M.P.D. Limited had one of the most meteoric rises in the history of Australian rock and pop.
Formed from the remains of Melbourne Shadows-style instrumental band The Phantoms, M.P.D. (Mike, Pete and Danny) were supporting UK visitors The Dave Clark Five on their 1965 Australian tour just three weeks after forming.
In July 1965 the group signed to the Go!! label and their debut single, a version of Johnny Burnette‘s Little Boy Sad, immediately hit the #1 spot in Melbourne when it was released in August. It also peaked at #5 in Sydney.
The band appeared on television shows like The Go!! Showand Saturday Dateand undertook their own national tour.
The band’s second single, a recording of the Paul Anka song Lonely Boy, was another hit, reaching #7 in Melbourne during November.
A cover of The Shangri-Las’Remember (Walkin’ In The Sand) was the band’s final chart hit.
In August 1966, M.P.D. Limited travelled to the UK, but after four months had made little headway and decided to return home. During January 1967 they undertook a successful homecoming tour of Australia, but rivalries within the band caused the band to break up after releasing a final single, Paper Doll, in March 1967.
Both Brady and Finley formed short-lived bands called M.P.D., while Watson formed the highly respected Rockhouse.
Pete Watson died in 1972 following a long illness.
Mike Brady pursued a successful career in jingle writing and production. In 1979 he wrote and recorded the enormously successful Australian hit Up There Cazaly under the name of The Two Man Band.
Mike Brady
Vocals, guitar Pete Watson
Bass Danny Finley
Drums
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The band’s second single, a recording of the Paul Anka song Lonely Boy, was another hit, reaching #7 in Melbourne during November.
