Over 50 years ago, Australia’s music history was made...

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Mick Bower, Rick Morrison, Gavin Webb and Brian Vaughton form an instrumental band in Adelaide called “The Mustangs”.

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They advertised for a new lead singer – enter Jim Keays to the role and an Australian music institution was born in the legendary Masters Apprentices. 

 

Mick Bower: “The name came from watching (Adelaide band) The Others. Every time they played a song by the Rolling Stones they’d say, ‘Here’s something from the masters’ apprentices’, referring to the fact that the Stones were so influenced by the blues greats like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. We thought that was great, so we ran with that.”

Fast forward 50 years The Masters Apprentices sell out 2x Fringe shows in Adelaide 2016, plus other sold out 2017 shows, including full houses at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne, the Gov in Adelaide and appearances at The Thebarton Theatre 90th Birthday Concert and the David Day Rock Of Ages Concert - the band is back. 

The Masters Apprentices feature 4 original 1960s members of this iconic band including original members Mick Bower (guitarist /founder and principal composer), Brian Vaughton (drums), Gavin Webb (bass) and Rick Harrison (guitarist - joined in 1967). Vocalist Craig Holden upfront and Bill Harrod (bass) rounds out the lineup.

 
In the 60's the Masters became a rock’n’roll/r’n’b institution alongside the Aztecs, The Loved Ones, The Twilights and Easybeats taking Australia by storm, now over 50 years later they reunite to rock out yet again. It’s the only band from that era still doing major shows. 

 

Mick Bower: “In the 60’s when Masters were touring and recording you could see the great bands of the times – The Easybeats, Loved Ones, The Twilights and Billy Thorpe – it was a golden time in Australia’s musical history. We are the only band from that era still doing major shows. We are thrilled to be back playing together again in a brand new chapter in the band’s history. We hope to see the early Masters fans come out and see us, we’re busting to keep playing and having a great time together.” 

Over the last 5 decades the legend behind the songs of the Masters has grown here and internationally. If you see the Masters Apprentices live you will hear the Mick Bower penned early hits ‘Living In A Child's Dream’, ‘Wars Or Hands Of Time’ and ‘Undecided’ plus the evergreen hits from later years such as Turn Up Your Radio, Because I Love You and much more. 2016 also saw a reformed Radio Birdman cover and release Mick’s 1966 classic ‘Buried and Dead’ – more evidence of Micks Bowers’ enduring legacy with the Masters to this day.