In this episode of Vinyl Vibes, Jack talks with Mark Tinson in the fifth instalment of the Vinyl Vibes Newcastle series. This 8-part series talks with a range of local rockers important to the Newcastle music story.

Mark grew up in Maitland amidst the music of the ‘60s listening to the likes of the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. While still in High School, Mark would form his first professional band, Bluegrass, in 1968. Along with Bluegrass, Mark would enter Newcastle heat of the 1971 Hoadley’s Battle of the Sounds, at that time the biggest music contest in Australia. Although the band would loose the heat to fellow Newcastle band Armageddon, for Mark it would bring an important moment in his musical journey as he would meet Peter De Jong, a future long-time music collaborator. After seeing acts live such as The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, Mark had the idea to form a group that could make records and also tour. This would lead to the formation of glam rock band, A Rabbit in 1973. At the Insistence of Ted Mulry, In 1975 the band would be joined on lead vocals by original AC/DC Dave Evans. Soon after this the band would be singed to CBS records and become known simply as Rabbit.

After recording their debut self titled album, Rabbit would moved from Newcastle to Sydney. Their first efforts in Sydney included recording their single Wild Fire, which saw the band gain some national recognition when the single reached 86 on the national Kent Music Charts. After recording this Wild Fire single, the band would record their second album, Too Much Rock 'n' Roll. The single and title track off the album, Too Much Rock 'n' Roll, would reach 64 on the national charts and was written by Mark.

During Ted Murly Gang's national 1976 Stepping Out tour, Mark would leave Rabbit and return to Newcastle. He would first join a jam band called Bandits before forming Heroes in the same year. Heroes would play constantly throughout Newcastle and would rise to national prominence following the 1979 Star Hotel Riot.

Following the Star Riot, Heroes would be signed to Alberts Productions and in August 1980 the band’s first single, Baby’s Had a Taste, would be released. The B-side to this debut Heroes single, Waiting for You, was a song written by Mark. The single would reach 76 on the Kent music charts. This single would be followed by a self tiled album in October 1980 and a second singe, The Star and The Slaughter in January 1981. After money troubles the band would come to an end in 1982. More recently, Mark has written a book called Too Much Rock and Roll, which covers his time in music.

In this episode Jack talks with Mark about his early musical influences, the experience of hearing an electric guitar for the first time, his first profession band Bluegrass, his memoires of playing the '71 Hoadleys Battle of The Sounds, the formation of A Rabbit, working with original AC/DC front man Dave Evans, the recording of Rabbit's first album, his memoires of playing on Countdown, the writing of Rabbit hits such as Too Much Rock and Roll, TMG's 1976 Stepping Out Tour, his time in The Bandits, the formation of Heroes, the early Heroes gigs, The Star Hotel Riot, the recording the band did with Alberts, his recent memoir and his recent music work.

"The infamous Star Hotel Riot occurred, that brought some attention to us from Alberts and they came up to see the band play which is kind of surreal when George Young and Harry Vanda sitting up the back of the room" - Mark Tinson on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about getting signed by Vanda and Young

Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins

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