TDL Benoit Interview | 25 08 21

This is my favourite line up of Goanna, not because it was the best, (although maybe it was?)
 but because it was the formative period where everyone got on board at the grassroots level. And you gotta admit they were a fucking good rock band, largely due to Gaz on the drums (no shortage of experience in the rock world at the time - Shadowfax and Redhouse, legendary in the Geelong scene), and Warrick on screaming Les Paul Gtr . I mean balls to the wall!
 This along side amazing vocals by Morrie out front at the time and Shane with Rose, amazing harmonies 
- the die was cast. And no wonder the punters started to flock to the gigs. In no small part due to the inevitable hard slog all around the state and then the country, and bit by bit, it clicked. 
This is before Solid Rock, before Children Of The Southern Land, (before the epiphany one might say)  - This is a band revelling in going hard in all ways possible.
Every one in this lineup is from Geelong, way before it was a thing, but then they made it a thing.
Enjoy this Goanna, as they were, before the multitudes of alternative view points came to the fore.
 The gig is The Prospect Hill Hotel - June 1980 right in the middle of the ‘hard yards!’ Desk Tape (that is all!)
The band line up features
 Ian ‘Morrie’ Morrison -Lead Vocals and Harmonica
Gary ‘Zos’ Crothall drums and cool coastal vibe
Carl Smith -Bass 
Shane Howard Gtr, Songwriting, Vocals
Rose Bygrave -Piano, Songwriting, Vocals
Warrick Harwood (RIP) - extraordinary lead gtr (Barking Les Paul!), rhythm gtr and energy from the surf.
Special thanx to Bill Dart (RIP) and Kevin Bishop for creating this soundscape that was Goanna at this time (and recording it!). Without you we would all have been fucked and I mean that from the heart, especially Bill with your workshop  down the end of your folks driveway, I’ll never forget the smell of solder and wood and varnish and KT88 valves. What a mentor/ inspirational man for a young teenager (back in the early 70’s), just dipping the toe in the waters of rock and roll and getting fucking loud as possible.
Also special thanx to Ian Lovell who initially provided the venue for us all to cut our teeth in (The Eureka Hotel Geelong), then had the foresight to convince Goanna to move to Melbourne and book them into the gig (hard slog) circuit there and thru sheer front and pigheadedness helped shape the bands trajectory to the heights they finally reached. 
And Judi Keneally’s amazingly iconic artwork/screenprints  right from the start. Judi is a living treasure!
- side bar
interesting to note that after the crew tell warrick to turn down we can here more of him in the mix, oh the joys of being a live sound engineer, if its too liud on stge you cant mix it into the PA which in Warricks case irt meant they couldn’t add the extra fx that he wasn’t doing live on stage. Of course the ‘extra fx ’back then’ was probably a roland space echo or two.

02 The Whale Song

Matt Taylor talks about his hit song. Matt was in Melbourne for a Gig. He rang me from his hotels pay phone, no he's not playing the Pokies. Matt has never and will not own a mobile phone. That's why we love him.

Matt Taylor I Remember When I Was Young

Cant Do Nothing Wrong

Big Bill Blues

This is Goanna playing the classic Dingoes Song. Broderick Smith produced their first Ep and Shane has an affinity with Kerryn Tolhurst going way back, (you can hear it in the early Goanna music). the Foh mixes for all these Goanna live recordings from this time  - BILL DART. Bill was a legend in Geelong, he was the go to man when your amp blew up. Spent many hours in his garage with my brother Warrick, soaking up the tech talk. If I was to name one major influence re my live mixing approach, it would have to be BILL DART. cause you fookin kicked arse Bill! Love the way you sent the lead gtr solo into the stratosphere with the one and only effects rack for the whole band being a 201 space echo!!!

SINGING YOUR SONG - GOANNA BAND - Live 1980

Long Gone

Hey Ruth

With Tom Forsell's Moonee Valley Drifters, circa '93. Tom Forsell, rhythm guitar; Paul Pyle, bass; Jeremy Rasmussen, drums; Brendan Shearson, electric guitar. Rick Dempster, harmonica.

Zydeco Cha Cha

Just that ol' train thing once again. Note the wheel slips, early on. This from personal observation of steam locos in my youth (was a serious rail enthusiast!) 2003

Broad Gauge Beat

Broadcaster, historian, writer, producer and session harp player

Matt Taylor I Remember When I Was Young

Harmonica Riff Raff