Dingeman Adriaan Henry van der Sluijs (; 28 December 1947 – 18 September 2024), better known by his stage name Dick Diamonde, was an Australian bass guitarist. He was a founding mainstay member of the Easybeats. Diamonde, with the group, was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2005.
Early years
Dingeman Adriaan Henry van der Sluijs was born in 1947 in Hilversum, Netherlands. His father is Harry van der Sluijs (also seen as Vandersluys) and he has a younger sister. Diamonde emigrated with his family from the Netherlands to Australia when he was four years old. Diamonde was raised in a Jehovah's Witness family, living in the suburb of Villawood near the migrant hostel of that name.
The Easybeats
Widely regarded as Australia's greatest pop group of the mid-1960s, The Easybeats had their beginnings in Sydney's Villawood Migrant Hostel.
By October 1969, the Easybeats had disbanded and according to Young, Diamonde was "having a ball just being Dick." In that same month his mother reflected, "He has given up the faith ... We never encouraged him to follow this life. As Jehovah's Witnesses, we do not believe in creature worship ... It is not right the children idolize him." The group was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2005.
Discography
Studio albums
- Easy (1965)
- It's 2 Easy (1966)
- Volume 3 (1966)