Adelaide group the Hergs recorded one 45 before moving to Melbourne to try their luck. Members at the time of this recording were Eddy McPherson (Robin McPherson) on vocals, Mike Williams on guitar, Laurie Lehman guitar, Peter Luckins on bass, and Barry Sincock on drums. Peter Luckins and Eddy McPherson coined the band’s name, and if there’s a meaning to it, they kept it to themselves.
From 1967, “Style of Love” is a great early punk-meets-psychedelia track, written by Eddy McPherson. The explosive version of “Cadillac” on the flip is not the Bo Diddley song covered by the Kinks and myriad of others, but a cover of Vince Taylor’s “Brand New Cadillac”. To make matters more confusing, the label gives songwriting credit to Chuck Berry, who had no part in either of these songs.
Barry Sincock, the original drummer from The Hergs gave me some info about the group and sent me the great clippings and photos presented here:
The name The Hergs came from bass player Peter Luckins, who said it was a name for Trolls in Northern England. Not sure if this is true or not.
The words of the song “Style Of Love” were written by me, the words came from an article from Life Magazine about the hippies in San Francisco. The song was put together the night before we went into the studio by the whole band.
Hergs at #5 on 5KA’s Top 50, Dec. 15, 1967 Q. I suppose there weren’t too many psychedelic substances around Adelaide at that time?
It wasn’t until we got to Melbourne and lived in a rundown mansion with a group of prostitutes that everything changed. Lots of crazy nights thanks to the Masters Apprentices and those crazy girls.
The song “Cadillac” we got from watching Molly Meldrum, miming on Kommotion. We didn’t know who wrote it, so we decided Chuck Berry was a good candidate. Mike did the record. John Thorton joined about eight months before we packed up and moved to Melbourne.
The band went to Melbourne under the management of Darryl Sambell, but he was so busy with John Farnham that he passed us on to Geoff Edelsten.
We went into the studios and put down two tracks with John Farnham and Hans Poulson helping with back up. One of the songs was “Three Jolly Dwarfs” which the Zoot ended up recording due to our problems with Geoff. The songs were never released. The tape was left at Armstrong Studios along with a few other bands when Edelsten wouldn’t pay the studio and went off to make his fortune in medical practices.
I was drafted to Vietnam in 1969. Eddie McPherson went on to the musical Hair, and later moved to Melbourne.
Laurie Lehman played lead guitar, he passed away in December 2008.
Barry Sincock
After this record John Thornton replaced Mike Williams and David Potter replaced Barry Sincock. Adrian Russell replaced Eddy McPherson by the time of their last live appearance, at the Royal Melbourne Show in September, 1968.
The Hergs were indeed an Adelaide band. They recorded ‘Cadillac’ after listening to a local band rehearsing this song in an Adelaide club called The Beat Basement. The version being rehearsed was the latest release of the song at the time by The Renegades http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaVGug5wfO0&mode=related&search= Not having the words or music The Hergs immediately visited a local recording studio and recorded it within hours of hearing it. The song Style of Love was recorded with the then original guitarist called Mike Williams. John Thornton joined the group later after the recording was released.
I remember those early morning parties after returning from the Thumpimg Tom in the back of that silly little red van. Lorry was a sweety and always in for a good time, for a quite sort of bloke. Peter was more than happy to join in. Never saw much of Eddy he was always hiding with Trudy and never joined in. David was a very funny guy who sang dirty songs. Whilst John Thornton tried to make love to the go-go dancers between drinks.
I remember seeing the Herrgs at the Thumping Tum in Melbourne they were a great band i realy remember the lead guitarist the bass player and drummer . They were funny guys from London. What ever happened to them???
Hi Trudi………jeez talk about synchronicity….I am sitting on my sister’s (Pat) outside patio drinking red wine with Pat, her husband Merf and my nephew Ben. For the last 3 hours we have been reminiscing about the Hergs, Zoot, Masters, Five sided Circle and those great, great years in Adelaide. Pat was talking fondly about you and Eddy. My nephew the computer geek decides to google Hergs and amongst other things….Cadillac, style of love (which was written in our kitchen at Kalina avenue after a Big Daddy’s gig)….he clicked on your message….WOW ! Just as I was talking about Pete Luckins and how good it would be to see him again and share our memories, my nephew said: I’ve got something here from a girl called Trudi. Well Pat’s gone crazy and wants to catch up…..so if you feel the same about reminiscing (not Glenn and Beeb’s great song)….then give Pat Edwards (Hadley) a ring (0407714191) she would love to see you and you are so welcome to join us to share more golden memories of Adelaide, Jim Slade and those great, great years.
One of my favourite memories of the Hergs was all the original members having a full on band practice in a garage, Im sure it was at Barry,s house *Ferryden Park* practicing all day on that hot afternoon, Jimi Hendrix song *HEY JOE* an boy did it sound GRREAT! Iam sure as a 15year old girl growing up listening to my fathers Jazz, that on that hot Saturday afternoon in Barry,s sweerterling garage was the day I fell not only inlove with EDDY but with the Hergs, Where is Pat Hadley? their fan club president at that time?
Barry Sincock was my mate in Puckapunyal. He was a nasho, I think he got wounded in Vietnam and so did I. Last time I saw him was in at the Lord Melbourne hotel in the mid 70’s playing drums, haven’t seen him since. Hope he’s well… Long haired prick, so was I!
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From 1967, “Style of Love” is a great early punk-meets-psychedelia track, written by Eddy McPherson. The explosive version of “Cadillac” on the flip is not the Bo Diddley song covered by the Kinks and myriad of others, but a cover of Vince Taylor’s “Brand New Cadillac”. To make matters more confusing, the label gives songwriting credit to Chuck Berry, who had no part in either of these songs.
The Hergs were indeed an Adelaide band. They recorded ‘Cadillac’ after listening to a local band rehearsing this song in an Adelaide club called The Beat Basement. The version being rehearsed was the latest release of the song at the time by The Renegades http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaVGug5wfO0&mode=related&search=
Not having the words or music The Hergs immediately visited a local recording studio and recorded it within hours of hearing it. The song Style of Love was recorded with the then original guitarist called Mike Williams.
John Thornton joined the group later after the recording was released.
I remember those early morning parties after returning from the Thumpimg Tom in the back of that silly little red van. Lorry was a sweety and always in for a good time, for a quite sort of bloke. Peter was more than happy to join in. Never saw much of Eddy he was always hiding with Trudy and never joined in. David was a very funny guy who sang dirty songs. Whilst John Thornton tried to make love to the go-go dancers between drinks.
I remember seeing the Herrgs at the Thumping Tum in Melbourne they were a great band i realy remember the lead guitarist the bass player and drummer . They were funny guys from London. What ever happened to them???
Hi Trudi………jeez talk about synchronicity….I am sitting on my sister’s (Pat) outside patio drinking red wine with Pat, her husband Merf and my nephew Ben. For the last 3 hours we have been reminiscing about the Hergs, Zoot, Masters, Five sided Circle and those great, great years in Adelaide. Pat was talking fondly about you and Eddy. My nephew the computer geek decides to google Hergs and amongst other things….Cadillac, style of love (which was written in our kitchen at Kalina avenue after a Big Daddy’s gig)….he clicked on your message….WOW !
Just as I was talking about Pete Luckins and how good it would be to see him again and share our memories, my nephew said: I’ve got something here from a girl called Trudi. Well Pat’s gone crazy and wants to catch up…..so if you feel the same about reminiscing (not Glenn and Beeb’s great song)….then give Pat Edwards (Hadley) a ring (0407714191) she would love to see you and you are so welcome to join us to share more golden memories of Adelaide, Jim Slade and those great, great years.
Warmest regards Trudy
Frank Hadley
Where can i get my hands on this 45? Any tips?
One of my favourite memories of the Hergs was all the original members having a full on band practice in a garage, Im sure it was at Barry,s house *Ferryden Park* practicing all day on that hot afternoon, Jimi Hendrix song *HEY JOE* an boy did it sound GRREAT! Iam sure as a 15year old girl growing up listening to my fathers Jazz, that on that hot Saturday afternoon in Barry,s sweerterling garage was the day I fell not only inlove with EDDY but with the Hergs, Where is Pat Hadley? their fan club president at that time?
Those were the days my I hope they never end those were the days!
Barry Sincock was my mate in Puckapunyal. He was a nasho, I think he got wounded in Vietnam and so did I. Last time I saw him was in at the Lord Melbourne hotel in the mid 70’s playing drums, haven’t seen him since. Hope he’s well… Long haired prick, so was I!