly recommend to anyone wanting a professional group of musicians
who come prepared to turn on a great show with a selection of fantastic songs. Live music is an important
investment to any venue and it's particularly rewarding when it's done right.
Just this year on Anzac Day, at Penrith RSL, our pinnacle day of the year I had a strong line-up of bands for
this big day from lunch till midnight. Australian Played was a must on that line-up. I would not hesitate to
recommend Australian Played."
Nina Sanders, Marketing and Entertainment Manager, Penrith RSL Club
PERFORMANCE INFO
Performance duration
Stage and power requirements
Travel range
Negotiable
Performers
John Backer - Lead Vocals
Andrew Dawson - Keys/Guitar
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Andrew Dawson - Keys/Guitar
Robin Karpathy - Bass/Vocals
Steve Lyvidikos - Lead Guitar/Vocals
Errol Reeves - Drums/Vocals
Other information
There once was a time when, you couldn't walk or drive past almost any corner pub in the city or country, on any
given Friday or Saturday night and NOT hear the sound of music wafting into the street. Just like the aroma of snags
cooking on your neighbours BBQ, it whetted your appetite and you just had to go in for a taste.
But this was not just any music. It didn't come from a machine with flashing lights, buttons and spinning reels. It
wasn't contained in a flat silver disc or on a flat screen, wall mounted TV. It was LIVE, full of colour and life and
unashamedly Australian. Bands like INXS, Australian Crawl, Cold Chisel, Daddy Cool, Men at Work & The Angels
delivered to us the anthems that became the soundtrack to our lives, live on stage, every Friday & Saturday night.
Australian Played brings back the anthems, the sight & the sensation in an all live, 5 piece show complete with our
production and lighting or your in-house facilities.
Our "Classic Aussie Rock Show" is suited to almost any size venue and a wide range of age groups. Featuring
classic hits from the 60's through to current releases, this show has something to suit every patriotic lover of 'true
blue' Australian Music.
From hotels, pubs, clubs and major outdoor events, we've performed our "Classic Aussie Rock Show" before
audiences of all sizes, ages and demographics including:Fosters Formula 1 Grand Prix 1993 - Adelaide, SA.
New Years Eve 1997 - Mitchell Street Darwin/15,000+ audience
Emergency Services '000 Party' 2001 - Paddington Town Hall
Campbelltown City Council Australia Day 2004, Headline Koshigaya Park/10,000+
AFL - Swans vs. Collingwood July 2009 - ANZ Stadium Overflow pre match
Penrith City Council Australia Day 2010, Regatta Centre/10,000+ audience
Bledisloe Cup 'Club Space' - Sept. 2010, ANZ Stadium pre match
The Entrance Australia Day 2011 Main Stage Headline/12,000+ audience
Singleton Hospital Cancer Appeal Dinner 2011, Club Singleton
Cold Chisel 'Total Concert Experience' - November 2011, Allphones Arena
Blatchy's Blues/VB State of Origin Pre Match Party - June 2012, Allphones Arena
The Australian Music Hit-Story (Part-1) presents the hits, memories and nostalgia of the Australian Music scene
from 1965 to 1974. Featuring the best loved hits from the period including Johnny O'Keefe, The Easybeats, Normie
Rowe, Johnny Young, Daddy Cool & many more, this show will take audiences on a nostalgic journey including
period music clips, TV show clips & classic TV adverts.
The show is presented in a "TV Special" format featuring our own video host who introduces the band at the start of
the show and after each "video ad break". He'll even keep the audience entertained during intermission with music
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the show and after each "video ad break". He'll even keep the audience entertained during intermission with music
videos and classic TV commercials from the era.
Design specifically for larger venues, The Australian Music Hit-Story (Part-1) is perfect for dinner/show or pre-sale
ticketed shows and would appeal to the "Baby Boomer" demographic, although a large proportion of the content will
also appeal to an even younger market.
The Australian Music Hit-Story Concept
Rather than have the audience just watch a show, they'll be part of a "studio audience" during the filming of the
show! From the time the doors open your audience will have started their journey back through Australian Music
history with classic music clips from the 60's & 70's playing as they enter or enjoy dinner.
Just prior to show-time, "Reg" the audience warm up guy grabs the audiences' attention and runs them through a
few 'procedures' such as, what to do when they see the "Applause Sign" come on.
Presented in 2 x 1 hour sets, the first set covers the period between 1965 - 1969 & the second set from 1970 - 1974
with a 30 minute intermission hosted by our video compare.
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