Kahvas Jute and Chariot, 1970-2005

Back in 1976,  as a pimply 19 year old from    Illawarra's northern suburbs, I attended one of my most memorable concerts ever - rock band Chariot at Wollongong Town Hall. I was amazed by the lead guitarist Dennis Wilson and especially the band's epic song More which, unfortunately, never made it into or out of a recording studio, or live release. I thereafter saw Wilson as nothing less than Australia's version of Eric Clapton, such was his talent, technique and sound, especially when expressed through his famous 1960 Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty guitar hooked into a wah pedal and a Marshall stack. Chariot led me to Wilson's previous band, and their one and only LP Wide Open from 1971, which I was fortunate enough to score a copy of shortly thereafter. The prior band was Kahvas Jute, a Sydney-based progressive rock group which performed in Australia and the UK between 1970-73. Upon disbanding it re-emerged as Chariot from 1974-77. There were subsequently two Kahvas Jute reunions - one during the period 1991-94 and another in 2005. The band released a single LP in 1971 and it remains an international classic of the genre, with a number of re-releases in CD and vinyl form. Like the UK band Cream, Kahvas Jute was formed by some of Australia's most eminent rock musicians, with two coming from the band Mecca and the other two from Tamam Shud. According to the Dennis Wilson webpage, in July 1970:

Dennis [Wilson] and Bob [Daisley] formed a new band with Dannie Davidson (drums) and Tim Gaze (guitar). Almost immediately they were in demand on the concert scene. After a few months Tim Gaze departed and they remained a three-piece. They played all original music (almost all written and sung by Dennis) and became one of Australia's most popular and influential "progressive" bands in the early Seventies. Their album "Wide Open" is regarded as a milestone in Australian music and is one of the world's most collectable albums.

For a comprehensive history of the recording and playing career of Dennis Wilson, see the Nick Black radio interview linked below. There are a number of career covering interviews with Bob Daisley on YouTube and the internet, though they mainly concentrate on his time with UK heavy bands and people such as Ozzie Osborne, Gary Moore and Richie Blackmore.

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Chronology

The following is a chronological history centred around Kahvas Jute, with photographs, details of recordings, ephemera and links to online video and audio. References to brief biographies of the band, including the pre-cursor Mecca and follow-up Chariot, are also presented. Selected gigs are noted from the present author's home in Wollongong, located 50 miles south of Sydney, though Kahvas Jute toured nationally, as did Chariot.

1968

* The Power Pact - Barrington Davis (vocals), Dennis Wilson (guitar), Bob Daisley (bass) and Robin Lewis (drums). Influenced by bands such as the Beatles, Cream and Yardbirds.

* Barrington Davis and the Power Pact are renamed Mecca. They gig regularly in and around Sydney during 1968-9 at places such as the Downunda Disco, Kings Cross, which was frequented by Australian and US soldiers on leave from the Vietnam war.

Mecca

1969

* Barrington Davis departs for the UK and Mecca performs as a trio. They adopt a heavier, blues rock sound.

* 4-5 January 1969 - Mecca at Wonderland Disco, Corrimal.

* 23 March 1969 - Mecca at Oliver's Disco, Crown Street, Wollongong.

* 12 September 1969 - Mecca at Oliver's Disco, Crown Street, Wollongong.

1970

* 17 January 1970 - Mecca at Oliver's Disco, Crown Street, Wollongong.

* 24-25 January 1970 - Pilgrimage for Pop - Ourimbah Music Festival. Mecca performs at this first Australian rock music festival. A 75 minute film entitled Once Around the Sun has been released on DVD but does not include Mecca.

* January - March 1970 - Mecca is briefly supplemented on vocals by Clive Coulson, former road manager and assistant for bands such as the Yardbirds, Jeff beck Group and Led Zeppelin. Coulson introduced himself to the band at the Ourimbah festival and worked with them thereafter for a brief period. Following a call from Jimmy Page, he left Mecca to return to his work for Led Zeppelin.

* 26 March 1970 - Mecca at Oliver's Disco, Crown Street, Wollongong.

* March 1970 - Mecca release the single Black Sally (Wilson) 3.35 / Side Street Man (Wilson) 4.48 on the Festival label. Mecca comprised at the time: Dennis Wilson (guitar and vocals), Bob Daisley (bass) and Robin Lewis (drums). Coulson did some backing vocals on the single. Mecca disband shortly after the single's release.

* May - Kahvas Jute forms in Sydney, comprising Dennis Wilson o lead guitar and vocals, Tim Gaze (b.1953) on lead guitar and vocals, Bob Daisley (b.1950) on bass guitar, and Dannie Davidson on drums. Gaze and Davidson split from Tamam Shud and join with Wilson and Daisley.

Dennis Wilson, Tim Gaze, Bob Daisley and Dannie Davidson.

* Saturday, 22 August 1970 - Wollongong Showground, with Synthesis. $1 admission.

* Friday, 11 September 1970 - Wollongong Town Hall. With Blackfeather.

* Sunday, 4 October 1970 - Youth Centre, Wollongong Showground. With Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs and the La De Das.

* Thursday, 15 October 1970 - Wollongong Town Hall. With Tully.

* Saturday, 28 November 1970 - Youth Centre, Wollongong Showground.

* December - Tim Gaze leaves the band to return to Tamam Shud.

* 4 December 1970 - gig at Greystanes High School. Leaflet known.

Greystanes High School, Friday, 4 December 1970.

* Facebook comment: An amazing band. They did a Swinburne Student Union gig in 1970 which was brilliant as were there performances at The Thumping Tum, Berties, Sebastians etc. It’s a shame the Oz scene was not big or sophisticated enough to support them.

* Facebook comment by Con Vaitsas: Kahvas Jute played at one of our school dances at Fort Street Boys in 1970 or 71...and always followed the career of Dennis Wilson. And I recall seeing them back Bo Diddley on his 1st tour (I think) a few times in October 73, as they played the Hordern, the Wallace lecture theatre at Sydney Uni and of course the Queen specifically asked he perform on the day she officially opened the Opera House, she had all his albums. ... Excellent little band were Kahvas Jute.

* Facebook comment by Rodney Dobell: This was one of the first ten albums that I bought, when it was released in the record shop that I had bought more then half of my record collection in, in the early seventies. It cost about 25 % of a weeks pay, at 10 dollars. When just 17 years of age. Saw them live with Tamam Shud at Sydney Town Hall which alerted me to their greatness and the heads up of its release date. What a standout band they were at the time, way ahead of what else was around. Saw the surf film as well whilst the Shud played the audio live , in sync with the film. This concert I had stumbled upon by accident when on my way home, naturally I stayed for the experience, still rate it as one of the most uplifting, mind blowing journey with the visuals of the excellent film, this gave rise to the bands that were on this concert/ happening were onwards regarded as the hip, cool surf band dudes. I think LSD lights were also in operation by LSD Fogg lights. What a real cool, good looking audience to have hung with for two hours or so. This was a Happening, one of the best of the time in all of Australia and the world .I think it was in fact the world Premier of this film which went right around the world. The ultimate surf movie for others to emulate.

* Facebook comment by Colin Pettersen: They were the first band I saw and that was at Hornsby Police Boy's Club in 1970.

* Facebook comment by John Jobson: Saw them play in the old market building at Wollongong Showground. Think it was called the Youth Centre at that time.

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1971

* January - Infinity LP Wide Open released in Australia. Recorded at Festival Studios, Sydney and produced by Pat Aulton. Cover artwork by Robbie Harris. Recorded and mixed in 3 1/2 days. Tracks include:

1. Free (Wilson) 5.08
2. Odyssey (Wilson) 3.58
3. Up There (Gaze-Davidson) 2.49
4. She's So Hard to Shake (Wilson) 4.16
5. Vikings (Wilson) 4.30
6. Steps of Time (Davidson) 3.21
7. Twenty Three (Gaze) 3.48
8. Ascend (Daisley) 3.06
9. Parade of Fools (Wilson) 8.58.

* January - Kahvas Jute single Free (Wilson) / Ascend (Daisley) on Infinity label.

* January - Kahvas Jute perform at the Wallacia Pop Festival, Australia. Also known as the Odyssey Festival. Followed a week later by the festival at Mittagong.

* 30 & 31 January 1971 - Fairlight Music Festival, Mittagong, south of Sydney. 

Facebook comment by Ian Gray (14 June 2023): I recently found some old pics I took as a callow youth at Fairlight Festival in about 1971. Kahvas Jute was a stand out for me, but there were a heap of great bands.

Kahvas Jute, Fairlight Music Festival, 1971. Source: Facebook.

* 1 March 1971 - concert at Australian National University, Canberra. Reviewed in  Woroni, newspaper of the Australian National University Students Union, 9 March 1971: Canberra: Jeff St John. The first day and night of term heralded in the best rock concert the university (and Canberra for that matter) has ever endured. With such a great line-up, headed by Jeff St John and the Copper Wine, approximately 500 appreciative people sweltered in Childers St Hall and listened to some tremendous musical material. Kahvas Jute (or which ever way you like to spell it - no one seems to really know!) and Attack, a newly formed group which promises to be very big around Australia were the other two groups billed with Jeff St John's outfit. The stage in Childers was heavy with the incredible equipment of both the bands and Ellis D Fogg - Robert Foley is the man behind Ellis D. - and his light-show was brilliant to see. Projected colour-strobes and what seemed to be a moving screen gave this concert a superb visual boost. Using good, electronic style, colour and beat blended to find an audio-visual unity which peaked at certain stages through the 4 1/2 hour show. Kahvas Jute's drummer performed a solid solo which was right on musically as well attaining audience excitement never before seen in our old hall. And later on, without much hassling with a groover, green-plant grower at Mittagong, Attack took the stage (and the show) with a pulsating opener reminding you of the American Slave movers. Attack features a good brass section and a beautiful flute; their lead singer, a la Joe Cocker (say it in French, man) is too much on the vocal expertise. He tells jokes as well as making stoned sounds from the jungle. The sincerity of these guys is good and for such little group practice, Attack should really develop a unique sound in Australia.

Roger Foley, Facebook posting, April 2023.

* Wednesday, 10 March 1971 - Facebook comment by Donald Robertson: Fifty years ago today [2021]. My first week at Adelaide Uni. Catching Wendy Saddington and the Chain (as they were billed) and Kahvas Jute at the SAGASCO disco. My diary entry for the day: "Got books, went to Drama Club. Listened to Lotus, joined JRB [Jazz, Rock and Blues] Club. Chem/Physics lectures. Went to SAGASCO disco. 4 drunks gave me free ticket. Kahvas Jute not bad. Had talk with Adrian Rawlins." The beginning of a life-changing three years for yours truly.

* Saturday, 27 March 1971 - Youth Centre, Wollongong Showground.

* circa may 1971 - Bob Daisley is taken sick and replaced in the band by Scott Maxey.

* June 1971, Honi Soit, University of Sydney.

* June - Farewell concert at the Arts Factory, Sydney.

* June - Wilson and Davidson travel to the UK. They perform with Mick Smith on bass. Managed in the UK by Glenn Wheatley.

Dannie Davidson, Dennis Wilson and Scott Maxey.

* July - Daisley arrives in the UK but Kahvas Jute does not reform there. He joins various UK bands, including a long stint with Ozzie Osborne.

* 2 August 1971 - GTK features Kahvas Jute.

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1972

* 3 October 1972, Tribune, Sydney: [Visiting Hungarian band Syrius] They reported that they, along with local bands Kahvas Jute, Fanny Adams and Jeff St. John and the Copperwine, had been badly treated by an agent over -the Aquarius Australian University tour last year. Naively, their spokesman said: "We cannot under stand why the Department of Labor and Industry is not onto this man. . . Why, when your country professes a legal system of democracy, can a guy be allowed to steal from people?"

* Perform in London at the Speakeasy.

* Kahvas Jute does some gigs with David O'List on bass. Due to problems with their Australian Festival Records contract, no UK deal was possible, so Wilson and Davidson return home.

Speakeasy, London, 1972.

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1973

* May - Kahvas Jute reform in Australia with Wilson, Strangio and Maxey.

* 12 September 1973 - GTK, Been Away Too Long.

* October - Kahvas Jute support Bo Diddley on his second Australian tour: 10th Festival Hall, Melbourne; 12th Apollo Stadium, Adelaide; 14th Hordern Pavillion, Sydney; and 18th Festival Hall, Brisbane.

* Bo Diddley backed by Kahvas Jute - Mona rehearsal, GTK, ABC TV, 24 October 1973, duration: 1.34 minutes.

* Live performance - On the Line, GTK, ABC TV, 27 September 1973, duration: 3.34 minutes.

* Live performance - I Can't Stop, GTK, ABC TV, 17 September 1973, duration: 4.31 minutes.

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1974

* Friday, 18 January 1974 - Kahvas Jute, Pioneer Hall, Wollongong. $2.

* March - Peter Roberts replaces Maxey who joins Band of Light.

* May - Kahvas Jute is renamed Chariot. Dannie Davidson leaves to join Band of Light and is replaced by Steve Webb. Personnel: Dennis D. Wilson (guitar), Peter Roberts (guitar), John Strangio (bass), Steve Webb (drums), Loppy Morris (drums), Jimmy Penson (drums), Rick Sutton (guitar), John Hilson (vocals), Mal Clarke (guitar), Glen Ford (keyboards)

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1975

* Honi Soit, 48(18), 1975, University of Sydney: Chariot. It consists of Dennis Wilson (ex Kahvas Jute), Peter Roberts (ex La De Das), John Strangio (ex Dingoes) and Steve Webb (ex Blackfeather). I saw them at the Lifesaver where they blew the place up. Dennis Wilson’s lead guitar is something to behold. They do good R&B of the “Layla" era. Their rendition of Little Wing combined Clapton’s arrangement with Hendrix guitar licks in an astounding number that surpassed Clapton’s efforts. They did the old La De Da’s stand-by “All Along the Watchtower", Roberts picking out beautiful notes while Wilson did amazing things with a slide before they settled into a session of dual improvisation which put Allman / Clapton to shame. No Joking. They will record an album in August at the new Trafalgar Studios. Watch out for it.

* Cinema Papers, July-August 1975. Report on the progress of production on the Gordon Much 16mm film Bo Dream, which features Bo Diddley and music by Kahvas Jute and others. It is not known if this was ever released. The Bo Diddley website notes the following: Bo Dream (Director: Gordon Much 1973, Nova-Narma Productions. Documentary on the events surrounding the opening of the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia).

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1976

* January - Chariot single I'll Keep on Loving You (Roberts) / On the Line (Wilson).

* December - Chariot single Set Me Free (Robert) 3.06 / Take Me Home (Wilson) 3.50.

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1991

* November - The original Kahvas Jute reform for a single reunion gig.

1993

* Kahvas Jute, Wide Open, CD, Infinity, Australia, 1993. Re-release.

1994

* Kahvas Jute, Wide Open, LP, Little Wing of Refugees, Germany, 1994. Gatefold cover.

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2002

* Kahvas Jute, Wide Open, LP, Akarma, Italy, 2002. Gatefold cover.

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2005

* January 2005 - Kahvas Jute (Daisley, Gaze, Wilson + Marriott) record six new songs in the studio: 1. Somebody Do Something 5.19 / 2. Could Be Anyone 3.07 / 3. The Quickening 4.42 / 4. What Have I Done to Deserve This 3.39 / 5. The Blues Just Got Sadder 4.08 / 6. Ain't No Pleasing You 3.54. All songs are composed by the three original members in various combinations.

* Sunday, 17 July, 2005: Kahvas Jute perform a reunion gig at The Basement, Sydney. It is recorded for a CD and DVD. Davidson is replaced by Mark Marriott on drums. YouTube, duration: 71.15 minutes.

2006

* Kahvas Jute, Then Again: Live at the Basement, CD/DVD, 2006. Contents:

Then Again 

* Live At The Basement
DVD-1 Intro 0:32
DVD-2 Free 6:21
DVD-3 Ain't No Pleasing You 4:02
DVD-4 Somebody Do Something 5:58
DVD-5 She's So Hard To Shake 4:23
DVD-6 What Have I Done To Deserve This 3:48
DVD-7 Ascend 1:47
DVD-8 Ascension 1:47
DVD-9 The Quickening 5:10
DVD-10 Vikings 5:28
DVD-11 Could Be Anyone 3:29
DVD-12 The Blues Just Got Sadder 4:51
DVD-13 Parade Of Fools 11:05
DVD-14 Politician 4:44
DVD-15 End Credits 1:09

* Bonus Vision
DVD-16 The Nazz Are Blue - Guest, Vocals [Special Guest Vocalist] – Jimmy Barnes 6:02
DVD-17 Interview With Glenn A. Baker 3:34
DVD-18 Interview With The Band 1:02:08

* The Quickening
CD-1 Somebody Do Something 5:19
CD-2 Could Be Anyone 3:07
CD-3 The Quickening 4:42
CD-4 What Have I Done To Deserve This 3:39
CD-5 The Blues Just Got Sadder 4:08
CD-6 Ain't No Pleasing You 3:54
CD-7 Somebody Do Something (Live) 5:57
CD-8 Could Be Anyone (Live) 3:28
CD-9 The Quickening (Live) 5:09
CD-10 What Have I Done To Deserve This (Live) 3:46
CD-11 The Blues Just Got Sadder (Live) 4:49
CD-12 Ain't No Pleasing You (Live) 4:02

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* Kahvas Jute, Wide Open, CD, Aztec Music, Australia, 2006. Includes additional live tracks: 10. Politician (Bruce-Brown) / 11. She’s So Hard To Shake / 12. Ascend / 13. Ascension / 14. Parade Of Fools (Wilson).

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2021

Dennis Wilson, Glenn A. Baker and Bob Daisley, 29 August 2021. Source: Facebook.

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References

Black, Nick, Dennis Wilson of Kahvas Jute, The Purple Haze Show, Radio 88.3 Southern FM [podcast], duration: 2 hours, n.d.

Chariot, History of Australian Music from 1960 until 2000 [website], 4 May 2015. 

Daisley, Bob, For Facts Sake, August 2013.

McFarlane, Ian, Kahvas Jute, Freedom Train - Aussie Progressive Rock 1970-1976, Volume 1, Issue 1, 1994. Includes history of Kahvas Jute and interview with Dennis Wilson.

------, Kahvas Jute, Freedom Train - Aussie Progressive Rock 1970-1976, Volume 1, Issue 3, 1996.

-----, Kahvas Jute, The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock, 1999.

-----, Wide Open [booklet - history of the band and recording], CD, Aztec Music, 2006.

Mecca, History of Australian Music from 1960 until 2000 [website], 10 September 2013.

Milesago, Kahvas Jute, Australian Music and Popular Culture, 1964-1975, [webpage], n.d.

Vintage Electric Guitars, 1960 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty, Perth, Western Australia, accessed 26 September 2023.

Wikipedia, Bob Daisley, [webpage], accessed 26 September 2023.

------, Kahvas Jute, [webpage], accessed 26 September 2023.

------, Tim Gaze, [webpage], accessed 26 September 2023.

Wilson, Dennis, Dennis Wilson - Rock Blues Guitar [website], accessed 30 September 2023.

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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank David Lowrie for providing information regarding Kahvas Jute gigs in the Wollongong area, and of Chariot around New South Wales. And also Roger Foley for his provision of material relating to his work as a light-show provider during the early 1970s.

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Last updated: 28 September 2023

Michael Organ, Australia