Biography

Mississippi were an Australian rock band (1972–1975), which included Graeham Goble on lead vocals and guitar, Beeb Birtles on lead vocals and guitar, and Derek Pellicci on drums. Mississippi had emerged from Adelaide band Allison Gros. Goble along with Russ Johnson, John Mower formed the initial lineup of Mississippi and recorded an album with top Australian session musicians. Mississippi reached No. 10 with "Kings of the World" (October 1972). In late 1972, Mississippi were joined by Beeb Birtles (ex-Zoot, Frieze) on guitar and vocals, Colin DeLuca (ex-Fugitives) on bass guitar and Derek Pellicci (ex-Ash) on drums. They appeared at the Sunbury Pop Festival in January 1973. During 1973 there were several changes in the line-up, with Russ Johnson replaced, in February, by Kerryn Tolhurst (ex-Country Radio) on guitar and mandolin; he was replaced in turn by Harvey James (ex-Clydehouse, Sayla, Wendy Saddington Band) on guitar, a month later. Charlie Tumahai (Healing Force) would later join on Bass. They toured with the Jackson 5 around Australia in October 1973. In 1974 they appeared at the Sunbury Pop Festival again. Their single, "Will I?", appeared in May and peaked at No. 31 on the Go-Set National Top 40. They moved to the United Kingdom in 1974 and shortly after broke up. In early 1975, with Birtles, Goble and Pellicci aboard and the addition of Glenn Shorrock, the group were soon renamed, Little River Band. More Info: shorrockbirtlesgoble.com & graehamgoble.com