Meet Ben Little
[iron_image_divider divider_align=”center” divider_padding_top=”18″ divider_padding_bottom=”42″ divider_image=”4769″]
The USA Years:
| 1958 | I was born Steven Thomas Little in Los Angeles, California on 15 February. |
|---|---|
| 1960 | My family moved to Las Vegas when I was a little over a year old. My Dad Lester played upright bass six nights a week in the lounge of The Sands Hotel with The Ernie Stewart Trio. There was always a piano, guitar, and bass in our house, so music was always present. Just like my Dad, The Beatles also had a huge impact on me as a kid. |
The Adelaide Years:
| 1967 | Our family moved to Adelaide |
|---|---|
| 1969 | As an 11-year-old, I received a ukulele for Christmas and that sparked a love of playing instruments. I also started practicing the guitar. |
| 1973 | I got my first electric guitar and that changed everything. In High School, I was in a band playing Status Quo, Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, Rolling Stones, and Deep Purple to name a few. We called our first band COSMIC FROG (later shortened to Frog) |
| 1975 | In our last year of high school our band, now called MORPHEUS won a Battle of the Bands at The Come Out Festival. This led to our first recording and booking agent. We played professionally around Adelaide from 1976 to 1978. |
The Early Sydney Years:
| 1978 | MORPHEUS moved to Sydney. Four musicians and two roadies, all living in a four-bedroom house in Lewisham for $80 a week. If you have ever read, “He Died With a Falafel in his Hand”, that is what life was like in 1978 Lewis ham. We rehearsed every day, downstairs in a shopfront and worked five and six nights a week playing all our own music, supporting everyone from COLD CHISEL, THE ANGELS, MIDNIGHT OIL, INXS and even THE RAMONES, THE VAPOURS and DR FEELGOOD. |
|---|---|
| 1980 | The ‘new wave’ bands influenced a name change and we became DAMAGED GOODS. We cut our hair and changed our songwriting style. Our trademark was wearing pyjamas onstage! We even headlined the famous Bondi Lifesaver. |
| 1981 | I was asked to form a band around a singer, GILLIAN EASTOE. The music scene was now sliding downward and we weren’t working enough to make ends meet, I got myself a gig in a Chinese Restaurant playing guitar & bass in Market Town Leichhardt. We were called THE BLACK O RCHID TRIO. |
| 1982 | I got a dream gig, playing bass in a Beatles tribute band, THE BEATS (formerly THE BEATNIX). I had to wear a Sergeant Peppers uniform. I was paid a wage and for the first time consistently played in front of large and enthusiastic crowds. We also did a lot of touring. There were many writers in this band so we formed an original band called COLOURS who rehearsed and recorded our original material. |
| 1985 | We moved to Perth and became THE SYDNEY BEATS to try and make some “BIG” money. That was a disaster, too long and sad to re-tell here. |
| 1986 | I moved back to Sydney and scored a residency at Marrickville RSL Club every Friday night. We were called THE ECHOMANIACS. |
| 1988 | I was asked to join STORMY MONDAY. We worked 5-6 nights a week and did lots of touring. We played everywhere. |
| 1988 | My teaching career started at Guitar World, in the City. In Late 1988, I joined SWANEE. A career highlight was playing in front of 30,000 people at an open air concert in Southport, supporting JIMMY BARNES. |
| 1989 | I joined a trio called DBM and we became Alex (MOVING PICTURES) Smith’s backing band. We toured a lot and even made a live performance on Hey Hey It’s Saturday! |
| 1990 | Played in a 60’s band called THE ECHOES. It was a great learning experience as a guitar player. It was also around this time I did many guitar clinics for Electric factory (a musical equipment wholesaler) |
| 1991 | I joined a Cold Chisel/Barnes tribute band called THE LAST STAND. There was lots of touring interstate. |
| 1995 | I joined a cover band called THE MISFITS. These boys had four residencies a week and were playing quirky covers. I also formed an original band called THE BENDERS. |
| 1996 | THE MISFITS BECAME MOLLY RASHER. We enjoyed four residencies a week. 1997 – MOLLY RASHER released a six-song CD. This band played until 2000 with various lineup changes and even recorded an original album under the banner ULTIMO. |
| 1998 | Toured Ireland with MOLLY RASHER. |
The New Millennium Years:
| 2000 | My teaching business THE GUITARHIVE was started. I also started playing solo gigs and acoustic duos. |
|---|---|
| 2001 | This was the year that the ‘SESSIONS’ started at The Welcome Hotel. This is a unique acoustic music session with three musicians playing unrehearsed at a table! |
| 2003 | Re-joined SWANEE and played in LITTLE BIG HORN. |
| 2005 | The first HIVE LIVE was performed with GUITARHIVE students at The Australian Youth Hotel. |
| 2006 | I released my second Solo CD ‘CHAIN OF HEARTS’ on 23 July 2006. The CD Launch was held at the Australian Youth Hotel with the CHAIN OF HEARTS BAND. HIVE LIVE 2 and 3 were performed. |
| 2008 | Joined the Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute, BAD MOON RISIN’ and BEATLESONGS acoustic tribute. |
| 2011 | The formation of CONCORD JOE. This is a blues-tinged rock band playing mainly original songs. THE BELL also formed this year. |
| 2012 | The first of many MORPHEUS reunion gigs at The Whitmore Hotel. |
| 2013 | Release of CONCORD JOE’S self-titled EP – Concord Joe. HIVE LIVE 8 was performed on Rocks Rhythmboat. THE ‘SESSION’ moved to The Bald Rock Hotel. |
| 2014 | THE BELL RESIDENCY AT BALD ROCK BEGINS |
| 2016 | CONCORD JOE ALBUM GOLD DUST RELEASED |
| 2017 | PRISONER OF PEACE SOLO ALBUM, MORPHEUS AT GERMAN CLUB, RIVERVIEW SESSIONS START |
| 2018 | HIVE LIVE NINE BEGINS |
