Spectrum are an Australian progressive rock band which formed in April 1969 and broke up in April 1973. The original line-up was Mark Kennedy on drums, Lee Neale on organ (ex-Nineteen87), Bill Putt on bass guitar (ex-Lost Souls), and Mike Rudd on guitar and lead vocals (ex-Chants R&B, The Party Machine). In August 1970 Kennedy was replaced by Ray Arnott on drums. These members also performed under the alter ego, Indelible Murtceps, from 1971 to 1973. Spectrum had a number-one hit, "I'll Be Gone" (January 1971), on the Go-Set National Top 60 singles chart. After Spectrum and Indelible Murtceps disbanded, Putt and Rudd formed Ariel. In 1999 the pair formed Spectrum Plays the Blues, which later trimmed their name back to Spectrum. On 7 August 2013 Bill Putt died, after a heart attack.

History

1969–1971: Early years

Spectrum were formed in April 1969 in Melbourne, as a progressive rock group, by Mark Kennedy on drums (ex-Gallery), Lee Neale on organ (ex-Nineteen87), Bill Putt on bass guitar (ex-Gallery, The Lost Souls), and Mike Rudd on guitar, harmonica and lead vocals (ex-Chants R&B, The Party Machine, Sons of the Vegetal Mother).

Personnel

Current

  • Mike Rudd – guitars, lead vocals, harmonica (4/1969–4/1973, 1999–present)
  • Broc O'Connor – bass guitar (2013–present)
  • Peter 'Robbo' Robertson – drums, percussion (1999–present)
  • Daryl Roberts – keyboards (1999–present)

Former

  • Bill Putt – bass (4/1969–4/1973, 1999–2013; died 2013)
  • Lee Neale – keyboards, backing vocals (4/1969–9/1972; died 2019)
  • Mark Kennedy – drums (4/1969–8/1970)
  • Ray Arnott – drums, backing vocals (8/1970–4/1973)
  • John Mills – keyboards (9/1972–4/1973)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"

|+ List of albums, with selected chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album details

! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions

|-

! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| AUS<br />

|-

| rowspan="3"| 1971

| themselves

| Best Group

| 5th

|-

| Spectrum Part One

| Best Australian Album

| 5th

|-

| "I'll Be Gone"

| Best Australian Single

| 5th

|-

| rowspan="2"| 1972

| themselves

| Best Group

| 4th

|-

| Milesago

| Best Australian Album

| 4th

|-

References

  • MikeRuddBillPutt.com
  • "Spectrum – Mike Rudd and Bill Putt's story and music" at www.abc.net.au
  • Spectrum / Indelible Murtceps at MilesAgo.com (Australasian Music & Popular Culture 1964-1975)
  • Spectrum biography by Ed Nimmervoll, discography and album reviews, credits & releases at AllMusic
  • Spectrum discography, album releases & credits at Discogs
  • Spectrum / Indelible Murtceps albums to be listened on YouTube