Biography
The Freebeats
The Freebeats were a pop band from Papua New Guinea made up of Australians. The band's line up was Graham Dunich, Roy Turner, Neville Josey, Ray Michelle and Phil Neilson. Their regular venues were the Aviat club and the Gateway Hotel. While playing their own gigs there they also appeared with various touring acts. The group's repetoire consisted of recent rock and soul covers.
* One source says that they were a Sydney based band called The Statesmen, and had moved to New Guinea after being invited by Graham Dunich who was already living there. Upon moving to Port Morsbey they changed their name to The Freebeats. * Another source says that the group was formed in Port Morsbey in 1967 with two members, bass player Neville Josey and drummer Ray Mitchell who had met while playing in The Statesmen who had backed Little Pattie, Roland Storm and various HMV artists. Josey and Mitchell were both professional musicians in Sydney, playing since the beginning of that decade and while touring in PNG, they eventually decided to stay in Moresby where they joined Roy Turner and Phil Neilson.
In 1969, the Freebeats recorded two songs in the ABC Corp's Port Morsbey studios. The songs were used to promote the third South Pacific Games that were being hosted by PNG. One song was the official games song and the other was the hit "I've Been Everywhere" done in a the local style. The group were also sponsored by an airline to play at five different pre-Games ball events to raise money. While playing at the ball in the Eastern Highlands capital of Goroka, they were joined by singer Ann Norton.
In early 1970, Viking Records released the EP, Last Train With The Freebeats. Their four recordings also appeared on The New Guinea Scene which also included tracks by The Kopy Kats and The Stalemates. That year they played alongside they played alongside the Sydney pop-soul band In-People, Tony Gaha. Javanese vocalist Evie Pikler was another artist they played along side at the Ansett Ball in Lae. They backed artists such as Little Pattie at the Four Mile Club in August and backed Kamahl in October. That year, some members either joined The Combines or they became The Combines.
In 1991, Neville Josey passed away in Cairns.
* One source says that they were a Sydney based band called The Statesmen, and had moved to New Guinea after being invited by Graham Dunich who was already living there. Upon moving to Port Morsbey they changed their name to The Freebeats. * Another source says that the group was formed in Port Morsbey in 1967 with two members, bass player Neville Josey and drummer Ray Mitchell who had met while playing in The Statesmen who had backed Little Pattie, Roland Storm and various HMV artists. Josey and Mitchell were both professional musicians in Sydney, playing since the beginning of that decade and while touring in PNG, they eventually decided to stay in Moresby where they joined Roy Turner and Phil Neilson.
In 1969, the Freebeats recorded two songs in the ABC Corp's Port Morsbey studios. The songs were used to promote the third South Pacific Games that were being hosted by PNG. One song was the official games song and the other was the hit "I've Been Everywhere" done in a the local style. The group were also sponsored by an airline to play at five different pre-Games ball events to raise money. While playing at the ball in the Eastern Highlands capital of Goroka, they were joined by singer Ann Norton.
In early 1970, Viking Records released the EP, Last Train With The Freebeats. Their four recordings also appeared on The New Guinea Scene which also included tracks by The Kopy Kats and The Stalemates. That year they played alongside they played alongside the Sydney pop-soul band In-People, Tony Gaha. Javanese vocalist Evie Pikler was another artist they played along side at the Ansett Ball in Lae. They backed artists such as Little Pattie at the Four Mile Club in August and backed Kamahl in October. That year, some members either joined The Combines or they became The Combines.
In 1991, Neville Josey passed away in Cairns.