Sebastian Hardie

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Sebastian Hardie
symphonic rock, rhythm and blues
Years active1967–1977, 1994, 2003, 2011–
LabelsPolydor, Avalon, Mercury, Festival, Infinity
Past memberssee Members list below

Sebastian Hardie were Australia's first

symphonic rock band. They formed in Sydney in 1967 as Sebastian Hardie Blues Band but dropped the 'Blues Band' reference when they became pop-oriented. By 1973 they developed a more progressive rock style, and later performed as Windchase, but disbanded in 1977. An early member of Sebastian Hardie was Jon English (vocals, rhythm guitar), who starred as Judas Iscariot in the Australian version of the stage musical Jesus Christ Superstar in 1972 and subsequently had a solo career as a singer, actor and playwright. A later member, Mario Millo (lead guitar, mandolin
, vocals) became a multi-award winner for his television and movie music.

Sebastian Hardie's other early members included Graham Ford (lead guitar), Anatole Kononewsky (keyboards), Peter Plavsic (bass guitar) and his brother Alex Plavsic (drums). After English, Kononewsky and Ford had left, the Plavsic brothers were joined by Millo and Toivo Pilt (keyboards). With their addition, Sebastian Hardie developed extended progressive rock tracks to become a symphonic rock group before they released their definitive album Four Moments in 1975, which peaked at No. 12 on the National albums chart. They followed with a second album Windchase in 1976, but it had less chart success. Millo and Pilt formed the band, Windchase, to release Symphinity in 1977, it was a heavier jazz-fusion album but didn't have chart success and they disbanded.

History

1967–1973: Early years

Peter Plavsic plays bass with Sebastian Hardie in 2003

Guitarist Graham Ford (ex-The Interns) made up the name 'Sebastian Hardie' when he founded Sebastian Hardie Blues Band in 1967 in Sydney.

Larry Page produced Sebastian Hardie's first single "All Right Now" in September 1973 on RCA Records.[3][6]

1973–1977: Four Moments and Windchase

Mario Millo (guitar) and Alex Plavsic (drums) performing with Sebastian Hardie in 2003

Ford left Sebastian Hardie by October 1973 to be replaced by

LP, Four Moments, which peaked at No. 12 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart, was released in August 1975.[3][7] Produced by former member Jon English,[4] it achieved Gold status – selling 35,000 copies, while the related single "Rosanna", an instrumental track, peaked at No. 55 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart.[3][7] Four Moments showed the influence of progressive rock groups from Europe, including Genesis, Yes, King Crimson and Focus. It contained only three tracks with the title track taking up one side; Sebastian Hardie displayed "seamless, dramatic arrangements and impeccable musicianship".[3]

Toivo Pilt playing keyboards with Sebastian Hardie in 2003

Windchase, their second album, was released in February 1976, then they supported the national tour by

Rock n Roll revival group.[8] Windchase played Sebastian Hardie's material which had been written by Millo and by 1977 started recording Symphinity, which was more jazz-fusion oriented. During album sessions, Nethercote left to be replaced by Duncan McGuire (bass guitar, ex-Doug Parkinson in Focus, Ayers Rock). When the album was released in June, McGuire and Bligh were replaced by Nethercote's return and new member Ralph Cooper (drums). Singles from the album were "Glad to Be Alive" in May and "Flight Call" in October, but neither album nor singles had any chart success. Windchase toured through to October 1977 but the emerging punk and new wave music forms resulted in poor concert audiences and Windchase disbanded.[3]

After the separation

Ford was a member of Sydney-based band, Pleasure Master in 1986 on guitar and vocals.[9] Millo worked with

Changi (2001).[12] Original soundtracks released include Against the Wind (1978, with Jon English), World Safari II (1984), A Fortunate Life (1986), The Lighthorsemen (1989) and Brides of Christ (1991).[10]
Sebastian Hardie briefly reformed in 1994 – with the Plavsic brothers, Millo and Pilt – to perform at a progressive rock festival, ProgFest, in Los Angeles,[3][13] which was recorded and eventually released as Sebastian Hardie – Live in L.A. in 1997.[4][13] They played material from Four Moments, Windchase, Symphinity, and Epic III.[13] At the Gimme Ted benefit concert on 10 March 2001 Sebastian Hardie performed "Openings" and then backed former member, Jon English, for two of his songs.[14] Another reunion occurred in 2003 when supporting the British art rock band, Yes on their Australian tour.[15]

Pilt played keyboards for Ross Ryan during 1979–1983.[16] Since 2004 he recorded CDs with Sydney "progressive chill" band Tramtracks, with Robert Forbes (keyboards, theremin), Mark Hudson on guitar (who had worked with James Reyne before Australian Crawl) and Graeme James on drums.

In 1989, Kononewsky wrote the song, "What if the World Turned Around" for the launch of a documentary introduced by John Denver. In 1993, Kononewsky composed the song, “See What we Can Be”, a recording produced with Jerry Speiser, drummer from the group Men at Work, for the launch of a second documentary. In 1994, Kononewsky wrote the musical score for a third documentary, based on the musical rendition of the poem, Spiritual Song of the Aborigine by Hyllus Maris. (Kononewsky also created the three documentaries.)

In 2011 Sebastian Hardie released a new album, Blueprint, through their website.[17]

Kononewsky co-wrote the song, 'Heart of Australia' performed by Tarryn Stokes, released on 26 October 2022. He also released his album 'Only love matters: music for Soft Diamond Light' in 2022.

Members

Sebastian Hardie Blues Band (1967–1968)

  • Dennis Laughlin – vocals (1967–1968)
  • Dave Waddington – vocals (1967–1968)
  • Graham Ford – lead guitar (1967–1973)
  • Neil Williamson – organ (1967–1968)
  • John Bellamy – bass guitar (1967–1968)
  • Richard Lillico – drums (1967–1968)
  • Syd Richmond – drums (1967–1968)

Sebastian Hardie (1968–1976)

Windchase (1976–1977)

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with Australian chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
Certification
AUS
[7]
Four Moments
  • Released: 1975
  • Format:
    Cassette
  • Label: Polydor (2907 016)
23
Windchase
  • Released: 1976
  • Format: LP, Cassette
  • Label: Polydor (2907 024)
66
Symphinity
(As Windchase)
  • Released: 1976
  • Format: LP, Cassette
  • Label: Infinity (L 36216)
43
Rock Legends
  • Released: 1980
  • Format: LP, Cassette
  • Label: Polydor (2475 651)
  • Compilation album
-
Four Moments of the Windchase
  • Released: 1990
  • Format: CD, Cassette
  • Label: Mercury (846 902-2)
  • Compilation album
-
Live in L.A.
  • Released: 1997
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Musea
  • Recorded in 1994
-
Blueprint
  • Released: 2011
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Blueprint
-

Charting singles

Year Title Peak chart
positions
AUS
[7]
1975 "Rosanna" 55
1976 "Live, Love and Music" 95

Awards

Australian Record Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1975[19] Sebastian Hardie for Four Moments Best Australian-Designed Cover Won

References

General
  • ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original
    on 5 April 2004. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
    Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.
  • Spencer, Chris; Zbig Nowara; Paul McHenry (2002) [1987]. The Who's Who of Australian Rock.
Specific
  1. ^ Spencer et al., (2007) INTERNS, THE[permanent dead link] entry. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  2. ^ "Mario Millo interview". ProgressoR. 21 May 2002. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k McFarlane 'Sebastian Hardie' entry. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d e Holmgren, Magnus. "Sebastian Hardie / Windchase". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  5. ^ "Stage shows – Jesus Christ Superstar". Milesago. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
  6. ^ Spencer et al., (2007) SEBASTIAN HARDIE[permanent dead link] entry. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  7. ^
    ISBN 0-646-11917-6. Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts
    in mid-1988.
  8. ^ Spencer et al., (2007) STUDS, THE[permanent dead link] entry. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  9. ^ Spencer et al., (2007) PLEASURE MASTER[permanent dead link] entry. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  10. ^ a b c Holmgren, Magnus. "Mario Millo". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  11. ^ "Jon English & Mario Millo". Norwegian Charts Portal. Retrieved 26 July 2008.
  12. Internet Movie Database
    (IMDb). Retrieved 26 July 2008.
  13. ^ a b c McLatchey, Mike (4 November 2001). "Sebastian Hardie (Australia)". Progfest '94 Preview. Retrieved 26 July 2008.
  14. ^ Holmgren, Magnus. "Gimme Ted – The Ted Mulry Benefit Concerts". Australian Rock Database. Archived from the original on 22 August 2003. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  15. ^ "The Yes Australian Tour Site – Sebastian Hardie". Oz Guitar. Retrieved 26 July 2008.
  16. ^ Spencer et al., (2007) Pilt, Toivo[permanent dead link] entry. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  17. ^ "News". Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  18. Cash Box
    . 21 February 1976. p. 40. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via World Radio History.
  19. ^ "Cashbox Magazine" (PDF). Billboard. 29 November 1975. p. 54. Retrieved 12 November 2021 – via World Radio History.
  20. ^ "Who's who of Australian rock / compiled by Chris Spencer, Zbig Nowara & Paul McHenry". catalogue. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 8 February 2010.

External links