Vince Melouney

Vince Melouney
Also known as Vince Maloney
Born 18 August 1945
Sydney
Genres Rock, beat, psychedelic rock, psychedelic pop, hard rock
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 1965–present
Labels Polydor, Atco, Kapp
Associated acts Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs, Vince & Tony's Two, Bee Gees, Fanny Adams, The Vince Maloney Sect
Notable instruments
Gibson ES-355

Vince Melouney (born 18 August 1945) is an Australian guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He joined the bands Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs, Vince & Tony's Two, Bee Gees, Fanny Adams and The Vince Maloney Sect. In 1971, he was replaced by Alan Kendall as the lead guitarist of the Bee Gees.

Career

The Bee Gees in 1967. Vince Melouney is in the center.

Melouney was born in Sydney. He was a founder member of Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs, playing with the band as lead guitarist from 1963 to 1965, which was followed by a short-lived duo with fellow Aztec Tony Barber, called Vince & Tony's Two. In 1966, he released "I Need Your Lovin' Tonight" and its B-side, "Mystery Train"; Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, and Maurice Gibb sing backup vocals on both songs.[1]

In 1967, after moving to the UK, he was invited to join the Bee Gees. He was the lead guitarist on their first three albums; Bee Gees' 1st, Horizontal, and Idea. In June 1968, while he was a Bee Gee he wrote and performed "Such a Shame" (the only track that was not written by one of the Gibb brothers). The song was released on the UK version of the album Idea, but on the US version, it was replaced by "I've Gotta Get a Message to You". Melouney prefers the Gibson ES-355 guitar and can be seen in several Bee Gees videos and live performances from 1967 to 1968.[2] In November 1968, it was reported by the UK music magazine, NME, that Melouney's final concert with the Bee Gees would be on 1 December, following the end of their current German tour.[3]

In 1969, he formed a short-lived supergroup, Fanny Adams, with Doug Parkinson on lead vocals, Teddy Toi on bass, and Johnny Dick on drums who recorded one album also called Fanny Adams.[4] In the summer of 1976, he met up with Bee Gee Barry Gibb and they wrote "Let It Ride" and "Morning Rain", but both songs were not recorded.[5] He rejoined the Bee Gees for the "One Night Only" Concert held in Sydney, Australia, in 1999, and rejoined Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs for a tour in 2002/3. At the completion of that tour, he completed his first solo album, released with the title "Covers" which had ten cover versions of songs, including Love Her Madly, Come Together, and Lay Down Sally.

Melouney's influence was The Band, through their album Music from Big Pink, as he explained: "I am influenced to the extent that I can see what they are doing and I respect that. I’ve let their ideas augment my ideas".[6]

Vince plays lead guitar on the 2015 Paul Jones album Suddenly I Like It and the forthcoming as-yet-untitled new Carla Olson album.

Discography

With Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs

With the Bee Gees

External links

References

  1. ↑ Joseph Brennan. "Gibb Songs: 1966".
  2. ↑ Joseph Brennan. "Gibb Songs: 1968".
  3. ↑ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 190. CN 5585.
  4. ↑ Discogs.com. "Fanny Adams: Fanny Adams".
  5. ↑ Joseph Brennan. "Gibb Songs: 1976".
  6. ↑ Vince Melouney Interview
  7. ↑ Billboard – Google Books. Books.google.com. 12 August 1967. Retrieved 24 February 2011.