The Valentines

The Valentines were an Australian rock 'n' roll band active from 1966-1970, chiefly noted for their lead singers, Bon Scott, who later went on to great success as lead vocalist with AC/DC, and Vince Lovegrove, who subsequently became a successful music journalist and manager of Divinyls.

The band was formed in late 1966 with the amalgamation of Perth groups The Spektors and The Winstons. They capitalised on the success of both the former bands, plus the interest created by having two lead singers in Scott and Lovegrove. Inspired by The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and local stars The Easybeats, they enjoyed considerable local success and released a few singles.

In late 1967, The Valentines moved to Melbourne in search of greater success, and soon toured other major cities. With a development towards the popular Bubblegum sound late in 1968, the band became more in demand, particularly among teenage girls. However as the fashion for bubblegum music wore off, The Valentines struggled to retain their musical credibility despite a turn towards rock music. With differing opinions within the band concerning musical direction, and a much-publicised drugs bust in September 1969, group stability began to suffer. Although they still had a strong fanbase in certain areas of the country, especially back home in Perth, The Valentines decided to disband amicably in August 1970.

Scott had built a strong reputation as a powerful vocalist and soon joined Fraternity, and later AC/DC. Lovegrove found success as a music journalist, and guitarist Wyn Milson became a sound engineer.

Personnel

• Bon Scott - vocals
• Vince Lovegrove - vocals
• Wyn Milsom - guitar
• Ted Ward - guitar (1967-69), bass guitar (1969-70)
• Bruce Abbott - bass guitar (1967-68)
• John Cooksey - bass guitar (1968-69)
• Warwick Findlay - drums (1967-68)
• Doug Lavery - drums (1968-69)
• Paddy Beach - drums (1969-70)

Discography

Singles

• "Everyday I Have To Cry"/"I Can't Dance With You" (Marriott/Lane) (5/1967)
• "She Said" (Vanda/Young)/"To Know You Is To Love You" (Spector) (August 1967)
• "I Can Hear The Raindrops"/"Why Me?" (February 1968)
• "Peculiar Hole In The Sky" (Vanda/Young)/"Love Makes Sweet Music" (Ayers) (August 1968)
• "My Old Man's A Groovy Old Man" (Vanda/Young)/"Ebeneezer" (February 1969)
• "Nick Nack Paddy Wack"/"Getting Better" (August 1969)
• "Juliette" (Scott)/"Hoochie Coochie Billy" (February 1970)

EPs

• My Old Mans A Groovy Old Man (February 1969)

Albums

• The Valentines (1987) (reissued in 1988, entitled Seasons Of Change The Early Years 1967-72 and again in 1991, entitled Bon Scott - The Early Years 1967-1972)

• • Several albums and CDs have been released over the years compiling Valentines material.

References

• Highway to Hell: The Life and Times of AC/DC Legend Bon Scott - Clinton Walker, 1994. ISBN 1-891241-13-3