January 6, 2017 – Johnny Dick. (played with numerous Australian rock bands). Johnny Dick was actually born in June 1943 in Wales in the town of Llanfairfechan, but as stated repeatedly, before he grew old enough to be able to pronounce the town’s name, his parents moved to New Zealand.
Drumming since the age of 12 Johnny Dick has played with the cream of Aussie music. In New Zealand Johnny met Max Merritt. He first came to Australia as a member of Max Merritt’s band. Billy Thorpe saw Johnny performing with Merritt and offered him a gig in The Aztecs, which he took and played drums with Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs for almost 2 years.
Famous Quote: In an interview Johnny once said when he first came to Australia playing in Max Merritt’s band at the Rex Hotel, the place was packed with musicians, one of them being Billy Thorpe. After the show Billy, who was looking for a new band after a financial dispute with the original Aztecs, walked up to Dick and said he wanted him in his band. He asked Billy who else was in the band and Billy told him he would put a new band around him so Johnny asked could he bring the bass player Teddy Toi. Billy approved and then asked who was the lovely lady standing over there, which was Max’s girlfriend Jackie Holmes. It was a sad night for Max as he lost his bass player, drummer and girl all in one night. That’s Rock and Roll!
He was also a member of In Focus 1969 – 1970, Fanny Adams 1970 – 1971, The Wild Cherries Drums 1971 – 1972, La De Das, John Paul Young’s All Stars Band, Drums in 1975 and the The Stevie Wright Band.
Despite a long career as a recording and touring artists Johnny Dick only ever recorded one solo single ‘The Warrior’ in 1975 for Albert Productions and produced by Vanda & Young in 1975. He was with the John Paul Young All Stars Band at the time when this record single was released, so I would imagine they would have backed him. There maybe someone out there who knows for sure.
Johnny passed away on Friday, January 6, 2017 from heart failure. He was 73.
