A Breath of Fresh Air Nov 28

The Delltones were an Australian rock ‘n’ roll band, which formed in 1958. They started as a doo-wop, harmony quartet with Warren Lucas (tenor vocals), Brian Perkins (baritone vocals), Noel Widerberg (lead vocals) and Ian “Peewee” Wilson (bass vocals). In July 1962 Noel Widerberg died in a car accident in Brighton-le-Sands in Sydney, and three weeks later the group’s single, “Get a Little Dirt on Your Hands”, reached the top five on the local charts. Widerberg’s position was filled by Col Loughnan (ex-the Crescents). The group disbanded in 1973.

Wilson, as the sole founding mainstay, reformed the group with new members in 1978 as a five – piece band. Along with stylistic changes, it led to their resurgence and a top 20 compilation album, Bop Til Ya Drop (1983). The Delltones performed for five decades, although their most successful recording years were in the 1960s. They were consistent live entertainers in Australia before disbanding in 2016.

Sandy Kaye