Band of Talabene

Band of Talabene
Also known as	Willy & the Philtones
Origin	Melbourne, Australia
Genres	Blues rock
Years active	1972 (1972)–1973 (1973)
Labels	Bootleg
Past members	Tony Buettel Phil Gaunt Phil Manning Tony Naylor Gus Fenwick Fran Kelly Peter Curtain Peter Roberts Paul Wheeler Dallas Royall Steve Webb

Band of Talabene were a briefly existing Australian blues rock band formed in April 1972 as Willy & the Philtones by Tony Buettel (ex-Bay City Union, Levi Smith's Clefs, Fraternity) on drums, Phil Gaunt (ex-Ida May Mack) on bass guitar, Phil Manning (ex-Bay City Union, Chain, Pilgrimage, Friends) on lead guitar and lead vocals, and Tony Naylor (ex-Ida May Mack) on guitar and vocals.[1][2] According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, their name was both, "[a] homage to bands like Derek and the Dominoes (i.e. no-one called Willy in the band) and because it comprised two Phils and two Tonys."[1] In July Gaunt was replaced on bass guitar by Gus Fenwick (ex-Pleazers) and they were renamed as Band of Talabene.[1][2] Manning explained that his young daughter had dreamt of a band, Talabene, with pumpkins playing guitars.[1]

Band of Talabene issued a single, "Herbert's Boogie", in November 1972 on the Bootleg label.[1][2] Manning left to join Mighty Mouse in December.[1][2] Naylor continued with a new line-up: Peter Curtain (ex-the Party Machine) on drums, Fran Kelly on bass guitar, and Peter Roberts (ex-The La De Da's, Band of Light) on guitar.[1][2] This line-up issued a single, "Oh Darling", in April 1973.[1][2] Naylor and Roberts were joined by Paul Wheeler (ex-Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs) on bass guitar and Dallas Royall on drums. Steve Webb (ex-Blackfeather, Wolfe, Duck, Tramp) replaced Royall on drums before the group disbanded in late 1973.[1][2]

After leaving Band of Talabene, Buettel was a founding member of Band of Light, while in the 1980s he worked as a record producer.[3] Manning used his Mighty Mouse band mates to reconvene Chain in February 1973, but left again in July 1974 to work on solo projects, while periodically returning to Chain.[4] Fenwick and Naylor were original members of Bootleg Family Band (1973–75), Naylor continued with the group, which became Avalanche, until 1978.[2][5] Fenwick was in Ray Burton's Nightflyers in 1977.[6] Royall joined Buster Brown in 1975 before going on to Rose Tattoo (1976–83).[7] Roberts was in Kahvas Jute (renamed as Chariot) from May 1974.[8]

Members

• Tony Buettel – drums (1972)
• Phil Gaunt – bass guitar (1972)
• Phil Manning – lead guitar, lead vocals (1972)
• Tony Naylor – guitar, vocals (1972–73)
• Gus Fenwick – bass guitar (1972)
• Fran Kelly – bass guitar (1973)
• Peter Curtain – drums (1973)
• Peter Roberts – guitar (1973)
• Paul Wheeler – bass guitar (1973)
• Dallas Royall – drums (1973)
• Steve Webb – drums (1973)

References

1. * 2nd Edn: McFarlane, Ian (2017). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Band of Talabene'". The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Jenkins, Jeff (Foreword) (2nd ed.). Gisborne, VIC: Third Stone Press. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-9953856-0-3.
   • 1st Edn: McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Band of Talabene'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 7 August 2004. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
2. Kimball, Duncan (2002). "Band of Talabene". Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions. Archived from the original on 14 March 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
3. McFarlane, 'Band of Light' entry. Archived from the original on 6 April 2004. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
4. Culnane, Paul; Kimball, Duncan (2007). "Chain". Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975 Ice Productions. Archived from the original on 14 March 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
5. McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Bootleg Family Band'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 19 April 2004. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
6. McFarlane, 'Ray Burton' entry. Archived from the original on 28 June 2004. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
7. Holmgren, Magnus. "Buster Brown". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 22 December 2004. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
8. McFarlane, 'Kahvas Jute' entry. Archived from the original on 19 April 2004. Retrieved 2 June 2020.