Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Playlists
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Music»Artists - L to Z»Artists - M
    Artists - M Music - 1970s 3 Mins Read

    Madder Lake

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    Melbourne (Australia) band Madder Lake are best remembered for their infectious single 12lb Toothbrush.

    Formed in 1970, their brand of prog rock/psychedelic blues quickly became extremely popular on the local pub circuity and Madder lake appeared as an opening act at the inaugural Sunbury festival in January 1972. A year later, they were one of the headlining acts at Sunbury 1973.

    One of the first bands signed to the fledgeling Mushroom label, they issued their debut single Goodbye Lollypop in February 1973 and supported The Rolling Stones at their Melbourne concert.

    Debut album Stillpoint (August 1963) was an adventurous work which reached #2 in Melbourne and #11 nationally.

    The next single (the aforementioned 12lb Toothbrush) reached the Top 40 in Australia (Top 10 in Melbourne) – no doubt helped by the nagging vocal hook. Andy Cowan replaced John McKinnon on keyboards.

    Their second album, Butterfly Farm (April 1974), lacked the focus of their debut although it sold well.

    The two singles from the LP – Butterfly Farm (April) and Booze Blues (May) – were not successful. Follow-up single It’s All In Your Head also flopped

    Leaving Mushroom in 1974, Madder Lake were commissioned to write, record and perform a concept piece based around Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. The project was to be funded by the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) but was shelved after two years of work.

    Mick Fettes and Andy Cowan left the band, with Fettes resurfacing in Bandicoot.

    The band carried on as a three-piece until John McKinnon returned in 1976. The group endured three further lineup changes over the next 12 months.

    The single I Get High (July 1976) was not successful and Tony Lake left the band in May 1977.

    Fettes rejoined in 1978 and the band undertook a successful Australian tour. He left again in 1979.

    Madder Lake never officially split up – they just stopped playing gigs or recording. A rare live performance formed part of the ‘Mushroom Evolution Concert,’ held to celebrate the label’s 10th birthday in January 1982.

    Sporadic reformations have occurred. Mick Fettes passed away in November 2016. He was 65.

    TRIVIA NOTE
    Many of the original band members had art school/graphic design backgrounds – hence the name ‘Madder Lake’. It’s a pigment obtained when making dye from the root of the madder plant. It’s one of the oldest natural pigments in the world.

    Mick Fettes
    Vocals
    Jac Kreemers
    Drums
    Brenden Mason
    Guitar
    Kerry McKenna
    Bass, guitar
    John McKinnon
    Keyboards, vocals
    Andy Cowan
    Keyboards, vocals
    Ian Holding
    Bass
    Tony Lake
    Vocals
    Colin Setches
    Vocals
    Luke McKinnon
    Drums
    Andy Burns
    Keyboards
    Ian Ferguson
    Vocals

    Video

    Related Posts

    • Finch (Contraband)
      Finch (Contraband)
      Finch bassist Tony Strain was still in 6th form at Christian Brothers College in Sutherland (Sydney) when the band (formed…
    • Bandicoot
      Bandicoot
      Australian band Bandicoot was essentially the duo of Mick Fettes (who had recently left Madder Lake) and Shane Bourne (who…
    • Kids In The Kitchen
      Kids In The Kitchen
      Melbourne band Kids In The Kitchen reached #10 on the Australian national charts with their debut single, Change In Mood, in November 1983.…
    • I Spit On Your Gravy
      I Spit On Your Gravy
      I Spit on Your Gravy formed in 1983 in Melbourne, Australia. In February 1985 the group issued their debut six-track…
    • Sunbury Festival (1972)
      Sunbury Festival (1972)
      The Sunbury Music Festival - which took place from 28 - 30 January 1972 (the Australia Day long weekend) -…
    • Bev Harrell
      Bev Harrell
      Alongside Lynne Randell, petite (4' 9") blonde Bev Harrell was one of the most popular female solo singers on the…
    • Redhouse
      Redhouse
      Originally formed as The Redhouse Roll Band, this Geelong (Victoria, Australia) quartet was that city's premier rock attraction during the…
    • Band Of Light
      Band Of Light
      Band of Light was a blues-based group formed in October 1972 in Sydney (Australia) by Phil Key, with bassist Peter…

    Australia
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleCaptain Nemo and the Underwater City (1969)
    Next Article New Adventures of Snow White, The (1969)

    Comments are closed.

    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    You May Also Like
    • 20 Million Miles To Earth (1957)
      A spaceship returning from the first manned space flight to […]
    • Town Criers, The
      Australian band The Town Criers formed in Melbourne in 1964. […]
    • Tucker’s Witch
      1 9 8 2 – 1 9 8 3 (USA) 13 x 60 minute episodes Husband […]
    • Adventures of a Jungle Boy
      1 9 5 7  (UK) 13 x 30 minute episodes The exploits of Boy […]
    • Straight To Hell (1987)
      In mid-1986, a dusty crew of musicians gathered at an old film […]
    • Alice in Wonderland (1966)
      Despising the Disney take, Jonathan Miller set out to […]
    Twitter Feed
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Popular Tags
    1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1975 1976 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games Britpop Canada Crime Disco Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Power Pop Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Surf music
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Copyright © 1998, 2022 Nostalgia Central
    • About
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.