Fabric printed banner with text: Mod Dance/ Masters Apprentices/ Chain Gang/ Saturday 17 [1966]/ Memorial Hall [Blackwood]. (The group had also performed there on 8 October 1966.)

When instrumental group The Mustangs decided they needed a singer to keep up with the changing times in pop music, they recruited Jim Keays and the Masters Apprentices were born. Apart from Keays, the original line-up included guitarist Mick Bower, who was the writer of their early hits, and Brian Vaughton on drums. Rick Morrison played lead guitar and the bassist was Gavin Webb. The group would practice in John Street Adelaide behind the Kings Head Hotel which was owned by the Vaughton family. Their first show was at the Pennington Hostel on 15 February 1966 and they regularly played the Beat Basement in Rundle Street, the Octagon at Elizabeth, Big Daddy's, the Cage Club and 20 Plus Club. As well they travelled to country areas such as Murray Bridge, Yorketown and Whyalla.

Line-up changes saw other Adelaide musicians join. These included guitarist Peter Tilbrook formerly of the Bent Beaks and drummer Steve Hopgood from The Others.

The Masters had many hit songs: Undecided, Buried and dead, But one day, Living in a child's dream and recorded other classics such as Wars or hands of time, Hot gully wind and Poor boy. They played to large crowds throughout Australia, inspiring riots and press controversy.

In 2001 Graham Longley, manager of the group from 1965 to 1967, donated his personal archive of Masters Apprentices items. The archive comprises: sound recordings; contracts and agreements; papers relating to royalties; booking lists and engagement book (1966-1967); letters and telegrams; papers relating to fan clubs; performance critiques; details about group members; itineraries for travel to engagements; repertoire lists; financial records; artwork and posters; and a 5KA Top Talent Award trophy (1967). The collection also includes song lyrics, tickets, printing blocks, cards, photographs, a snare drum, pillowcase, banner, newspaper cuttings, and film.

Permission to use this item for any purpose, including publishing, is not required from the State Library under these conditions of use.

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