Zoot (band)

Zoot were a pop rock band formed in Adelaide, South Australia, in 1964 as Down the Line.^[1][2][3] They changed their name to Zoot in 1967 and by 1968 had relocated to Melbourne.^[1][2] They had a top-five hit on the Go-Set national singles chart with a heavy rock cover of the Beatles' ballad "Eleanor Rigby" released in 1970, but they disbanded in May 1971.

Mainstay members were Beeb Birtles on bass guitar, later a founder of Little River Band in 1975 and Darryl Cotton on lead vocals, later a solo artist and then a television presenter. Their guitarist and singer-songwriter, Rick Springfield, from 1969 to 1971, moved to the United States in 1972, achieved international fame as a solo artist, songwriter and actor.^[1] Zoot reunited for the Rick Springfield and Friends cruise in November 2011. Darryl Cotton was diagnosed with liver cancer in May 2012 and died in July 2012.

In 1964, Plympton High School mates John D'Arcy, Gordon Rawson and Gerard Bertlekamp (later known as Beeb Birtles) began to learn and play popular songs of the day. Ted Higgins was added and the band was named Times Unlimited.^[4][5] They were joined by Darryl Cotton, lead vocalist from local rivals, The Murmen^[3][6] and were renamed Down the Line from The Hollies' version of Roy Orbison's song "Go Go Go (Down the Line)".^[3][7] Down the Line performed covers of English Mod groups: The Hollies, The Move, The Who and The Small Faces in many clubs and discos around Adelaide, gradually gathering a following.^[1][3]

In May 1967, Darryl Sambell, who also managed rising singer, Johnny Farnham, used Down the Line as session musicians on demo recordings which secured Farnham a contract with EMI Records. After recording with Farnham, Down the Line were approached by Adelaide-based promoters, Alan Hale and Doc Neeson, who were interested in band management and suggested to change their name to Zoot.^[3]

Zoot were playing some original material in their set and by early 1968 decided to move to Melbourne. D'Arcy didn't want to go and was replaced on guitar by Steve Stone.^[1][3]

In August 1968, Zoot arrived in Melbourne and were co-managed by Wayne de Gruchy and Tony Knight. The group were signed with Columbia Records/EMI Music and recorded their first single, "You'd Better Get Goin' Now", a Jackie Lomax cover with David Mackay producing.^[1][3] Both Higgins and Stone returned to Adelaide and were replaced in September by Rick Brewer on drums (ex-Third Party) and Roger Hicks on lead guitar, respectively.^[1][3] It was de Gruchy's idea to create a publicity gimmick, "Think Pink – Think Zoot".^[4] On 3 September 1968, de Gruchy invited the music media to Berties discothèque—co-owned by him and Knight—to promote Zoot's debut single.^[1][3][4] Continuing the "Think Pink" theme, band members were dressed head-to-toe in pink satin and arrived at venues in Cotton's pink painted car.^[1][3] The gimmick brought attention to the group and attracted teenage female fans, however it caused problems in establishing their credibility as serious rock musicians and a backlash from male fans.^[1][3]

By December, management by de Gruchy was dropped in favour of Sambell and Jeff Joseph, who also managed Farnham and the Masters Apprentices.^[3] The "Think Pink" theme continued.^[1][3] Zoot's second single, "1 × 2 × 3 × 4", recorded by the Birtles, Brewer, Cotton and Hicks line-up, was released in January 1969 and reached No. 32 on the Go-Set National Top 40 singles chart.^[1][8] Besides radio airplay, the band appeared regularly on local pop music TV show, Uptight!.^[1][3] The band's third single, "Monty and Me", continued the "Think Pink" theme with Cotton's dog, Monty, dyed pink.^[1][3] The track was produced by Go-Set's writer, Ian Meldrum and reached No. 33 June.^[9]

Also in June 1969, Zoot were voted Top Australian Group in Go-Set's pop poll.^[10] In July they undertook a tour through the eastern states with Ronnie Burns, the Sect and Jon Blanchfield on the bill.^[3] In September 1969 Hicks left for the Avengers, and was replaced by Rick Springfield (ex-Icy Blues, Moppa Blues Band, Wickedy Wak).^[11] Also in that month, Zoot joined other Australian bands on the national Operation Starlift tour, which was generally a publicity success but a financial failure.^[3] For Zoot, it also brought about increased media ridicule, peer envy and scorn from detractors, much of the criticism was homophobic such as "pretty pink pansies" taunts.^[3] In October 1969 they issued another single, "About Time"/"Sha La La".^[3] In December they made headlines when they were assaulted by street toughs in Brisbane.^{[citation needed]}

By early 1970, band members had tired of the garish pink outfits and associated harassment and physical abuse, hence, to rid themselves of the bubblegum/teen idol image, they burnt their outfits on TV music show, Happening '70.^[1] In April 1970, Zoot promoted their single "Hey Pinky", with an advertisement in Go-Set which featured a nude picture of their buttocks.^[1] "Hey Pinky" was a hard charging guitar oriented song but it failed to chart.^[1] The song was rebellious in nature and openly mocked the pink outfits as well as their previous management and their detractors.^[3]

The group's debut studio album Just Zoot was released in July and reached number 12 on the Australian Kent Music Report. In August 1970, Zoot finished second to The Flying Circus at the Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds.^[1][12]

In December 1970 Zoot released a heavy metal cover of The Beatles' song, "Eleanor Rigby" which became their most popular single when it peaked at No. 4 in March 1971.^[13] It remained in the Top 40 for twenty weeks and reached No. 12 on the Top Records for the Year of 1971.^[14] Their next single, "The Freak" / "Evil Child", another hard rock song, was released in April 1971 and peaked into the top 30.^[15]

With the chart success of "Eleanor Rigby", RCA expressed interest in bringing them to the United States to record, but they encountered problems with visa work permits, and Springfield was being scouted for a solo career.^[3] Along with other disappointments and frustrations, this led to the band breaking up in May 1971.^[1] Go-Set published its 1971 pop poll results in July, with Zoot in third place behind Daddy Cool for 'Best Group', while "Eleanor Rigby" won 'Best Single' ahead of Daddy Cool's "Eagle Rock".^[10] EMI/Columbia released a compilation, Zoot Out late in 1971.^[1]

After Zoot, Birtles and Cotton almost immediately formed a duo called Darryl and Beeb, which became Frieze when they were sponsored by Frieze Brothers (a clothing company).^[1] The band released a single, "Feelings" in September 1971 on Sparmac Records and an album, BC 1972, on Warner Brothers in June 1972, using session musicians.^[1][16] Frieze disbanded in May and Cotton travelled to America while Birtles joined Mississippi (previously known as Allison Gros and then as Drummond).^[1] Mississippi evolved into Little River Band in 1975.^[1]

Springfield also signed with Sparmac and released "Speak to the Sky" in October 1971,^[1] which peaked at No. 6 on the Kent Music Report. Sparmac label owner, Robie Porter, was also producer and manager for Springfield.^[3] After recording his debut album, Beginnings in London, Springfield moved to the United States in mid-1972, where he achieved international fame as a solo artist, songwriter and actor and continues to record.^[1]

Brewer drummed for a succession of bands including, Cashbox, Bootleg, Whole Man and I'Tambu before joining The Ferrets in 1976,^[17] which had a No. 2 hit with "Don't Fall in Love" on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart.^[18] He has also drummed for Jim Keays (ex-The Masters Apprentices) in his band Southern Cross and subsequently for The Motivators and Greg Baker's Blues Party.^[17]

Zoot reformed for the Rick Springfield and Friends cruise in November 2011.^[19] The cruise took place from 5–10 November 2011 on the Carnival Destiny out of Miami. The band consisted of Springfield, Birtles, Cotton and Brewer.^[20]

Darryl Cotton died on 27 July 2012 from liver cancer.^[21]

In 2018, the band released an anthology entitled Archaeology, including a new recording of "Life in a Northern Town".^[22]

In late 2020, Zoot was scheduled to reform for four Australian shows, with a line-up consisting of band friend and contemporary Russell Morris joining Springfield, Birtles, and Brewer; however, owing to COVID-19, this tour was postponed to 2022.^[23] In April 2022, it was announced that the tour had been cancelled.^[24]

On 24 June 2022, Zoot released "That Was Then".^[25]

• Beeb Birtles – bass guitar, guitar, backing vocals (1964–1971, 2011)
• Darryl Cotton – lead vocals, guitar (1964–1971, 2011; died 2012)
• Teddy Higgins – drums (1964–1968)
• John D'Arcy – lead guitar, backing vocals (1964–1968)
• Steve Stone – lead guitar (1968)
• Rick Brewer – drums (1968–1971, 2011)
• Roger Hicks – lead guitar (1968–1969)
• Rick Springfield – lead guitar, backing vocals (1969–1971, 2011)

The Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds was an annual national rock/pop band competition held in Australia from 1966 to 1972.^[29]

The Go-Set Pop Poll was coordinated by teen-oriented pop music newspaper, Go-Set and was established in February 1966 and conducted an annual poll during 1966 to 1972 of its readers to determine the most popular personalities.^[30]

The South Australian Music Awards are annual awards that exist to recognise, promote and celebrate excellence in the South Australian contemporary music industry. They commenced in 2012. The South Australian Music Hall of Fame celebrates the careers of successful music industry personalities.^[31]

• Zoot entry at Milesago.
• Zoot by Beeb Birtles.
• Zoot discography at Discogs