User:Mschack/The Dead Livers

"The Dead Livers" is the name of a country rock band formed in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in April 1978. Formative members were Marty Atchison (vocals), Brendan Mitchell (guitar and steel guitar), Michael Schack (bass guitar), Edward Mitchell (guitar) and Tony Pizzi (drums). Later members included Richard O'Keefe (drums), Warren Keats (guitar), Peter Thorne (guitar), John Berto (guitar), Randy Broughten (pedal steel guitar)(before joining the Gear Daddies in the USA), Bob Suffern (pedal steel guitar), Rodger Delfos (guitar), Ross Nicholson (guitar and vocals), Craig Reeves (piano), Les Gough (bass guitar), Ron Mahony (drums) and Don Farrell (guitar). The band was a finalist at the 3UZ country music battle of the bands in Melbourne in 1978 and a finalist in the inaugural "Starmaker Quest" in Tamworth New South Wales in 1979. The band's first single "Grandpa"/"Ballad of a Dead Liver", was issued in 1979. It was followed by a self-titled vinyl EP and a cassette EP "I'd love to have a joint with Willie". In April 1980 the band made its first television appearance in Sydney on the John Singleton Show, and in July 1980 was the support act for touring artists Leon Russell and the Amazing Rhythm Aces. In 1982 another single "Star of the West"/"A Stud Like Me" was released, and "Star of the West" was among the final nominations in the best group category at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. In 1998 previously recorded material was issued on a CD entitled "Greatest Misses" to coincide with the band's 20th Anniversary. In 2000 a new CD -- "Reaching to the Western Sky" was launched and the band subsequently performed at the 2001 Port Fairy Folk Festival.