Python Lee Jackson

Python Lee Jackson
Python Lee Jackson, early 1967
Background information
Origin	Australia
Genres	Rock, hard rock
Years active	1965-1968, 1968-1969, 1972
Past members	David Montgomery Mick Liber Roy James Frank Kennington Bob Brady Lloyd Hardy David Bentley Malcolm McGee Bob Welsh Duncan McGuire Dave MacTaggart Bernie McGann Laurie Arthur John Helman Jamie Byrne Gary Boyle Tony Cahill Chris Belshaw

Python Lee Jackson were an Australian rock band active from 1965 to 1968, before a brief sojourn in the United Kingdom. The group's most famous hit was "In a Broken Dream", featuring Rod Stewart as guest vocalist.

The original Python Lee Jackson was formed in December 1965, in Sydney by two British men – singer Frank Kennington and guitarist Mick Liber (born in Peebles, Scotland, on 1 March 1944) – after meeting drummer David Montgomery (born September 1945 in Melbourne). Together with bass player Roy James they played the underground circuit. In early 1966 Kennington was deported back to the UK, and former Missing Links singer Bob Brady filled in for several months before Liber and Montgomery struck on the idea of putting a new version together.

A new Python Lee Jackson line-up came together around March 1966 when keyboard player and singer David Bentley (born in 1943, in Brisbane) left Sydney group Jeff St John & The Id to join Liber and Montgomery alongside former Unit 4 bass player Lloyd Hardy (aka Cadillac Lloyd Hudson).

In June the quartet added former Wild Cherries singer Malcolm McGee (born in Melbourne on 1 November 1945) and opened Rhubarb's club in Sydney's Liverpool Street. In September Bentley left (and rejoined the band in 1968) and was replaced by Bob Welsh. The band's first single, "Emergency Ward" c/w their version of the Bo Diddley song "Who Do You Love?", was actually a Ward Austin single featuring Python Lee Jackson as backing group.

Python Lee Jackson released a cover of Major Lance’s "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um" c/w "Big City Lights" in December 1966 before Hardy was replaced by Duncan McGuire from Doug Parkinson's The Questions for three weeks. McGuire appeared on the band's cover of Sam and Dave’s "Hold On, I’m Coming" c/w "Your Mother Should Have Warned You" before Hardy (now going by the name Virgil East) returned for the band's first trip to Melbourne in early/mid March. While there the group performed at the Catcher from 17 to 19 March with various local bands each night. Python Lee Jackson returned to the city for an extended stay from 30 March to 16 April. Like its predecessor, the new single was a minor hit.