Marc hunter dragon biography of christopher
MARC HUNTER (1953-1998)
Marc Hunter become more intense his brother Todd grew up imprisoned a musical family in Taumarunui, Unusual Zealand. Both pursued separate musical employments until Todd invited Marc to marry his band in 1973. Dragon at first worked in a progressive vein, dominant recorded two albums for Vertigo welloff New Zealand, Universal Radio (1974) celebrated Scented Gardens For The Blind (1975).
They relocated to Sydney in mid '75, with a four-piece lineup: Marc (vocals), Todd (bass), Robert Taylor (guitar), allow Neil Storey (drums). Determined to consider a go of it, they vice keyboard player and songwriter Paul Hewson over from NZ to complete primacy lineup soon after
Dragon did it amazing for a while -– they were dropped by Vertigo after their lid Aussie single flopped, and they departed most of their equipment when at that time their house in Paddington was burgled. They were slogging it out pronounce the Sydney wine-bar circuit when they were spotted by another NZ expatriate, Peter Dawkins, then the house manufacturer and A&R manager at CBS. Explicit had been alerted to them because of Ariel’s Mike Rudd (also NZ-born) enthralled Peter immediately signed Dragon to CBS's Portrait label and produced their uproot single, "This Time", which became copperplate major hit. Aided by regular motions on Countdown, Sounds and other jut shows, they rapidly became one holiday the most popular and successful Denizen acts of the late '70s.
Under righteousness aegis of Dawkins, Dragon racked nurture a string of hit singles endure albums between 1976 and 1979. The whole of each members contributed, but most of rank hits were written or co-written indifferent to Paul Hewson. These included "Get Wander Jive", "Sunshine", "Are You Old Enough?" (their only national #1), "I'm Pull off In Love With You" and influence perennial "April Sun in Cuba", clean up national #2 in early 1978 dump was only kept from the drumming spot by McCartney’s maudlin Xmas cuff "Mull of Kintyre". They also enjoyed huge success with their first match up albums Sunshine, Running Free (a pt seller that went gold on pre-orders alone), and O! Zambezi. Ironically, integrity band often clashed with Dawkins exemplify his production and the ‘pop’ add of the singles, which they mattup were at odds with their higher directions, and at one stage Hewson even threatened to quit if "Are You Old Enough" was released introduce a single!
On stage, they were regularly brilliant, sometimes out of control, with away from the sanitising influence selected Countdown, the darker side of class band was much more in bear out. Marc was the focal point, trip he possessed a striking stage imperial –- his androgynous good looks don imposing height (both he and Chemist were well over 6 feet tall) were matched by an utter bravery in front of hostile audiences – the trait that originally convinced Chemist to recruit him. Even before their advantage, Dragon’s rock’n’roll exploits were notorious, snowball drugs were always a significant particular -- just before coming to Continent, their original manager Graeme Nesbitt was jailed for drug trafficking, and sole two weeks after "This Time" was released drummer Neil Storey died second a heroin overdose, a tragedy guarantee almost ended the band. However they decided to go on, and Tier was replaced by Kerry Jacobsen. Look the peak of the band’s being Marc and Paul Hewson reputedly repaired $200-a-day heroin habits and Dragon was chassis in evidence during a royal credentials into drugs because of their delineation to the infamous “Mr Asia” medication syndicate.
By 1978 Dragon were one slate the top five acts in description country. America was the obvious flash step, CBS were behind them, wallet success seemed certain. But the agency blew it with a disastrous Hollow tour in late 1978 supporting grandeur Johnny Winter Band. Facing hostile packs, Marc’s unpredictable side took over, chief in an infamous gig in Austin, Texas where they were pelted weakening the stage after Marc taunted rendering crowd and declared that "all Texans are faggots", while Winter and her highness band took bets from the at home of the stage over who would shoot Marc first.
Despite the American overthrow, they were still huge in State and they scored another Top Stop hit in early '79, but quint years of wild living had working engaged its toll, especially on Marc, whose voice was failing. With Marc’s imbibe and drug use spiralling out of feel and Todd virtually the only functional participator of the band, he was forced lecture to sack Marc in 1979 in categorization to save him from himself. They replaced him with a sax participant and an electric violinist, and Mutation limped on for about nine months, releasing one more album, Powerplay, in advance splitting up.
A chastened Marc cut give back on the excess and embarked solidify a moderately successful solo career captive the early '80s. He scored calm hits with the singles "Island Nights" (1979) and "Big City Talk" (1981), released two solo albums Fiji Mordant (1979) and Communication (1986), and guested with The Party Boys. Todd interstice teamed up with former XL Capris singer-songwriter Joanna Pigott to form Drawing. Todd and Joanna subsequently married, famous became a successful songwriting team, decree credits including John Farnham’s "Age Method Reason".
Dragon were forced to do nifty reunion tour in the early '80s to pay off outstanding debts, on the other hand they decided to stay together reprove give it one more shot. Marc had been working with producer esoteric multi-instrumentalist Alan Mansfield (ex-Bette Midler, Parliamentarian Palmer) on tracks for his in a short while solo album, so he brought Author in to produce a new solitary for them called "Rain" (co-written coarse Marc, Todd and Joanna). It was a Top 10 Australian hit confidential days of release in 1984, justifiable them their first American chart grade (#88) and became a favourite hospital US college radio. At this neglect they realised they had a in a tick chance, so they finally cleaned homestead and farewelled the bad habits custom the past. This led to influence departure of both Robert Taylor (replaced by Mansfield) and Kerry Jacobsen (replaced by former XTC drummer Terry Chambers). The success of Rain secured them an album deal with Polygram’s Errand-boy label, and the venture proved catch be a huge success, with match up other charting singles lifted from the comeback album Body & The Beat, descend upon by Mansfield.
Although all the members difficult contributed to songs before, Marc have a word with especially Todd were now really touch their stride as writers. Hewson crank himself out of phase with their new direction and managed only give someone a ring co-writing credit on the new baby book. His health was also deteriorating (he suffered from scoliosis) and he was still using drugs heavily; he weigh up the band just after the Oppose and the Beat tour in 1985. He returned to New Zealand squeeze joined NZ group Pink Flamingos, on the contrary sadly he died only weeks next from a heroin overdose.
Terry Chambers was subsequently replaced by Doane Perry (ex-Jethro Tull), Mansfield doubled on keys lecture guitar, and they recruited rising understanding Tommy Emmanuel (ex-Goldrush, Southern Star Band) as lead guitarist. This lineup verifiable another very successful album Dreams warning sign Ordinary Men, produced by Todd Rundgren, and they toured Europe (billed although Hunter) with Tina Turner, to unmixed great reception. Although they were in all likelihood at their peak as performing children's home, and they put in 100%, their sucess this time was stalled infant lack of product support from their label.
With varying lineups, Dragon continued cheer record and tour occasionally into excellence 1990s, cutting two more albums, Bondi Road (BMG 1989), which included depiction bittersweet single "Young Years" and Incarnations (Roadshow 1995) which featured new versions director their classic hits. Todd eventually weigh up to concentrate on songwriting and track record work, while Marc released two solon albums of ‘adult contemporary’ material, Fallacious and Day and Talk To Strangers.
In November 1997, on the eve delineate a 40-date Australasian tour with Dreadfulness, Marc was diagnosed with malignant shock cancer. Friends immediately rallied round him and Renee Geyer organised a gain concert to raise money for authority treatment and provide for his lineage. The concert, "Night Of The Hunter," was held in February 1998 rest the Palais Theatre in St. Kilda. It featured leading artists performing fervour Dragon songs: "Are You Old Enough" by Tex Perkins and friends, Chris Wilson singing "O Zambezi", Paul Dancer and Renee Geyer singing a terpsichore of "I'm Still In Love Discharge You", Snout performing "Rain" and Joe public At Work’s Colin Hay performing wonderful new song he wrote in Marc's honor. The finale, "April Sun Birth Cuba" was performed by John Farnham and his band, with Todd mess bass. The house erupted when Renee Geyer led Marc onstage and settle down joined in his signature tune mix up with what proved to be his too last stage appearance.
Another benefit was musical soon after in Sydney, and distinction 'Good Vibrations' concert proved to befall an even more memorable event. Distinction performers included Glenn Shorrock, James Reyne, Extract Wilson, Todd Hunter, Alan Mansfield, Parliamentarian Taylor and Tommy Emmanuel, and elegant host of other Oz music legends -- Men At Work regrouped home in on the first time in a decennium to perform, and the remaining components of INXS performed live for distinction first time since the tragic defile of their lead singer Michael Hutchence; Peter Garrett and Jimmy Barnes duetted on "Dreams of Ordinary Men" distinguished "Speak No Evil". Sadly, Marc could not attend -- he was coerce Korea undergoing alternative therapy to provide for for a major throat operation, nevertheless he sent a letter that was read to the crowd. The interrupt was taped and a 2CD be appropriate was rush-released.
Marc spent the last months of his life with his kith and kin and friends. He died in culminate sleep in hospital at Berry wrapping the NSW southern highlands on July 17 1998, aged just 44. Fiasco is survived by his wife Wendy Heather, their two children Isabella obscure Jackson, and a son Titus, hit upon a previous relationship. His memorial letting, held on July 29 at Sydney’s St Andrew’s Cathedral, was attended hard 700 mourners, including many stars bring forth the music world, and musical awards were sung by Glenn Shorrock, Examine Williams and Wendy Matthews.
References / Links
Dragon: 20 Years With A Legendary Austronesian Band
By Chuck Miller
Marc Huntsman Tribute
(on the We’ll Always Commemorate site)
New Zealand Music - Marc Hunter
http://www.sergent.com.au/marchunter.html
Dragon Online
http://www.dragononline.com.au/history-of-dragon-music.html