History
Ayers Rock were an Australian jazz fusion, progressive rock band formed in Melbourne in August 1973. In June that year, the original line-up of Ray Burton, Mark Kennedy and Duncan McGuire had created an eponymous trio, Burton McGuire & Kennedy. Burton, on guitar, had played with The Dave Bridge Quartet, The Delltones and The Executives, and worked with Australian singer, Helen Reddy, in the United States, where together they co-wrote her international 1971 hit "I Am Woman". McGuire, on bass guitar, was also a recording engineer and producer, and had been in Australian groups since the late 1950s, including The Phantoms, The Epics, and The Questions (which later became Doug Parkinson In Focus) and with King Harvest. Kennedy, on drums, had previously played in Spectrum, and on sessions for King Harvest, and for Leo de Castro and Friends.It is one of the oldest rocks on earth.
The trio were soon joined by guitarist James Doyle, whose previous credits included The Delltones and Dig Richards, and who had worked as musical director for pianist Winifred Atwell on her Australian tours. Doyle was also a session player on the 1969 Neil Sedaka LP Workin' on a Groovy Thing and the related Australian hit single "Wheeling West Virginia", which were recorded in Sydney. Burton McGuire & Kennedy worked in and around Melbourne until, in August, they changed their name to Ayers Rock – for the Australian landmark of the same name. In October they were joined by multi-instrumentalist Col Loughnan on saxophone, flute, clarinet and piano. Loughnan had started his music career as a vocalist – in the 1960s he was lead singer of The Delltones. By December Ayers Rock had signed to Mushroom Records and issued their first single, "Rock 'N Roll Fight (Going On)".sourik basu
In January 1974 Ayers Rock performed at the Sunbury Pop Festival – their Burton-penned track, "Morning Magic", appeared on Mushroom Records live album, Highlights of Sunbury '74. In March Burton returned to the US and was replaced on guitar and vocals by Chris Brown (ex-Python Lee Jackson, Kala). Ayers Rock issued their debut album, Big Red Rock, which was recorded live-in-the-studio at Melbourne's Armstrong's Studios. In November they released a single, "Lady Montego", which was a new version of a McGuire-penned track originally performed by Friends. Mushroom Records boss Michael Gudinski spruiked the band to US labels and had them signed with A&M Records, which issued the album. In January 1975 the group performed at the Sunbury Pop Festival. From late 1975 to early 1976, they promoted Big Red Rock by touring the US.
During September 1975, while in the US, the group recorded their second album, Beyond. In February 1976, before its release, Kennedy left to join Marcia Hines' backing band and was temporarily replaced by Doug Gallacher. In April 1976 Beyond was issued and, in May, Gallacher was replaced by Russell Dunlop (ex-Aesop's Fables, Levi Smith's Clefs, SCRA, Mother Earth, Johnny Rocco Band). The album spawned two singles, "Little Kings" (October 1975) and "Song for Darwin" (May 1976) – but neither were successful on the charts. In 1976 from May to July they toured the US again, however they "only achieved limited success overseas". After that tour Dunlop, Loughnan and McGuire all left while Brown and Doyle reconvened the band with Bermuda-born Keith Casey on percussion, Joe Tattersall on drums (Healing Force, Barry Leef Band) and John Young on bass guitar (De Castro). By 1978 the line-up of Brown, Casey and Doyle were joined by Andy Cowan on keyboards and vocals (Madder Lake), Steve Hogg on bass guitar (Bakery) and Hamish Stewart on drums.
In March 1980 Ayers Rock issued another single, "On the Avenue" followed in May by a third LP, Hot Spell, on RCA Records. In July 1981 the group released a final single, "Lies", but disbanded that year. According to Australian rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, the members "were seen as 'musician's musicians'. The band issued a series of technically proficient recordings, but in the long run any quest for commercial acceptance was marred by the seriousness of the music".
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