One of the original Oz rock crew of the 60s and 70 that took Australian modern musical culture to the world (even if he was born in NZ).
Max Merritt and many of his fellow travelers ended up living and working in in LA where they wrote, played, produced, managed and otherwise raised the eyebrows of music industry execs, to say the least. Most eventually came back to Australia but Merritt stayed on (as did Brian Cadd until recent years) remaining as a sort of Aussie musical ambassador from another time.
Here’s a short YouTube video of the Aussie rock royalty of those days making waves in the music business in LA in 1977. And it’s a beer drinking song too! - ‘The Happy Hour Brigade’ (which was never released). Max Merritt is not amongst them but they all played and drank (and smoked) together and he would be there in spirit.
For those old enough to remember those times, try and name the singers (before reading the names in the comments section below the video).
(I recommend this video to anyone in the US associated with running this AHB forum who wants to better understand the reverence Australians’ give to the relationship between mates and beer. It sits front and centre (not center) in our national identity).
Rest in Peace, Max.
