By Ashleigh Fielding | posted on January 26, 2018
GOLD records are not the usual adornment of choice for the living rooms of most 93-year-olds.
But in the loungeroom of Mavis Bennetts’ Albany home, the gold record for Perth-bred ’80s pop band Eurogliders’ album This Island takes pride of place.
The glittering trophy for hard-won sales from the 1984 album is a little out of tune with the rest of the room’s décor, but it’s there for good reason.
It was given to Mavis by her son – Eurogliders’ drummer John Bennetts who worked his way from the beer-soaked carpet of Albany’s live music scene to the world stage during the height of ’80s pop music.
While the gold record hangs rather comfortably on the wall, it now has a new companion – the West Australian Music Hall of Fame award that was bestowed on Eurogliders late last year, 29 years after the original band dissolved.
The Mount Barker-born Bennetts reflected on his musical career with The Weekender while on holiday on the Portuguese island of Madeira.
Bennetts said he got his first drum kit and guitar when he was nine years old, started performing in bands at Mt Barker High School when he was 13, and had a residency at Albany’s old Esplanade Hotel in his late teens.
“Those days were such fun, innocent times,” he said.
“I didn’t start my professional music career till I was 22, in Perth.
“I was late to begin, but fast to move to bigger things.”
Bennetts recorded two albums with The Stockings, had several appearances on ABC Countdown, and joined Eurogliders in 1982.
“It was an awesome time of my life,” Bennetts said.
“I can, without doubt, tell you that everything you hear about the rock and roll industry is true.
“We toured constantly, saw lots of the world playing sold-out concert tours and met so many amazing musicians.”
The drummer said he had many career highlights, but without a doubt, his favourite was performing at the 1985 MTV New Year’s Eve ball at the Manhattan Centre in New York City.
“I’ll never forget that night!” he said.
“It was broadcast live around the world and was an awesome line-up of ’80s bands, including Frankie Goes To Hollywood, UB40, Joan Jett, and we headlined.”
Upon reflection of winning his gold record and his WAM Hall of Fame induction, Bennetts said his parents were his biggest support throughout his career.
“Getting the first gold album was so exciting; it means you’ve been ‘accepted’ by the public,” he said.
“It was an awesome moment and it was so special. I gave it to Mum and Dad.
“I honoured it to them for supporting me and putting up with my guitar and drum playing when I was a kid.”
Bennetts now resides in England with his wife and has one son.
He is in the process of purchasing a new drum kit to finish an album he has been working on for several years.
