In this episode of Vinyl Vibes, Jack is joined by Rick Pointon, a '60s and '70s Newcastle music legend. Rick spent his first ten years of life in England before becoming a Ten-Pound Pom in 1956 when he and his family moved to Australia. His moving to Australia also marked the beginning of rock and roll with Buddy Holly and Bill Haley being early influences. However, it was Hank Marvin of the Shadows that inspired Rick to buy his first guitar in 1962. Rick would soon join his first band the Mystery Men. The band would go through many name changes such as The Others before becoming known as The Second Thoughts in 1966. The group would record a single in the same year with producer Nat Kipner with its A-side being Run Back Home and its B-side being The World Keeps Going Round. The single would be recorded in the same studio and with the same producer as that of the Bee Gees Spicks And Specks single. 

After being in a few other groups during the alter '60s and early '70s, in 1974 Rick would form Benny and The Jets. This group would become popular around the Newcastle area playing '50s inspired rock and roll. The group would have number one singles locally in Newcastle and release a locally popular album called Hey Rock And Roll. The band would find some nationally recognition charting on the Kent Music Charts. After music, Rick went on to have a career in radio. More recently Rick has written a book about his time in music and the Newcastle music scene during the '60s and '70s. Its called "Hey Rock 'N' and Roll" and is available locally in book chains around Newcastle. 

Jack phoned Rick to discuss his time growing up in England, hearing Bill Haley for the first time, why The Shadows impacted his generation greatly, how he came to join his first group The Mystery Men, the impact hearing The Beatles for the first time had on him, what it was like playing local gigs back in the early '60s, his memories of supporting the likes of The Bee Gees and Easybeats, the recording of The Second Thoughts single, the formation of Bennie and The Jets, what it was like playing The Starr Hotel back in the '70s, the Record store he owned in the '70s, the recording of various Bennie and The Jets songs, how Rick's book "Hey Rock 'n' Roll" came to be, and his love for vinyl records. 

"There we were playing on Nobbys Beach in forty degree heat in suits and ties, I mean ridiculous...but that's what it was. Whatever The Beatles and British Invasion bands did, that's what we did," - Rick Pointon on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about playing in the Others in the mid '60s

Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins

To hear the full on-demand version of this program, go to https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes

The website for Vinyl Vibes. 

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