Biography Beeb Birtles

Birtles Shorrock Goble are an Australian pop/rock group composed of the three original singers and songwriters of Little River Band, namely Beeb Birtles, Glenn Shorrock and Graeham Goble. The members are known for their extensive writing and performance of hit songs and distinctive vocal harmonies. They are sometimes referred to by the initials BSG.

Birtles, Shorrock and Goble were vital members of popular Australian bands prior to forming Little River Band.

Birtles (born 28 November 1948 in The Netherlands) was part of Zoot and Mississippi. Shorrock (born 30 June 1944 in England) provided lead vocals for The Twilights and Axiom. Goble (born 15 May 1947 in Australia) was a member of several bands including Allison Gros, Drummond and Mississippi.

The concept of Little River Band was formulated in London in late 1974. The band was constituted in Melbourne and performed for the first time in Ballarat in March 1975.

Little River Band would go on to become one of Australia's first supergroups, achieving gold and platimum awards for multi-million international record sales, Top 10 hits in the USA for five consecutive years (1978–1982) and headlining concerts worldwide. Songs written and sung by Birtles, Shorrock and Goble continue to be played around the world more than 25 years after they were recorded:

* Birtles compositions include: "Curiosity Killed The Cat", "Every Day Of My Life", "Happy Anniversary" (co-written with David Briggs), "Home On Monday" (co-written with Glenn Shorrock)

* Shorrock compositions include: "Help Is On Its Way", "Cool Change", "Emma", "Shut Down Turn Off", "Home On Monday" (co-written with Beeb Birtles)

* Goble compositions include: "Reminiscing", "Lady", "Take It Easy On Me", "It's A Long Way There", "The Night Owls", "The Other Guy".

Departure from Little River Band

Each of these three original members of Little River Band left the band at different times, and for different reasons. Shorrock left first in 1982 to pursue a solo career, and as a consequence of increasing tensions between band members. He was replaced as lead vocalist by John Farnham.

"Basically I was told that my commitment to the group was not 100% and they wanted more commitment from their lead singer. I said I wanted to do some other things and that the songs were running down. I thought we needed to broaden our horizons a bit but that wasn't to be at that time. I was technically sacked. Beeb, Graeham and Derek [Pellicci] wanted John Farnham in. was thinking about doing solo albums and some other things with my mates." Glenn Shorrock (2003)[1]

Birtles departed in 1983; his commitment as a born again Christian had estranged him from some of the other band members, and he was unhappy with the direction and management of the band.

"Being a Christian I couldn't lie to them: I had to honestly say, 'My heart isn't here anymore and for that reason I have to leave'. The moment I said that I felt the load lift." Beeb Birtles (1989)[2]

Goble retired from the band, first as a touring member, and subsequently altogether in 1989.

"Little River Band no longer had a recording contract and there was no immediate possibility of recording. I always preferred recording to 'live work' and when the future of the band appeared to be just playing the greatest hits for the rest of its life, then I knew it was time for me to leave." Graeham Goble (1997)[3]

In 1986, Farnham left the band and LRB effectively split-up. Glenn Shorrock returned to a re-formed Little River Band in 1988. Shorrock would leave for a second time in 1995 over a dispute about touring.

"My fellow directors of Little River Band at the time wanted to do a five-month tour. I felt that a three-month commitment was sufficient. They had another agenda and I was informed by fax that they would be employing a substitute vocalist in my place. I attempted to stop them, I sought advice, stepped down and accepted a financial settlement in lieu of earnings." Glenn Shorrock (2005)[4]

Following their departures from the band Birtles, Shorrock and Goble continued to maintain careers in the music industry.

Birtles settled in the United States and continued to write songs. He formed a production company, Sonic Sorbet, and released a solo album Driven by Dreams in 2000.

Shorrock returned to his solo career, including stage shows, corporate gigs and a career retrospective concert program. He released two solo albums, Spin Me 'Round and Meanwhile ... Acoustically.

Goble moved back to his passion: recording. He created four albums meticulously using some of the best session musicians available. Broken Voices, Nautilus, Stop and The Days Ahead reflected his thorough and fastidious recording technique.

Reformation

On 28 May 2001 Shorrock and Goble were seated at the same table at the Australian APRA Awards. Old animosities were forgotten as they realised that their respective careers were inextricably linked.[5] A reunion was first discussed after record producer Paul Rodger approached Graeham Goble and Derek Pellicci with interest from Warner Music to produce a video concert like the Eagles Hell Freezes Over. Subsequent telephone calls to Birtles and Shorrock confirmed that they, too, were not averse to a reunion.

The initial plans provided for Birtles, Shorrock, Goble, Pellicci, David Briggs and George McArdle to re-form under the band name The Original Little River Band.[6] Those plans were quickly frustrated when former Little River Band manager Glenn Wheatley told Birtles, Shorrock and Goble that things would be a lot easier if they reformed on their own.[citation needed] It was determined that the name Little River Band and associated logos had been transferred by Wheatley and Goble to a company owned by LRB lead guitarist Stephen Housden without the permission of the other members of the band.[7] (See Legal battles.)

Wheatley decided that the three singer/songwriters would henceforth appear as Birtles Shorrock Goble: The Founding Members of Little River Band. ("Not BSG," said Shorrock, "it sounds like something you get at a Chinese restaurant").[7]

After 7373 days apart, the first public performance of the reformed group would occur on 1 March 2002 at the Australian Grand Prix Ball. The hour-long set of twelve songs reprised many of their international hits.[8]

In March 2003 Birtles Shorrock Goble appointed Paul Rodger as their manager and signed a recording contract with Universal Music Australia.

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