Mike Rudd


When he left New Zealand in the mid-1960s, Chants R&B's Mike Rudd began a long career in music in Australia that has remained largely unknown in his home country.

Although best known across the ditch for his iconic 1970s hit ‘I’ll Be Gone’, Rudd’s unique voice, songwriting and humour has been responsible for some brilliant music over many genres and years.

A Spectrum poster in Australian TV Week, 1971
Photo credit: Mike Rudd collection
Mike Rudd live with Spectrum, Semaphore Workers Club, outside Adelaide, Sept 27 2009
Photo credit: Photo by Michael Hunter
Ariel - Jamaica Farewell (GTK, 1973)
Spectrum - Make Your Stash - Live on GTK
Ariel - Disco Dilemma
Ariel at Dallas Brooks Hall, Melbourne, 1977
Ariel on GTK, 1973
Spectrum at Lucifers, Melbourne, in 1969
Photo credit: Mike Rudd collection
W.H.Y., Mike Rudd's short-lived band with Bill Putt and John Moon. They recorded a single album in 1983 for Klaus Schulze's Innovative Communication in Germany.
Photo credit: Mike Rudd collection
Mike Rudd in 1973 with Ariel
Photo credit: Mike Rudd collection
Spectrum at Melbourne's TF Much Ballroom, 1971
Photo credit: Photo by Harley Parker. Mike Rudd collection
Party Machine in 1969
Photo credit: Mike Rudd collection
Mike Rudd And The Heaters, early 1980s
Photo credit: Mike Rudd collection
Ariel in 1974
Photo credit: Photo by Graham McCarter. Mike Rudd collection.
Party Machine in 1968
Photo credit: Mike Rudd collection
Ariel, 1976
Photo credit: Mike Rudd collection
Rumble & Bang, a 2011 documentary on Chants R&B, produced and directed by Simon Ogston and Jeff Smith.
Ariel in 1975
Photo credit: Mike Rudd collection
Ariel's final gig at Melbourne's Dallas Brooks Hall, 1977
A Spectrum poster in Australian TV Week, 1973
Photo credit: Mike Rudd collection
Spectrum at Melbourne club The Thumpin Tum in 1971
Photo credit: Photo by Harley Parker. Mike Rudd collection.
Trivia:

In May 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named 'I'll Be Gone' as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time.

Also in 2001, music by Spectrum and the Indelible Murtceps was covered for a "soundtrack" to Tim Winton’s book Dirt Music.

Released in 1972, Spectrum’s Milesago is recognised as one of the first double-rock albums ever released in Australia.

Labels:

Mushroom Records


Harvest


EMI


CBS


Image


Innovative Communication

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