Dragon (band)

For the English band, see Dragons (band).

Dragon
Dragon at the ARIA Hall of Fame Melbourne Town Hall, 1 July 2008 L–R: Kerry Jacobson, Rob Taylor, Todd Hunter, Alan Mansfield
Dragon at the ARIA Hall of Fame
Melbourne Town Hall, 1 July 2008
L–R: Kerry Jacobson, Rob Taylor, Todd Hunter, Alan Mansfield
Background information
Also known asHunter
OriginAuckland, New Zealand
Genres
Years active1972–1979, 1982–1997, 2006–present
LabelsVertigo, CBS, Portrait, Polydor, RCA, J &B, K-tel Liberation Music
MembersTodd Hunter
Mark Williams
Bruce Reid
Pete Drummond
Past members
Websitedragononline.com.au

Dragon is a New Zealand rock band which was formed in Auckland in January 1972,[1][2] and, from 1975, based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The band was originally fronted by singer Graeme Collins, but rose to fame with singer Marc Hunter[3][4] and is currently led by his brother, bass player and co-founder Todd Hunter.[5] The group performed, and released material, under the name Hunter in Europe and the United States during 1987.[6][7][8][5]

Keyboard player Paul Hewson wrote or co-wrote most of the group's 1970s hits: "April Sun in Cuba"[9] peaked at No. 9 in New Zealand and No. 2 in Australia;[10] "Are You Old Enough?"[11] reached No. 6 in New Zealand and No. 1 in Australia in 1978;[10] and "Still in Love with You"[12] reached No. 35 and No. 27 in each country respectively that same year.[8][5][10] Later hits, from when the band re-grouped in the 1980s, were written by other band members, often working with outside associates: The Hunter brothers, with Todd's partner, Johanna Pigott, wrote "Rain",[13] a No. 2 hit in 1983, while other, more minor hits were written by the Hunters and/or Alan Mansfield, frequently in collaboration with any combination of Pigott, Mansfield's partner Sharon O'Neill, Marc Hunter's partner Wendy Hunter, or producers Todd Rundgren and David Hirschfelder.[10]

The name "Dragon" came from a consultation of I Ching cards by founder vocalist Graeme Collins.[14]

Dragon has endured tragedy, adversity and notoriety, and three band members have died from drug-related causes. Problems began soon after the band's arrival in Sydney in late 1975, when all of their equipment was stolen. Several months later, in 1976, drummer Neil Storey died of a heroin overdose.[4] The following decade, in 1985, Paul Hewson died from a drug overdose.[4] Marc Hunter died from smoking-related throat cancer in 1998.[6][4] Several members of the group including Hewson and Marc Hunter were heavy heroin users during the band's heyday and the Stewart Royal Commission (1980–1983) which investigated the Mr. Asia drug syndicate[15] obtained evidence that Dragon members were clients.[3] Two members were involved in a serious car crash in 1977, when Paul Hewson's neck was in a brace as well as having a broken arm and Robert Taylor needed plastic surgery,[16] and Hewson also suffered from debilitating scoliosis and arthritis, the pain of which reportedly contributed to his heroin use. The band also undertook a famously disastrous 1978 tour of the US, supporting Johnny Winter, which ended when Marc Hunter abused a Texan audience as "faggots" and the band were pelted off stage, while Winter's band were said to have taken bets about how long it would be before Hunter was shot.[3] On 1 July 2008, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) recognised the Auckland-formed band's iconic status in its country by inducting Dragon into the ARIA Hall of Fame.[6][17][18]

  1. ^ "Dragon | NZ Music Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Home". Dragon The Band. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022. The legendary band Dragon purveyors of Antipodean anthems and Australian Rock since 1973.
  3. ^ a b c "Marc Hunter (1953–1998)". MILESAGO. Archived from the original on 21 December 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2007.
  4. ^ a b c d Simmonds, Jeremy (2006). Number one in heaven – the heroes who died for rock n roll. London: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-102287-1.
  5. ^ a b c Holmgren, Magnus; Miller, Chuck. "Dragon". Passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  6. ^ a b c "ARIA Hall of Fame – Dragon". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 22 May 2008. Archived from the original on 15 June 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2008.
  7. ^ "Groups & Solo Artists – Ariel". Milesago. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
  8. ^ a b "Dragon". Bruce Sergent. Archived from the original on 31 March 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
  9. ^ "'April Sun in Cuba' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  10. ^ a b c d Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. ^ ""Are You Old Enough?" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  12. ^ "'Still in Love with You' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  13. ^ "ASCAP ACE Title Search for "Rain"". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  14. ^ "Dragon history". Dragon Online. Archived from the original on 18 October 2007. Retrieved 21 October 2007.
  15. ^ Hughes, Gary (24 February 2007). "War on drugs failing: ex-judge". The Australian. Archived from the original on 28 April 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2008.
  16. ^ Rolling Stone magazine – 4 July 1977, p. 50. "Around the Traps" section.
  17. ^ Cashmere, Paul (17 May 2008). "Dragon and Russell Morris to be Inducted into ARIA Hall of Fame". undercover.com.au. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
  18. ^ Mangan, John (18 May 2008). "Old rockers never die, says ARIA". The Age. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2008.