10/01/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/183Uxrry3T/
Singer, songwriter and musician Doc Neeson was born Bernard Neeson in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on this day in 1947 (January 4)
One of the best frontmen that ever drew breath…
The Neesons emigrated to South Australia when Bernard was just 13.
He used music as an escape from the tribulations of life growing up in Elizabeth, much the same as a young Scottish immigrant Jimmy Barnes in the same outskirts of Adelaide.
Young Bernard set himself up as a music promoter of sorts while still in high school, and later joined a few of his new Uni friends in the Moonshine Jug and String Band, including the Brewsters, John and Rick.
Neeson was on vocals and guitar.
It was here he started calling himself “Doc Holliday” (one of his childhood heroes), and then “Doc Talbot” (a nod to Crazy Horse guitarist Billy Talbot), which eventually became simply - Doc.
By 1974, the acoustic combo had become The Keystone Angels, playing 1950s style rock and roll, and R&B on the pub circuit, and Doc had switched to bass.
Exposure as a support to AC/DC led to them meeting ex-Easybeats Vanda and Young, and a contract with Albert Productions, relocating to Sydney.
At Vanda & Young’s suggestion they dropped the “Keystone” part of their name, becoming simply - The Angels.
Meanwhile, Doc was developing his on-stage persona with the help of Professor Wal Cherry, who was Head of The School of Dramatic Arts when he was at Flinders University.
Cherry said, “Bernard, you must develop a character that you can step into for your performances, just like an actor every time he goes onstage. Start working on ‘Doc’ as a separate identity who goes out before an audience and performs a role that you’ve designed for him.”
He also suggested the theatrical hand gestures that became a staple.
Neeson was heavily influenced by the S*x Pistols, and drawing inspiration from Glen Matlock, he adopted the buttoned-up, long-sleeved shirt, waistcoat, tie, dinner jacket, and scarf as his onstage outfit, with Wal’s suggestion that he take it further…
Professor Cherry elaborated, “How about, as the show warms up, have him discard the coat, loosen the tie, pull out the shirt tails, and undo the buttons.
Have him disintegrate into a disheveled mess, and in the end he staggers off into the night - bloodied, but defiant, undefeated. A very romantic figure.
They’ll be howling for more!”
The Angels’ Doc Neeson was born!
Their debut single “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again" was released in March 1976, and shortly after, Adelaide drummer Graham “Buzz” Bidstrup (Fahrenheit 451, Red Angel Panic) joined the band, replacing Peter Christopolous (a.k.a. Charlie King)
They continued as a four piece for just over six months, until experienced Adelaide bass player Chris Bailey joined in 1977 to complete the classic lineup, freeing up Neeson to concentrate purely on vocals and being a dynamite frontman.
And they never looked back, storming into Australian rock history as one of our most loved live bands, with classic albums like “Face to Face”, “No Exit”, and “Dark Room”, and a barrage of their own uniquely styled hard driving rock songs like “Comin’ Down”, “I Ain’t The One”, “Mr Damage”, “Devil’s Gate”, “No Secrets”, and Take a Long Line”.
And out front, Doc was the show, in counterpoint to the stoic, unmoving Rick Brewster,
He prowled the stage, pogoing madly, arms flailing, his wide, malevolent eyes and expressive raspy vocals and screams cajoling and hyping up the manic, surging sea of fans wherever they went.
On 20 October 1998, at the ARIA Awards the group were deservedly inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Outside of his work with The Angels, Neeson also initiated “The Tour of Duty - Concert for the Troops” held for the InterFET forces in East Timor which took place on 21 December 1999, and shortly after, on New Year's Eve 1999 Neeson announced his departure from The Angels at the MGM Grand Darwin Millennium Concert citing his injury from a car accident earlier that month.
This ultimately led to an ugly rift between the Brewsters and Neeson, who later toured in competing versions of the band, but the classic Angels lineup ended up reuniting briefly in 2008.
In August 2008, Neeson and his songwriting partners in The Angels, the Brewster brothers, were inducted into The Australian Songwriters Association Hall of Fame, in recognition of their songwriting contribution to Australian music.
Doc was also awarded the Australian Service Medal by General Cosgrove for services to the troops in East Timor.
A much-loved figure in Australian rock, Doc sadly passed away of a brain tumour on 4 June 2014, aged 67, approximately 18 months from his initial diagnosis.
One of our best…
Click on the link below to watch “Take a Long Line” live……..This is it folks…..over the top!:
https://youtu.be/mkzNrIg7Vg0
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
