Brisbane school’s old boys include some of the biggest names in Aussie music

The Brisbane school that produced members of Powderfinger, The Church, The Choirboys, The Go-Betweens, The Hoodoo Gurus and even The 10 Tenors is now turning the spotlight on old boys’ bands which didn’t quite make it. But which school is it?

One Brisbane school can lay claim to two members of Aussie rock legends Powderfinger as well as members of the Choirboys, the Hoodoo Gurus, The Church, The Go-Betweens and even The 10 Tenors. But which school is it and can it claim to be Brisbane’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll school?

WHEN Powderfinger bass guitarist John Collins was a student at Brisbane Grammar School, he didn’t spend his days dreaming about “making it” in the music world.

At the time, he was more interested in becoming a graphic artist.

But Grammar had a strong music program, one thing led to another and somewhere around Year 10 “J.C.” formed a band with a few of his mates.

It has long since disappeared into rock ’n’ roll oblivion and it was a few years before Powderfinger came along and ultimately became one of Australia’s biggest bands.

Band Battle '19 organiser Cameron Feltham (left) and former Powderfinger bass player John Collins (right) with rising star Alex Wilson of popular band Shag Rock, which will perform on the night.

Collins wasn’t the only graduate of Brisbane Grammar to carve out a career in music.

His former classmate, Powderfinger bandmate and current member of The Church, Ian Haug, is also a Grammar old boy, as are Brad Shepherd from the Hoodoo Gurus, Brett Williams from the Choirboys and Robert Forster from the Go-Betweens.

David Kidd from the Ten Tenors also attended the inner-city school while well-known local bands Shag Rock, Yves Klein Blue and the Furious Turtles all boast Grammar old boys in their line-ups.

But for every John Collins, Ian Haug, Brett Williams and Brad Shepherd there are dozens of Grammar old boys whose rock ‘n’ roll ride only went as far as playing suburban pubs and clubs.

The Powderfinger line-up with Grammar old boys Ian Haug (centre) and John Collins (right).

Some of them will get their time in the spotlight next month when the Brisbane Grammar Old Boys’ Association holds a unique night of rock ‘n’ roll dubbed Band Battle ‘19.

Six bands containing former Grammar students will hit the stage at popular venue The Triffid (owned by Collins), not only for the thrill of being in the spotlight and having some fun but also the chance to win recording time at Airlock studio (owned by Haug).

Some band members are in their 50s and 60s while others walked out the gates of Grammar as recently as 2015.

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Competing on the night will be:

* Deafadders (including Bryan McLennan from the Brisbane Grammar Class of ’61).

* Pryde Creek (Fletcher Cole, Harry Powell, Will Mather, Ryan Clayden-Zabic and Isaac Povey from the Class of ’15).

* Kolchak (Bruce Carrick, Class of ’78).

* With Blue (Jarryd Pollock, Will Fenwick, Tom Fitzgerald, and Corbin Redburn from the Class of ’15).

* The Chordites (Bryce Lawrence from the Class of ’80 and Paul Prendergast, Class of ’95).

* The John Statham Band (John Statham, Class of ’78).

Brad Shepherd (right) and his bandmates in the Hoodoo Gurus.

“Brisbane Grammar School has long had a fantastic music program and no doubt many of us dreamed of one day playing to rooms full of cheering fans,” said Band Battle ‘19 organiser and Grammar old boy Cameron Feltham.

“While some pursued this, many never got past the recorder and were left wondering what could have been.”

Feltham himself had no musical ambitions in high school although he did later form The End Points with a few schoolmates including drummer John Coghill, who went onto join Powderfinger.

Robert Forster from The Go-Betweens is another Grammar old boy who made it big in the music industry.

Band Battle ‘19 has come about after an “amazing” reaction to last year’s Grammar reunion dinner when Collins, Haug, Kidd and rising star Alex Wilson, of popular line-up Shag Rock, took part in a panel chat about their careers before hitting the stage together.

While those musicians may have “made it” - or at least be partway there - Collins says they all know what hard work is about and can relate to musos who are still struggling.

“We (Powderfinger) played lots of pubs and clubs over the years,” he said.

“I remember us playing gigs in Geelong to just six people.

“We didn’t really get our break until 1996, so it was a good four or five years of really hard yards.

“Sometimes you’re doing a lot of work and don’t feel like you’re getting anywhere.

Brisbane Grammar old boy David Kidd (left) and his bandmates in The Ten Tenors.

“Sometimes it comes down to luck - to being in the right place at the right time.

“We weren’t guys who just wanted to be in a band because they wanted to hang out and do nothing. We looked at it as a full-time job and worked really hard and we pride ourselves on that.

“We’d rehearse four or five times a week and then we’d get in the car to do a tour where we’d finish a gig, jump in the car and drive overnight to play the next night.”

The Choirboys with Grammar old boy Brett Williams second from right.

While those days are behind Collins, he still loves getting on stage occasionally with three-piece outfit The Predators, which includes Powderfinger bandmate Haug.

“Why wouldn’t you want to still do it?” he laughs.

“You do it for the fun. You do it because you love it.

“Over the years we (Powderfinger) did quite a few shows with bands that weren’t full-time and you can see the enjoyment they get out of it; doing what they really love.

Alex Wilson (second from right) and some of his Shag Rock bandmates are also Brisbane Grammar old boys and will perform at Band Battle ‘19.

“That’s how we should be measuring success. Not on ticket sales and revenue but on how much fun everyone has and how good everyone feels when they go home.”

Also featuring at Band Battle ‘19 will be a special one-off performance by the Furious Turtles, a band featuring a number of Grammar old boys who played around Brisbane in the 1980s.

The line-up includes Martin Thompson (Class of ’79/’80), Tim Littler (’79/’80) Bruce Forbes (’79) and Chris Coulter (’79).

The boys from Shag Rock (Alex Wilson, Nick Cavdaski and Jacob Reed - all 2012 graduates) will end the night on a high.

EVENT DETAILS:

Venue: The Triffid, Stratton St, Newstead

When: Saturday, June 8. Doors open at 6pm with the first band kicking off around 6:45pm.

Tickets: $30 through Oztix at www.oztix.com.au

This is an 18+ event.