Biography
Python Lee Jackson
Python Lee Jackson was a 1960s Australian band. The group's most famous hit was "In a Broken Dream", featuring Rod Stewart as guest vocalist.
Australian period
The original Python Lee Jackson was formed in late 1965 by Englishmen, singer Frank Kennington and guitarist Mick Liber (born in Peebles, Scotland on 1 March 1944) after meeting drummer David Montgomery (born September 1945 in Melbourne). Together with bass player Roy James they played the underground circuit. In early 1966 Kennington was busted and deported back to the UK and former Missing Links singer Bob Brady filled in for several months before Liber and Montgomery struck on the idea of putting a new version together.
A new Python Lee Jackson line up came together around March 1966 when Brisbane born keyboard player and singer David Bentley left Sydney group, Jeff St John & The Id to join Liber and Montgomery alongside former Unit 4 bass player Lloyd Hardy (aka Cadillac Lloyd Hudson).
In June, the quartet added former Wild Cherries singer Malcolm McGee (born in Melbourne on 1 November 1945) and opened Rhubarb's club in Sydney's Liverpool Street. In September, Bentley left (and rejoined the band in 1968) and was replaced by Bob Welsh. The band's first single, "Emergency Ward" c/w "Who Do You Love?" was actually a Ward Austin single featuring Python Lee Jackson as backing group.
British period
Arriving in the UK in October 1968, Bentley, Liber and Montgomery joined by former Levi Smith Clefs' bass player John Helman played at the Vesuvio club on Tottenham Court Road. In early 1969, they worked at the Arts Lab on Drury Lane. In April 1969, Bentley, Liber and Montgomery joined by Jamie Byrne from The Groove recorded some tracks in the studio with Rod Stewart.
"In A Broken Dream"
Stewart was brought in to sing on the song when Bentley informed his band mates that he didn't think his voice was right for the song. Recorded in London in 1969, "In a Broken Dream" languished until 1972 when it rose to number three in the UK Singles Chart and #56 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
In Europe, the song became something of a classic. It turned up on the soundtrack of films and documentaries (including the acclaimed art house movie Breaking the Waves) and became the subject of many cover versions.
Rod Stewart included the song on two anthologies of previously recorded work and, in the mid 1990s, an English band, Thunder, delivered a high octane reading that propelled it into the UK chart for the second time.
Most recently, "In A Broken Dream" surfaced on the leading edge of a collection of songs recorded by British singer Kathryn Williams - along with songs by Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and Kurt Cobain.
Sources
Nick Warburton interviews with David Bentley, David Montgomery, Mick Liber and Malcolm McGee, 2007
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