Australian rock band Daddy Cool was formed in 1970. In that year, between May and November, almost no Australian music was heard on radio because of a dispute between radio stations and major record companies, and bands could only survive by filling live venues. Daddy Cool - Ross Wilson, Ross Hannaford, Gary Young and Wayne Duncan - played 50s rock & roll songs with a hip 70s attitude, and the mix proved highly popular with live audiences. They released 'Eagle Rock' in June 1971. It sat at number 1 for 11 weeks. The album Daddy Who? Daddy Cool, released soon after, broke all previous sales records for an Australian album. Wilson split from the group in 1972 to form Mighty Kong, but Daddy Cool reunited for the Sunbury Festival in January 1974, when this photograph was taken, and stayed together until late 1975. In early 2001 'Eagle Rock' was voted the second-best Australian song ever.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2005
© Rennie Ellis Photographic Archive
www.RennieEllis.com.au
Accession number: 2005.88
Currently on display: Gallery Two (Contemporary Gallery)
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On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves: who we read, who we watch, who we listen to, who we cheer for, who we aspire to be, and who we'll never forget. The Companion is available to buy online and in the Portrait Gallery Store.
Bon Scott and Angus Young photographed by Rennie Ellis are part of a display celebrating summer and images of the shirtless male.
Rennie Ellis photographs the self-proclaimed 'Witch of Kings Cross'.
The exhibition Aussies all features the ecclectic portrait photography of Rennie Ellis which captures Australian life during the 70s and 80s.
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