Began playing piano professionally at age of 13 with country and rock'n'roll band Johnny Mac and the Macmen. Lot's of t.v.,radio, and live gigs,4 nights a week all through high school. At 17 moved on to art school and jazz.Also played many gigs with a young Johnny Farnham. And Doug Ashdown . Backed the Bee Gees once.
At 22 went to London and played with musicians associated with Georgie Fame, Alan Price ,The Foundations, and King Crimson.
At 23 came back to Adelaide to join Headband, an original heavy rock band which had
3 national singles and an album featuring Sydney Symphony players and an 110 piece children's choir. Won the Hoadley's battle of the bands in 1972. Supported Elton John , and John Mayal l, and toured for a week with The Rolling Stones...... the band broke up in 1974 so.....
Back to Adelaide , where he was musical director of the Mount Lofty Rangers, an ever-changing group of great players including
Chris Bailey, Bon Scott, Glenn Shorrock, and Robyn Archer. Radio station 5KA honoured him with a rock award for his contribution to the music industry .Also was musical director of at least a dozen plays at the
Adelaide Festival theatre,where he was a resident piano bar artiste.
Wrote and performed a country-rock musical “ Lofty”. Wrote and recorded a children's musical called “Fun and games”
Worked up and down every club and bar in Hindley st. , got ambitious and decided to get out of Adelaide , and start again!
Stints in Penang, and Tiawan....... Moved to Sydney in 1980 . Worked “Kinselas, The Seymour Centre, and toured with Robyn Archer as her Musical director for the hit musical “A star is torn' . which toured all over Australia. Worked with Lucky Starr, Jeff St. John, Wendy Saddington, and then many years with Doug Williams around Kings Cross nightclubs such as “Round Midnight” and “The Bourbon and Beefsteak”.,and “Springfields”
Released mini album- ”King of the Cross” Went to New York in 1973, and played as resident pianist/vocalist at the Broadway Piano Bar, also a regular gig at Thelonius Monk's old place in Hell's Kitchen. Back to Sydney, more Bourbon and Beefsteak , gigs with Jimmy Little, Allan Caswell, Jeff Duff, Zarsoff Bros, and Slowhand.
He has been the resident piano bar entertainer at the Hero of Waterloo hotel Monday to Thursday nights for over 5 years now, as well as casual work all around the country.
Just released a new solo album for “Big Beat Music' called “In the key of night”.
(check out “ www.bigbeatmusic.com ”)
The tracks listed below are an anthology of Peter Head's original recordings over the last 40 years. They are currently available as mp3 files. For further enquiries please contact Peter Head by email
