Sherbet (aka Highway or The Sherbs) was an Australian rock band. The 'classic line-up' consisted of Daryl Braithwaite on vocals, Tony Mitchell on bass guitar, Garth Porter on keyboards, Alan Sandow on drums, and Clive Shakespeare on guitar. In 1976 Shakespeare left and was soon replaced by Harvey James. Sherbet's biggest singles were "Summer Love" (1975) and "Howzat" (1976), both reaching number one in Australia. "Howzat" was also a top 5 hit in the United Kingdom. The band was less successful in the United States, where "Howzat" peaked at No. 61. As The Sherbs they also reached No. 61 in 1981 with "I Have the Skill". The group disbanded in 1984. Subsequent re-unions have occurred since 1998.
According to rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, "alongside Skyhooks, Sherbet was the most successful Australian pop band of the 1970s. With a run of 20 consecutive hit singles to its credit, and 17 albums that yielded ten platinum and 40 gold disc awards, Sherbet was the first domestic act to sell a million dollars' worth of records in Australia". In 1990 Sherbet were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame alongside classical composer and pianist, Percy Grainger. On 15 January 2011 Harvey James died of lung cancer. On 15 February 2012 Clive Shakespeare died of prostate cancer. On 23 January 2019 founding vocalist Denis Loughlin died after being diagnosed with cancer.
History
From 1970 until 1984 Sherbet scored 20 hit singles in Australia (including two number ones) and released ten platinum status albums. Before they knew what was happening, the trend took hold and everybody in the band was having them made up to their own requirements. Their management went so far as using it as a marketing tool for the band.
Hoping to achieve further international success, from 1977, Sherbet spent several years trying to make an impact in the US. Their 1977 album Photoplay was retitled Magazine for US release, and featured an elaborate gate-fold packaging. Though Photoplay and its lead single, "Magazine Madonna", were successful in Australia – both reached No. 3 on their respective charts – the retitled Magazine LP failed to chart in the US as did the associated single. In June 2003 Sherbet performed at another benefit show for Wane Jarvis (a former roadie).
Band members
Arranged chronologically:
|-
| 1990
| Sherbet
| ARIA Hall of Fame
|
Go-Set Pop Poll
The Go-Set Pop Poll was coordinated by teen-oriented pop music newspaper, Go-Set and was established in February 1966 and conducted an annual poll during 1966 to 1972 of its readers to determine the most popular personalities.
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1972
| themselves
| Best Australian Group
| style="background:gold;"| 1st
|-
| "You're All Woman"
| Best Australian Single
| style="background:silver"| 2nd
|-
King of Pop Awards
The King of Pop Awards were voted by the readers of TV Week. The King of Pop award started in 1967 and ran through to 1978.
- NB: wins only
|-
| 1973
| themselves
| Most Popular Australian Group
|
|-
| 1974
|-
| 1979
| themselves
| Most Popular Group
|
|-
References
;General
- Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.
;Specific
External links
- Webcuts On-line essay celebrating "Magazine Madonna"
- Sherbet Slips into Something Comfortable photographed by Lewis Morley for POL October/November 1974. Exhibited at National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, 15 March – 18 May 2003.
- Sherbet Today (2006)
- Sherbet scrapbooks at the National Library of Australia