In this episode of Vinyl Vibes, Jack is joined by Les Hall, guitarist of '60s Newcastle band The Velvet Underground. Les grew up in Maitland joining his first band The Cavemen when he was still in high school. At a time when The Beatles were king, Les learned to play guitar by looking at photos of George Harrison in magazines. Les would make the move to Newcastle in 1968 to join The Velvet Underground. Their early setlist would consist of songs such as Light My Fire by The Doors and Tin Soldier by The Small Faces. They become know for their live performances most notably by front band Steve Phillipson who would light his bomber jacket on fire when the band performed Fire by Jimi Hendrix. The band would go on to record one single in 1970 with a cover of Jefferson Airplane's "Somebody to Love" on the A-side and a cover of Love's "She Comes in Colors" on the B-side. After being told by Easybeat, Stevie Wright, they would sound better with another guitarist, they were joined by future AC/DC member Malcom Young on guitar.

In 1972 the band started backing Ted Mulry playing songs such as "Falling in Love again". The band would eventually split with Les and drummer, Herm Kovac, joining forces with Ted Mulry forming Ted Mulry Gang (TMG). Malcom Young would go on his own path eventually forming AC/DC in 1973. What started off as a Newcastle band turned into two of the biggest groups in OZ rock.  TMG would go on to be one of Australia's biggest bands in the mid '70s with songs such as "Jump In My Car". AC/DC would go on to become one of the biggest bands in the world. Today Les still plays with Ted Mulry Gang.

Jack talked with Les live in the studio about his time in his first band The Cavemen, how he came to join The Velvet Underground, the Newcastle music scene in the '60s, the setlist the band played early on, the live gigs with Steve Phillipson, the recording of the bands first and only single, how Malcom Young came to join the band, memories of playing with Malcom Young, and how the band came to come to form into TMG. 

"As we were walking out (of the Young residence), heard the noise coming from the bedroom and walked in and there was a big old wardrobe...Malcom slid one of the doors open and said 'that's just Angus'. He was in there playing with -he had an SG-he was playing along to Led Zeppelin on this little record player...We went to walk out and their father walked into the room and...we shook hands, his father pointed to the Wardrobe and said 'he's the one, he's the one'. - Les Hall on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about Angus Young

Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins