Ray Arnott | |
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Birth name | Raymond Walter Arnott |
Genres | Rock and roll, progressive rock |
Occupation(s) | drummer, songwriter, vocals, music teacher |
Instruments | drums, vocals |
Years active | 1964—present |
Labels | Sparmac Wizard Sony/BMG Liberation Albert/EMI |
Associated acts | South Town Mods The Chelsea Set Cam-Pact Company Caine Spectrum Mighty Kong The Dingoes Ray Arnott Band/Ray Arnott and the Rude Dudes Flash and the Pan Cheetah Cold Chisel Jimmy Barnes Band Ray Arnott Group (R.A.G.) |
Notable instruments | |
drums/percussion |
Raymond "Ray" Walter Arnott is an Australian rock drummer, singer-songwriter, he was a member of Spectrum (1970–1973), which had a number one hit with "I'll Be Gone" (recorded before Arnott joined) in January 1971. He also had short stints with The Dingoes in the 1970s and Cold Chisel in 1980s.
In late 1970 he replaced original drummer Mark Kennedy in the renowned Australian progressive rock group Spectrum and he remained with them until they split in early 1973. He sang backing and lead vocals with the band, as well as drumming, and he contributed several songs to their repertoire.
Arnott left Spectrum to join Mighty Kong, a new band formed by ex-Daddy Cool members Ross Wilson and Ross Hannaford, but the new group was very short-lived and broke up soon after recording its only LP in late 1973.
Arnott took over the drum stool from the original drummer in two of the most prominent Australian groups of the period, The Dingoes in the late 1970s and Cold Chisel in 1983, but in both cases his tenure was relatively short.
Cold Chisel frontman Jimmy Barnes took on Arnott for his first two solo releases, the Bodyswerve album in 1984 and For the Working Class Man album in 1985.
Arnott now lives and works on the NSW North Coast of Australia as a Teaching Assistant at Lismore Heights Public School and occasional band member.
In July 2015 Ray was interviewed by The Australian Rock Show http://australianrockshow.libsyn.com/episode-30-ray-arnott-interview