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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

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Daddy Cool, Melbourne

1974
Rennie Ellis

gelatin silver photograph, selenium toned on paper (sheet: 46.6 cm x 60.5 cm, image: 31.9 cm x 45.9 cm)

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.

Purchased 2005
© Rennie Ellis Photographic Archive
www.RennieEllis.com.au

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Rennie Ellis (age 34 in 1974)

Wayne Duncan

Ross Wilson (age 27 in 1974)

Ross Hannaford

Gary Young OAM (age 27 in 1974)

Subject professions

Performing arts

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

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