The Flies was the first Aussie band to consciously ape The Beatles. The band supported The Rolling Stones on their first Australian tour and released a number of singles; Tell Her That (July 1964), Doin’ The Mod (July 1965) and Can’t You Feel (September 1965).
Vocalist Ronnie Burns left The Flies in August 1965 to go solo and spent the rest of the decade vying with Normie Rowe and Merv Benton as the most popular solo singer on the Australian pop scene.
He was replaced in the band by Peter Nicol, who had previously been with a group called The Wild Colonials.
Lead guitarist John Thomas also departed, following some musical dissension, leaving The Flies a trio of Peter Nicol (vocals and guitar), Themi (short for Themistocles) Adams (bass) and Hank Wallis (drums).
The band called it a day in 1966 with Nicol returning to The Wild Colonials.
Themi Adams went on to become an Orthodox Priest.
Ronnie Burns
Vocals, guitar John Thomas
Guitar Themistocles ‘Themi’ Adams (Adamopoulos)
Bass Hank (John) Wallis
Drums Peter Nicol
Vocals, guitar
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