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==Early life==
==Early life==
Vanda's family migrated to Australia from the [[Netherlands]] in 1963,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1421902|title = VAN DEN BERG Henricus Cornelis born 14 September 1923; Lisa nee Warzozskaja akj nee Berg-Warsozk born 19 September 1924; Johannes Hendrikus Jacob born 22 March 1946 - Dutch - travelled per ship NAMA, ORANJE departing in 1963 under the Australian and Netherlands Governments Migration Agreement}}</ref> and settled in [[Sydney]]. In the same year he met rhythm guitarist [[George Young (rock musician)|George Young]] at the [[Villawood, New South Wales|Villawood]] migrant [[hostel]]. In 2007, ''[[Australian Musician (magazine)|Australian Musician]]'' magazine selected this meeting as the most significant event in Australian pop and rock music history.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/sounds-of-then/story-e6frg8qf-1111117562970|title= Sounds of the:The legacy of Australia's first internationally successful rock band endures|newspaper=[[The Australian]]|first= Iain |last=Shedden|date=27 September 2008}}</ref> Vanda, who had been a guitarist with the [[The Hague|Hague]]-based band the Starfighters,<ref>{{YouTube|yXrwlhmb_1M|Dutch interview 2012}}</ref> came to fame in 1964–65 as the lead guitarist of the Easybeats.
Vanda's family migrated to Australia from the [[Netherlands]] in 1963,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1421902|title = VAN DEN BERG Henricus Cornelis born 14 September 1923; Lisa nee Warzozskaja akj nee Berg-Warsozk born 19 September 1924; Johannes Hendrikus Jacob born 22 March 1946 - Dutch - travelled per ship NAMA, ORANJE departing in 1963 under the Australian and Netherlands Governments Migration Agreement}}</ref> and settled in [[Sydney]]. In the same year he met rhythm guitarist [[George Young (rock musician)|George Young]] at the [[Villawood, New South Wales|Villawood]] migrant [[hostel]]. In 2007, ''[[Australian Musician (magazine)|Australian Musician]]'' magazine selected this meeting as the most significant event in Australian pop and rock music history.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/sounds-of-then/story-e6frg8qf-1111117562970|title= Sounds of the:The legacy of Australia's first internationally successful rock band endures|newspaper=[[The Australian]]|first= Iain |last=Shedden|date=27 September 2008}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
In 1966, both Vanda and Young penned many of the Easybeats' later [[sound recording and reproduction|recordings]], including their major international [[chart-topper|hit]], "[[Friday On My Mind]]".


=== The Easybeats ===
Vanda, who had been a guitarist with the [[The Hague|Hague]]-based band the Starfighters,<ref>{{YouTube|yXrwlhmb_1M|Dutch interview 2012}}</ref> came to fame in 1964–65 as the lead guitarist of the Easybeats.

Vanda's ability to speak the English language was still very limited when the band were at their peak.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A TWO-MAN PANDEMIC - Record Collector Magazine |url=https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/two-man-pandemic |access-date=2024-03-13 |language=en}}</ref> Easybeats bassist [[Dick Diamonde]], who was also a [[Dutch Australians|Dutch Australian]], would help him learn English.<ref>{{Cite web |title=stevie-interview |url=http://www.milesago.com/interviews/stevie-interview.htm |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=www.milesago.com}}</ref> By 1966, Vanda was nearly fluent in English and he and [[George Young (rock musician)|George Young]] penned many of the Easybeats' later [[sound recording and reproduction|recordings]], including their major international [[chart-topper|hit]], "[[Friday On My Mind]]".
{{Quote|text=When I met Harry Vanda he could hardly speak a line of English and now he can speak it better than me - he teaches me words.|author=[[Stevie Wright]]<ref>http://www.milesago.com/interviews/stevie-interview.htm</ref>}}
After the Easybeats disbanded in 1970, Vanda & Young remained in the UK and continued their writing and performing partnership.
After the Easybeats disbanded in 1970, Vanda & Young remained in the UK and continued their writing and performing partnership.


=== Vanda and Young ===
In 1973, Vanda and Young returned to Australia and took over as the house producers for leading independent record production company, [[Albert Productions]], and publisher J. Albert & Son. From 1974 onwards they enjoyed huge success in Australia and internationally, writing and producing hits for a number of popular Australian groups and solo singers, including [[John Paul Young]], [[Cheetah (band)|Cheetah]], [[Stevie Wright]], [[Ted Mulry]], [[Rose Tattoo]], [[The Angels (Australian band)|the Angels]], [[William Shakespeare (singer)|William Shakespeare]], [[Mark Williams (singer)|Mark Williams]] and, most notably, [[AC/DC]]. AC/DC included George Young's brothers, guitarists [[Angus Young|Angus]] and [[Malcolm Young]]. Vanda & Young produced landmark albums such as ''[[Let There Be Rock (album)|Let There Be Rock]]'', ''[[Powerage]]'', ''[[If You Want Blood You've Got It]]'', ''[[Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (album)|Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap]]'', ''[[High Voltage (1976 album)|High Voltage/TNT]]'', amongst others.
In 1973, Vanda and Young returned to Australia and took over as the house producers for leading independent record production company, [[Albert Productions]], and publisher J. Albert & Son. From 1974 onwards they enjoyed huge success in Australia and internationally, writing and producing hits for a number of popular Australian groups and solo singers, including [[John Paul Young]], [[Cheetah (band)|Cheetah]], [[Stevie Wright]], [[Ted Mulry]], [[Rose Tattoo]], [[The Angels (Australian band)|the Angels]], [[William Shakespeare (singer)|William Shakespeare]], [[Mark Williams (singer)|Mark Williams]] and, most notably, [[AC/DC]]. AC/DC included George Young's brothers, guitarists [[Angus Young|Angus]] and [[Malcolm Young]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} Vanda & Young produced landmark albums such as ''[[Let There Be Rock (album)|Let There Be Rock]]'', ''[[Powerage]]'', ''[[If You Want Blood You've Got It]]'', ''[[Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (album)|Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap]]'', ''[[High Voltage (1976 album)|High Voltage/TNT]]'', amongst others.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}


Vanda and Young also had major international success with their own [[recording studio|studio]]-only project [[Flash and the Pan]], achieving many hits round the world over a 15-year period, particularly in Europe where they had many chart topping records. [[Grace Jones]] had a hit with a cover of the Flash and the Pan song "[[Walking in the Rain (Flash and the Pan song)|Walking in the Rain]]".
Vanda and Young also had major international success with their own [[recording studio|studio]]-only project [[Flash and the Pan]], achieving many hits round the world over a 15-year period, particularly in Europe where they had many chart topping records. [[Grace Jones]] had a hit with a cover of the Flash and the Pan song "[[Walking in the Rain (Flash and the Pan song)|Walking in the Rain]]".


=== Later work ===
In 1988 Vanda was inducted, along with George Young, into the inaugural class of the [[ARIA Hall of Fame]].

By the late 1990s, Vanda and Young had left their longtime partnership with Albert Productions, and retired from the music industry. However, in 2005, Harry Vanda started [[Flashpoint Music]] in Surry Hills with his producer/engineer son, [[Daniel Vandenberg]], setting up one of Australia's premier private studios. The studio has produced bands such as [[The Wrights (Australian band)|the Wrights]] and [[British India (band)|British India]].
By the late 1990s, Vanda and Young had left their longtime partnership with Albert Productions, and retired from the music industry. However, in 2005, Harry Vanda started [[Flashpoint Music]] in Surry Hills with his producer/engineer son, [[Daniel Vandenberg]], setting up one of Australia's premier private studios. The studio has produced bands such as [[The Wrights (Australian band)|the Wrights]] and [[British India (band)|British India]].


==Instruments ==
==Instruments ==
Vanda used a 1964 [[Höfner]] Verithin 1574 with [[Bigsby vibrato tailpiece|Bigsby]] [[tremolo]] and 511 pickups, before switching in 1965 to a [[Gibson (guitar company)|Gibson]] 345. In the Easybeats, Vanda also often played a cherry-red [[Maton]] 12-string electric guitar, which he donated to the collection of [[Powerhouse Museum]] in Sydney in 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/objectsthroughtime/objects/vandaguitar/ |title=Objects through Time - Maton 12 string electric guitar |access-date=2007-05-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070904063428/http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/objectsthroughtime/objects/vandaguitar/ |archive-date=4 September 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In addition, Vanda owned the red [[Gretsch Jet Firebird]] double cutaway guitar that was given to George Young's younger brother Malcolm. This guitar, nicknamed "The Beast", saw numerous modifications and was Malcolm Young's primary guitar throughout his career with AC/DC.
Vanda used a 1964 [[Höfner]] Verithin 1574 with [[Bigsby vibrato tailpiece|Bigsby]] [[tremolo]] and 511 pickups, before switching in 1965 to a [[Gibson (guitar company)|Gibson]] 345. In the Easybeats, Vanda also often played a cherry-red [[Maton]] 12-string electric guitar, which he donated to the collection of [[Powerhouse Museum]] in Sydney in 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/objectsthroughtime/objects/vandaguitar/ |title=Objects through Time - Maton 12 string electric guitar |access-date=2007-05-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070904063428/http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/objectsthroughtime/objects/vandaguitar/ |archive-date=4 September 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In addition, Vanda owned the red [[Gretsch Jet Firebird]] double cutaway guitar that was given to George Young's younger brother Malcolm. This guitar, nicknamed "The Beast", saw numerous modifications and was Malcolm Young's primary guitar throughout his career with AC/DC.

== Personal life ==
Vanda's married his first wife, Pamela Joyce Higgins, in [[New South Wales]] on 11 December 1964.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=rockportraits |date=2014-09-28 |title=The Easybeats |url=https://rockportraits.wordpress.com/2014/09/28/the-easybeats/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=rockportraits |language=en}}</ref> They had one child together, Johan, who was born in January 1966.<ref name=":0" /> On 4 July 1966, Harry found Pamela dead in their flat in [[Sydney]]. She had committed suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills aged 21.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=4therecordcomau |date=2021-07-19 |title=VANDA AND YOUNG 1965-1983 |url=https://4therecordcom.home.blog/2021/07/19/vanda-and-young-1965-1983/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=4The Record |language=en}}</ref> She took her own life after being informed she was unable to move to England with Vanda and the rest of the band.<ref name=":0" />


==Honours ==
==Honours ==
Line 44: Line 51:


Since 2009, [[Albert Music]] and [[APRA AMCOS]] have held the ''[[Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition]]'', named after the musicians.
Since 2009, [[Albert Music]] and [[APRA AMCOS]] have held the ''[[Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition]]'', named after the musicians.

==Selected list of songs written by Vanda and Young==
*"[[Friday On My Mind]]" - [[The Easybeats]], [[David Bowie]], [[London (punk band)|London]], [[Gary Moore]] (1987), [[Richard Thompson (musician)|Richard Thompson]]
*"[[Good Times (Easybeats song)|Good Times]]" - The Easybeats, [[INXS]] & [[Jimmy Barnes]] (1986)
*"[[Evie (song)|Evie, Parts 1, 2 & 3]]" - [[Stevie Wright (Australian singer)|Stevie Wright]] (1974), [[Pat Travers|Pat Travers Band]] (1978), [[The Wrights (Australian band)|the Wrights]] (2004), [[Suzi Quatro]]
*"Hard Road" - [[Stevie Wright (Australian singer)|Stevie Wright]], [[Rod Stewart]]
*"Black Eyed Bruiser" - [[Stevie Wright (Australian singer)|Stevie Wright]] (1975), [[Rose Tattoo]] (2007)
*"[[Love Is in the Air (song)|Love is in the Air]]" - [[John Paul Young]] (1978)/(1992)
*"[[Standing in the Rain (John Paul Young song)|Standing in the Rain]]" - [[John Paul Young]] (1976)
*"[[I Hate the Music]]" - [[John Paul Young]] (1976)
*"[[Yesterday's Hero (John Paul Young song)|Yesterday's Hero]]" - [[John Paul Young]] (1975), [[Bay City Rollers]] (1976)
*"Down Among the Dead Men" - [[Flash and the Pan]] (1978)
*"Hey St Peter" - [[Flash and the Pan]] (1976)
*"[[Walking in the Rain (Flash and the Pan song)|Walking in the Rain]]" - [[Flash and the Pan]], [[Grace Jones]]
*"[[Waiting for a Train (Flash and the Pan song)|Waiting for a Train]]" - [[Flash and the Pan]]
*"Midnight Man" - [[Flash and the Pan]]
*"[[Runnin' for the Red Light (I Gotta Life)]]" - [[Meat Loaf]]
*"[[Show No Mercy (song)|Show No Mercy]]" - [[Mark Williams (singer)|Mark Williams]] (1990)


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 18:02, 13 March 2024

Harry Vanda
Vanda performing in 1968
Vanda performing in 1968
Background information
Birth nameJohannes Hendrikus Jacob van den Berg
Born (1946-03-22) 22 March 1946 (age 78)
Voorburg, Netherlands
OriginSydney, New South Wales, Australia
GenresRock
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Years active1964–present
LabelsAlbert Productions

Johannes Hendrikus Jacob van den Berg (born 22 March 1946), better known as his stage name Harry Vanda, is an Australian musician, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as lead guitarist of the 1960s Australian rock band the Easybeats who with fellow member George Young formed the 1970s and 1980s songwriting and record production duo Vanda & Young.

Early life

Vanda's family migrated to Australia from the Netherlands in 1963,[1] and settled in Sydney. In the same year he met rhythm guitarist George Young at the Villawood migrant hostel. In 2007, Australian Musician magazine selected this meeting as the most significant event in Australian pop and rock music history.[2]

Career

The Easybeats

Vanda, who had been a guitarist with the Hague-based band the Starfighters,[3] came to fame in 1964–65 as the lead guitarist of the Easybeats.

Vanda's ability to speak the English language was still very limited when the band were at their peak.[4] Easybeats bassist Dick Diamonde, who was also a Dutch Australian, would help him learn English.[5] By 1966, Vanda was nearly fluent in English and he and George Young penned many of the Easybeats' later recordings, including their major international hit, "Friday On My Mind".

When I met Harry Vanda he could hardly speak a line of English and now he can speak it better than me - he teaches me words.

— Stevie Wright[6]

After the Easybeats disbanded in 1970, Vanda & Young remained in the UK and continued their writing and performing partnership.

Vanda and Young

In 1973, Vanda and Young returned to Australia and took over as the house producers for leading independent record production company, Albert Productions, and publisher J. Albert & Son. From 1974 onwards they enjoyed huge success in Australia and internationally, writing and producing hits for a number of popular Australian groups and solo singers, including John Paul Young, Cheetah, Stevie Wright, Ted Mulry, Rose Tattoo, the Angels, William Shakespeare, Mark Williams and, most notably, AC/DC. AC/DC included George Young's brothers, guitarists Angus and Malcolm Young.[citation needed] Vanda & Young produced landmark albums such as Let There Be Rock, Powerage, If You Want Blood You've Got It, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, High Voltage/TNT, amongst others.[citation needed]

Vanda and Young also had major international success with their own studio-only project Flash and the Pan, achieving many hits round the world over a 15-year period, particularly in Europe where they had many chart topping records. Grace Jones had a hit with a cover of the Flash and the Pan song "Walking in the Rain".

Later work

By the late 1990s, Vanda and Young had left their longtime partnership with Albert Productions, and retired from the music industry. However, in 2005, Harry Vanda started Flashpoint Music in Surry Hills with his producer/engineer son, Daniel Vandenberg, setting up one of Australia's premier private studios. The studio has produced bands such as the Wrights and British India.

Instruments

Vanda used a 1964 Höfner Verithin 1574 with Bigsby tremolo and 511 pickups, before switching in 1965 to a Gibson 345. In the Easybeats, Vanda also often played a cherry-red Maton 12-string electric guitar, which he donated to the collection of Powerhouse Museum in Sydney in 1999.[7] In addition, Vanda owned the red Gretsch Jet Firebird double cutaway guitar that was given to George Young's younger brother Malcolm. This guitar, nicknamed "The Beast", saw numerous modifications and was Malcolm Young's primary guitar throughout his career with AC/DC.

Personal life

Vanda's married his first wife, Pamela Joyce Higgins, in New South Wales on 11 December 1964.[8] They had one child together, Johan, who was born in January 1966.[8] On 4 July 1966, Harry found Pamela dead in their flat in Sydney. She had committed suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills aged 21.[8][9] She took her own life after being informed she was unable to move to England with Vanda and the rest of the band.[8]

Honours

In 1988 he was inducted, along with George Young, into the inaugural class of the ARIA Hall of Fame.[10]

Since 2009, Albert Music and APRA AMCOS have held the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, named after the musicians.

References

  1. ^ "VAN DEN BERG Henricus Cornelis born 14 September 1923; Lisa nee Warzozskaja akj nee Berg-Warsozk born 19 September 1924; Johannes Hendrikus Jacob born 22 March 1946 - Dutch - travelled per ship NAMA, ORANJE departing in 1963 under the Australian and Netherlands Governments Migration Agreement".
  2. ^ Shedden, Iain (27 September 2008). "Sounds of the:The legacy of Australia's first internationally successful rock band endures". The Australian.
  3. ^ Dutch interview 2012 on YouTube
  4. ^ "A TWO-MAN PANDEMIC - Record Collector Magazine". Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  5. ^ "stevie-interview". www.milesago.com. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  6. ^ http://www.milesago.com/interviews/stevie-interview.htm
  7. ^ "Objects through Time - Maton 12 string electric guitar". Archived from the original on 4 September 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2007.
  8. ^ a b c d rockportraits (28 September 2014). "The Easybeats". rockportraits. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  9. ^ 4therecordcomau (19 July 2021). "VANDA AND YOUNG 1965-1983". 4The Record. Retrieved 13 March 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "ARIA Icons: Hall Of Fame". Aria.com.au. Retrieved 26 July 2017.

Further reading

  • John Tait. Vanda & Young. Inside Australia's Hit Factory.Published by University NSW Press Ltd. Australia, 2010. (ISBN 978 1 74223 217 1).
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