Denvermen, The – Nostalgia Central

Initially formed in Sydney (Australia) in 1961 as the backing band for singer Digger Revell (born Gary Hildred), The Denvermen comprised Les Green on lead guitar, Alex “Tex” Ihasz on rhythm guitar, Allan Crowe on bass and Phil Bower on drums.

The group gained national prominence thanks to appearances on the ABC’s pioneering rock’n’roll TV show Six O’Clock Rock hosted by Johnny O’Keefe, and became known for their instrumental surf music, which they recorded on RCA from 1963 to 1965.

They were responsible for the first Australian surf hit, Surfside, which reached #1 in the Sydney Top 40 in 1963. Their other hit singles included Blue Mountains (1963), Avalon Stomp (1963) and My Little Rocker’s Turned Surfie (1964).

The Denvermen also backed other artists on records, including Stomp the Tumbarumba by Johnny Devlin (November 1963) and The Hootenanny Stomp by Tony Weston with the Denvermen (1963).

They continued issuing singles into 1965 – including a vocal cover version of the Everly Brothers song Bird Dog (without Revell) – but none reached the top 100.

Bassist Allan Crowe was replaced by Kenny Kramer on bass in 1965, and the last single by Digger Revell and the Denvermen was a cover of Jerry Lee Lewis‘ High School Confidential, b/w a version of The Platters‘ My Prayer.

Revell then departed to pursue a solo career, and the band hired Frank Kennington as a vocalist.

Guitarist Les Green left soon after and was replaced by Mick Liber on guitar. The Denvermen’s final single, I Can Tell, was issued on His Master’s Voice, but the group disbanded late in 1965.

Frank Kennington and Mick Liber were founding members of the Australian rock band Python Lee Jackson in December 1965.

Digger Revell reappeared as a country music artist in the 1980s. In later years, he performed regularly on the nostalgia circuit in Australia with fellow veterans, Little Pattie, Dinah Lee and Lucky Starr.

Phil Bower died in 2015. Les Green died in 2016. Tex Ihasz died on 25 March 2023.

Digger Revell (Gary Hildred)
Vocals
Les Green
Lead guitar
Alex “Tex” Ihasz
Rhythm guitar
Allan Crowe
Bass
Phil Bower
Drums
Kenny Kramer
Bass
Frank Kennington
Vocals
Mick Liber
Lead guitar

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