"The Mustangs" of the 60's have reformed and now called “The Original Mustangs” are playing the music of the 50's & 60's the way it was played back then. Rhythm 'n' Blues, Rock 'n' Roll, the music of the likes of Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran, Connie Francis, Brenda Lee, Lavern Baker, Martha and the Vandellas, The Ad Libs, The Shadows, The Ventures, Booker T and The MG's, etc.
The idea of reforming the band was mooted during a jam session featuring many of Melbourne's notable musicians from a past era, two of them being Lindsay Cook and Mike Beaver, both original members of "The Savages", a young group of musicians, based in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne in the early sixties, which was later to develop into "The Mustangs", one of Melbourne's most popular bands, during the early to mid-sixties.
The idea of reforming the band was mooted during a jam session featuring many of Melbourne's notable musicians from a past era, two of them being Lindsay Cook and Mike Beaver, both original members of "The Savages", a young group of musicians, based in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne in the early sixties, which was later to develop into "The Mustangs", one of Melbourne's most popular bands, during the early to mid-sixties.
Lindsay Cook, lead guitarist said "We started off The Savages by hiring public halls in the outer eastern suburbs and promoting our own dances in order to gain experience. The dances, and the group soon became so popular that the halls were packed with kids from around the area, who were starved for live music that they could dance to. Within a short time we were playing at dances right around Melbourne and shortly after the advent of "The Mustangs", became the house band at the Peppermint Lounge, a coffee joint in Box Hill, where we played four nights a week and backed many of Melbourne's leading artists at the time, such as Colin Cook, Bobby Cookson, Normie Rowe, Pat Carroll, Merv Benton, Bobbie and Laurie and many others. Our music changed from Elvis, Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran, Cliff Richard and The Shadows, etc. to The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Georgie Fame, The Animals, The Searchers and later The Yardbirds, Spencer Davis Group, New Faces, etc."
During their time at the Peppermint Lounge the group also supported a young female vocalist named Lyn Baxter, who went on to feature at many of Melbourne's top dances and venues as well as performing on Melbourne television. Lyn Baxter, later became Mrs. Linda Cook, and is now a member of the “The Original Mustangs”. Her vocal work on Connie Francis and Brenda Lee songs, as well as her vocal backing,
together with fellow vocalist, Libby Gaynor emulating some of the great backing groups such as Ray Charles' Raelettes is something to behold.
Mike Beaver, rhythm guitarist with the band said "the music of that era was just too good to allow to die and there seemed to be a lacking of musicians around that play it the way it used to be played, so we decided to get back together, initially for personal enjoyment and to play at functions for friends and relatives".
However, it wasn't long before others began hearing of the re-formation of the band and requests began to come to play at private parties, clubs and other venues, both in the eastern suburbs, where "The Mustangs" originated as well as its new base being the Mornington Peninsula.
During their time at the Peppermint Lounge the group also supported a young female vocalist named Lyn Baxter, who went on to feature at many of Melbourne's top dances and venues as well as performing on Melbourne television. Lyn Baxter, later became Mrs. Linda Cook, and is now a member of the “The Original Mustangs”. Her vocal work on Connie Francis and Brenda Lee songs, as well as her vocal backing,
together with fellow vocalist, Libby Gaynor emulating some of the great backing groups such as Ray Charles' Raelettes is something to behold.
Mike Beaver, rhythm guitarist with the band said "the music of that era was just too good to allow to die and there seemed to be a lacking of musicians around that play it the way it used to be played, so we decided to get back together, initially for personal enjoyment and to play at functions for friends and relatives".
However, it wasn't long before others began hearing of the re-formation of the band and requests began to come to play at private parties, clubs and other venues, both in the eastern suburbs, where "The Mustangs" originated as well as its new base being the Mornington Peninsula.
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