One of Australia's Most Revered Rock Bands Celebrating Happy 50th Anniversary Tour in 2025

Jeff Walker,  Entertainment Writer 

Very few bands have flown under the radar as much as Australian natives Little River Band. Surprisingly to casual followers of the lite rockers, Little River Band managed to garner 13 top 40 hits between 1976 and 1985, with 'Help Is on the Way' topping the charts in their homeland and 'Reminiscing' reaching number three on the Billboard Pop Charts.

Unless you're an extreme die-hard fan or from down under, it's hard to name any member of the band. The original line-up consisted of Glenn Shorrock, Graeham Goble, Beeb Birtles, George McArdle, David Briggs and Derek Pellicci. However, since their beginnings in 1975 there's been a revolving door of musicians and lead singers in LRB, with over 30 members having performed in the band over the past five decades. 

That leaves bassist and singer Wayne Nelson currently as the longest running member associated with the hit makers, hooking up with them in 1980. Still, if things had gone well with a new Jim Messina start up, Nelson might not have had his epic run with LRB. "Everything kind of fell in place for me. That whole 'right place at the right time' just unfolded before my very eyes. Jim was putting together a new band and recording a new album, after he and Kenny (Loggins) parted ways."

As fate or the rock n' roll gods would have it, LRB became a viable option for Nelson. "At the same time Little River Band came back to America to record a live album in 1979. Jim's band got the gig to open for them. I was enjoying my time in his band. We were doing a very exotic Tex-Mex kind of sound with a lot of syncopation. I was very much focused on that emerging opportunity."

Yet, opening for LRB provided a window of opportunity for Nelson. "In the interim the bass player for Little River Band decided to return to Australia, apparently he was a hired player to fill in for another member who had quit." Nelson adds, "Unbeknownst to me they had been watching me while we were on tour together. So they asked if I would be interested in rehearsing and touring with them, possibly recording a new album, with a chance to become a full-time member."

Although he was grateful for the offer, he turned them down. "I was having fun in Messina's band so initially I said no. Come to find out a couple months later Messina's deal fell apart, leaving me the other guys empty handed. So I call down to Australia and said is your offer still valid? They said we're not doing anything until April. I hung up thinking I'll never hear back from them. I figured they'd find someone local to fill in."

Whether it was destiny or divine intervention the phone rang. "Maybe three months later I get a call back. This time I said yes and thank you. Little River Band had become an internationally famous band, so I wasn't going to let the opportunity escape me a second time, especially since nothing was happening for me."

That trip down under began a now 45 year run for Nelson. "They said we have a schedule, and a plane ticket for you. Be here in April. So I toured with them in 1980, followed by recording our sixth studio album 'Time Exposure'. I guess they liked my work and I became a full time member in 1981, as well as the first American in Little River Band", adding "And maybe the eighth bass player." 

Nelson would add lead vocals to 'The Night Owls' and 'Take It Easy On Me', with both songs cracking the Top 10 on the Billboard Pop Charts." A fan of Little River Band long before he joined, Nelson admits those first couple of years with LRB solidified a connection with the music and the fan base.

He has vivid memories during his time recording 'Time Exposure' on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. "I have several takeaways. First off, we're on this gorgeous island, so that speaks for itself." However, the recording studio was a mixed bag for Nelson. "There was always politics behind the scenes. A lot of that has to do with egos. I was new, so I tried to stay clear of it."

Nelson's says, without a doubt the best experience overall was working with legendary Fab Four record producer George Martin. "Everything you've ever heard about him is true. He had a certain manner about him, and he was extremely professional. If he was privy to any of the negativity that was taking place with band members, he didn't let it interfere with his work."

Martin had his own agenda to deal with. "He had a schedule and he kept us on it. He had Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder waiting on him." To his credit Nelson recalls Martin taking his advice on several production ideas. "He'd say the build up for that song was a good idea Wayne. It's very humbling when someone like George Martin says that to you."

Nelson adds Martin had one specific rule during working hours. "No Beatles questions until dinner, and nothing more after dessert. Imagine if we picked his brain about The Beatles while recording. We would have gotten nothing done. It was just an magical experience to work with George Martin. One I'll always cherish."

'Time Exposure' was well received with 'Man on Your Mind' becoming a third Top 40 hit from the album. Sadly, things began to spiral out of control for the band, with several of the original members exiting before the end of the decade, with successive record sales slowing down. 

Through it all Nelson remained upbeat and has positive memories from the 80's and 90's. "We were working and touring alongside guys like The Eagles, Glenn Frey, and America. I was forging friendships and having fun." The main reason for his continued optimism. "I'm a musician. I love playing bass. And I truly love the Little River Band's song catalog."

Fast forward to 2025, Little River Band are celebrating their 50th year. "It's amazing, and I've been around for all but five of those years." He goes on to say. "It's surprising the band has reached this landmark. After I was with them three years things began to unravel putting the band in limbo. Core members (Shorrock, Goble & others) left with new guys cycling in. The overall consensus was 'hey let's keep this thing going'."

When solo projects didn't pan out, original members made short-lived returns keeping the revolving door ever spinning. The current five members include keyboardist Chris Marion who toured with Steven Curtis Chapman and Shenandoah before joining LRB in 2004. "We have a good line-up now."

The guys found time to record a new album last year. 'Window to the World' was released early in 2024. "I think I speak for the band, we're all very proud of the album. It has a lot of really good songs on it. It may not sell 100K copies or even 10K copies, but as musicians we have to record new material. It's part of our DNA." 

Nelson recalls the process. "We'd work on songs on the road, in hotel rooms, and found time to book some studio time in Nashville." A few of the songs have made it into the concert set list, including one Nelson was certain would have been a radio hit if they had the right backing. "I think 'First Time' could have been a hit if we had six figures to back the single or a major label to push it."

He goes on to say. "It's sort of a hybrid song. It's vintage Little River Band with a contemporary feel." Even though they announce it's a new song off their recent release Nelson admits they still get follow up emails or social media posts saying 'I must have missed that song when it came out back in the 80's. "No you didn't. It's new!"

Nelson has seen a lot during his 45 years with the band. Aside from working with George Martin what are some of his favorite tours with LRB. "No disrespect to The Eagles or Glen Frey, but the two that top my list are Chicago and Earth, Wind, & Fire. It has something to do with the instrumentation and the overall complexity of their individual sounds."

He has a 'windy city' connection. "Both bands came out of Chicago, and that's where I made my mark before finding my way to LA." His third choice. "We've never played with them, but I would have loved to have performed with Steely Dan for the very same reasons."

Little River Band is one of the most successful and celebrated bands to emerge out of Australia. Among their other notable hits include, 'Happy Anniversary', 'Lady', 'Cool Change', and the crowd favorite 'Lonesome Loser'. Nelson admits they play them all. "We throw in a couple of different or new songs, but overall it's a greatest hits show."

He adds, "That's why the fans turn out, because they want to hear the songs that put Little River Band on the map." With so many hits over the first decade of their existence, Nelson isn't surprised when concert goers say I forgot about this one. "I see that every night. Audiences are surprised we had that many hits, or they say I didn't know Little River Band sang that song."

There are purists out there that believe without a particular member or an Australian in LRB, it's not the same. Nelson debunks that ideology. "That's nonsense. Little River Band had their chart success between 1975 and 1985, and I was their for half of that run, and played with several of the founding members well into the 1990's. I have a long history with the band and fans have even a longer history with Little River Band. Our songs are timeless."

He makes an amusing analogy. "The way I see it is the cake is still there. The icing might look a little different, but the cake is still the same. We go out and deliver a great show every night." At 75 how much longer can he go on. "Thankfully we have five lead singers in the band. So we can share the vocals. I'm a bass player at heart. As long as I can contribute I'll keep at it." 

Wayne Nelson and the rest of Little River Band will canvas the United States from coast to coast in 2025 celebrating their 50th anniversary. Some of their shows will be with John Waite and Three Dog Night. Six of their shows will be in Florida during mid to late March including a show at the Maxwell C. King Center in Melbourne FL on Friday March 21st.

For more on their 2025 concert tour visit https://reallittleriverband.com/tour/