Snowy Fleet

Snowy Fleet
Fleet (top right) with The Easybeats in 1965
Fleet (top right) with The Easybeats in 1965
Background information
Born (1945-08-16) 16 August 1945 (age 79)
Liverpool, England
OriginSydney, New South Wales, Australia
InstrumentDrums
Formerly ofThe Easybeats

Gordon Fleet (born 16 August 1945[1]), known professionally as Snowy Fleet, is an English-born Australian drummer.

The Easybeats

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Further information: The Easybeats

Born Gordon Fleet, he formed The Easybeats at the Villawood Migrant Hostel as the drummer. The group consisted of Gordon (now performing as “Snowy”[2]), Stevie Wright (vocals/originally from Leeds, England), Georgie Young (guitar/from Glasgow, Scotland), Harry Vanda (guitar), and Dick Diamonde (bass, both from the Netherlands).[3]

The Easybeats, often compared to the Beatles in popularity, had charting hits between 1966 and 1968, such as: "She's So Fine"[4] (No. 3, 1965), "Wedding Ring"[5] (No. 7, 1965), "Women (Make You Feel Alright)"[6] (No. 4, 1966), "Come and See Her"[7] (No. 3, 1966), "I'll Make You Happy"[8] (No. 1, 1966), "Sorry" (No. 1, 1966).,[9] "Friday on My Mind" (No. 1, 1966)[10] and "Heaven and Hell" (No. 8, 1967).[11]

The band relocated from Australia to London in early 1966. There, they recorded their biggest selling hit “Friday on My Mind” in September that same year. Reaching number six on the British charts, it officially made the group an internationally successful band.

Fleet left the Easybeats in the spring of 1967, as he was unhappy at the amount of time he had to spend away from his wife and young children, and was replaced by Tony Cahill. The Easybeats disbanded in 1969. A reunion took place in 1986, with the original members.

Fleet, with the group, was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2005.[12] He, Wright, and Vanda attended the ceremony.

In 2017, it was announced that the Easybeats were getting their own two part miniseries, that would air on the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC). In the show, Snowy was portrayed by Arthur McBain.[13]

Personal life

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In his later life, Fleet became a successful builder in Perth, Western Australia, and now runs a rehearsal studio based in Jandakot, Western Australia.[14]

Fleet was the only member of the Easybeats to attend the funeral of frontman Stevie Wright in January 2016.

Discography

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Main article: The Easybeats discography

Studio albums

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References

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  1. ^ "Gordon 'Snowy' Fleet". IMDb. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  2. ^ "Snowy Fleet". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  3. ^ "Whammo Homepage". 2004-04-19. Archived from the original on 2004-04-19. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  4. ^ "'She's so Fine' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 24 October 2017. Note: For additional work, user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' or 'Performer:'
  5. ^ ""Wedding Ring" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 17 October 2009.
  6. ^ "'Women Make You Feel Alright' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 24 October 2017. Note: For additional work, user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' or 'Performer:'
  7. ^ "'Come and See Her' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  8. ^ ""I'll Make You Happy" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 17 October 2009.
  9. ^ "'Sorry' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 24 October 2017. Note: For additional work, user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' or 'Performer:'
  10. ^ ""Friday on My Mind" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  11. From George Young (rock musician): "'Friday on My Mind' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 24 October 2017. Note: For additional work, user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' or 'Performer:'
  12. ^ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Turramurra, NSW: Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd. ISBN 0-646-44439-5. NOTE: Chart positions back calculated by Kent in 2005.
  13. ^ "ARIA Hall Of Fame". www.aria.com.au. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  14. ^ Friday on My Mind (Drama), Playmaker Media, 2017-11-26, retrieved 2023-02-09
  15. ^ Fricke, David (1986-09-11). "The Easybeats: Where Are They Now?". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
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