Bob Spencer
Spencer performing in 2018
Spencer performing in 2018
Background information
Birth nameRobert F. Spencer
Born (1957-09-05) 5 September 1957
Sydney, Australia
GenresRock, hard rock,
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Guitar
Years active1973–present

Robert F. Spencer (born 5 September 1957) is an Australian rock guitarist. He was a latter day member of Skyhooks (1977–1980) and the Angels (1986–1992). Spencer joined Rose Tattoo in 2017. As a songwriter he co-wrote tracks for the Angels, including sole writer for their single "Finger on the Trigger" (1988), which reached the ARIA Singles Chart top 40.

Early life

Robert F. Spencer,[1] grew up in Sydney's Eastern suburb, Maroubra and attended Our Lady of Annunciation Primary School, at Pagewood, New South Wales from 1963 to 1965 and Marist Brothers, at Daceyville from 1966 to 1969. In 1970, he started secondary education at Marist Brothers Pagewood (later named Marist College, and then called Champagnat Catholic College Pagewood).

Career

Spencer was a founding member of the rock band Finch in 1973[2][3][4] while attending Marist Brothers Pagewood, where he completed his Higher School Certificate in 1975.

He left Finch in 1977 to replace Red Symons on guitar in Skyhooks.[2][5][6] He left that group in 1980.[6] In 1986 he joined the Angels on guitar to replace John Brewster.[7] He remained with the band until 1992.[3][7] While a member of the Angels, he was also a co-songwriter of their material including sole writer for their single, "Finger on the Trigger" (1988).[1] It peaked in the ARIA Singles Chart top 40.[8]

Other bands in which he played were Mystery Band (1980–82), Fandango (1981), Honeymoon, Young Lions (both in 1984), Black Cat Moan (1989–90), the Puppy Bashers (1991), the Temple Gods (1992–93) and the Choirboys (1996).[3][9]

He lived in Melbourne and was active in the band Raw Brit playing covers from the 1960s and 1970s, originally made famous by English rock bands, Cream, Free, Deep Purple and Slade. He is also a coach for professional bands and helps mature amateurs as part of the Weekend Warriors program.[10]

Bob Spencer 2019

In August 2013, Spencer revealed on his Facebook page that he had been diagnosed with cancer, but confirmed that it was not life-threatening. [11]

Bob Spencer has been a guitarist in the hard rock band, Rose Tattoo, with which he has absolutely no political allegiance, since 2017, and retired from the band in September 2022 for personal and political reasons, after the recently completed European tour[12]

References

  1. 1 2 "'Finger on the Trigger' at APRA search engine". APRA AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association, Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society). Retrieved 8 September 2020. Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'
  2. 1 2 McFarlane, Ian (1999). Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2.
  3. 1 2 3 Spencer, Chris; Zbig Nowara (1993). Who's Who of Australian Rock. Five Mile Press. ISBN 0-86788-668-4.
  4. ↑ Holmgren, Magnus; Ellison, Mark. "Finch/Contraband". Australian Rock Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "Mushroom: 25 Years of Oz Rock", by Christie Eliezer, Sunday Herald Sun, 8 November 1998.
  6. 1 2 Holmgren, Magnus. "Skyhooks". Australian Rock Database. Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  7. 1 2 Holmgren, Magnus. "The Angels". Australian Rock Database. Archived from the original on 19 February 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  8. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "The Angels - 'Finger on the Trigger'". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  9. ↑ Holmgren, Magnus. "The Choirboys". Australian Rock Database. Archived from the original on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  10. ↑ Herald Sun, 22 September 2006, "Fretting over middle age" by Holly Ife
  11. ↑ "Skyhooks, Angels Guitarist Bob Spencer Diagnosed with Cancer".
  12. ↑ "The Band - Rose Tattoo Australia's original Rock'n'Roll Outlaws".
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