Graeham Goble - Little River Band

Little River Band

The nucleus of Goble, Birtles, Pellicci, new boy Shorrock and manager Wheatley kicked off the revitalised venture. Guitarists Ric Formosa and Roger McLachlan were recruited to complete the sound of the band. The new group performed in public for the first time in March 1975, still known as Mississippi. The new name Little River Band followed soon after, taken from a road sign to the town of Little River as the band travelled to a performance in Geelong.

As principal composer, vocal arranger and co-producer, and with strong interest in the band's on-stage performance and day-to-day administration, Goble would soon come to be known as the "father figure" of the band. Glenn Shorrock put it less kindly, stating that "it's like having a policeman onstage with you every night". The creative tension, competition and differing personalities within the band would also fuel its subsequent rise to international stardom. As George Martin would later remark, "That's what makes these acts what they are. It's a matter of harnessing this energy they have."

Contributing three of the nine songs on the band's eponymous first album, Goble was pipped for the first two Australian singles, those being Birtles' "Curiosity Killed The Cat" and Shorrock's "Emma". His epic eight-and-a-half minute "It's A Long Way There" was edited for American radio and garnered much interest and airplay. With a gold album, an opening set for Queen in Hyde Park and a European tour, the band was off to a remarkable start. Guitarist Formosa and bassist McLachlan were replaced by David Briggs and George McArdle on the eve of the band's departure.

Goble and Little River Band continued a hectic combination of writing, recording and touring as the band built a solid international reputation, now headlining large concerts in their own right. Further hit songs flowed from Goble's pen, such as "Reminiscing" and "Lady". Glenn Wheatley acknowledged his overall contribution to the band:

"Graham was meticulous in every detail. He drove people crazy with his fanaticism but you had to respect and admire him for his absolute perseverance and his ability to write a good song. Without such songs we had nothing. Graham wrote some classics. He is also very intelligent, as I discovered in our many late-night discussions. Through all his quirks he is a very interesting human being."

As Wheatley diversified into other management and radio interests, Goble stepped up his influence in Little River Band. He recruited bassist Wayne Nelson to replace the departing McArdle and to undertake some lead vocal work. Beatles producer George Martin agreed to produce the next album Time Exposure. The recording sessions in Montserrat were tumultuous as internal friction rended the band. Yet the resulting album was a huge success, reaching the Top 10 and gold record status in the USA. Subsequently, Stephen Housden replaced Briggs on lead guitar.

It was Goble who acted as spokesman for the others in moving to have foundation lead vocalist Shorrock replaced by John Farnham. The next US single, Goble's "The Other Guy", reached the Top 10 and a greatest hits compilation achieved platinum status. By the end of 1983 Billboard magazine reported that Little River Band was the only act to reach the Top 10 every year for the previous five years.

As the band slowly began to slip from its glory days, Goble fought to keep it fresh and innovative. Original drummer Pellicci left and was replaced by Steve Prestwich from Cold Chisel, David Hirschfelder joined as the band's first permanent keyboard player and Beeb Birtles, Goble's team mate for more than a decade, left the band. The album Playing To Win featured a more raunchy sound from the band, now known simply as LRB. According to Goble, "that lineup was the most talented LRB lineup that I had ever played in." "The live performances were so inspiring that I enjoyed playing live as much as recording. I count myself privileged to have experienced playing and singing with this line-up." The sales and the audiences diminished, however, and after the album No Reins Capitol did not renew the band's recording contract. Farnham left to pursue a solo career, later saying:

"There were some strong personalities in that band, Graham especially, and very strongly self-motivated. The membership changes down the line had something to do with the failure. The way we approached it was always very safe - never very adventurous. We never stuck our necks out."

Remarkably, Goble convinced Shorrock and Pellicci to rejoin the band. A recording contract with MCA produced two underrated albums, Monsoon and Get Lucky (plus an international compilation of these known as Worldwide Love). Past success was not forthcoming, however, and Goble retired from the band, first as a touring member and subsequently altogether. He would make his last appearance with LRB at the Brisbane Hilton Hotel on 21 April 1989. Goble would later say:

"Little River Band no longer had a recording contract and there was no immediate possibility of recording. I always preferred recording to 'live work' and when the future of the band appeared to be just playing the greatest hits for the rest of its life, then I knew it was time for me to leave."

Goble sums up the LRB experience thus:

"There's been six bands from Australia that have made an impact in America. How incredible was our destiny to be one of the very few out of all these incredible bands. Think about the thousands of acts that tried - it's an extraordinary achievement."