# The Valentines (rock band)

The Valentines were an Australian pop band active from 1966–1970, chiefly noted for their lead singers, Bon Scott, who later went on to success as lead vocalist with AC/DC; and Vince Lovegrove, who subsequently became a successful music journalist and manager of Divinyls.

## Band history

The band was formed in late 1966 with the amalgamation of Perth groups The Spektors and The Winstons. They capitalised on the success of both the former bands, plus the interest created by having two lead singers in Scott and Lovegrove. Inspired by The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and local stars The Easybeats, they enjoyed considerable local success and released a few singles.
In late 1967, The Valentines moved to Melbourne in search of greater success, and soon toured other major cities. With a development towards the popular Bubblegum sound late in 1968, the band became more in demand, particularly among teenage girls. However, as the fashion for bubblegum music wore off, The Valentines struggled to retain their musical credibility despite a turn towards rock music. With differing opinions within the band concerning musical direction, and a much-publicised drugs bust in September 1969, group stability began to suffer. Although they still had a strong fanbase in certain areas of the country, especially back home in Perth, The Valentines decided to disband amicably in August 1970.
Scott had built a strong reputation as a powerful vocalist and soon joined Fraternity, and later AC/DC. Lovegrove found success as a music journalist, and guitarist Wyn Milsom became a sound engineer.

## Personnel

* Bon Scott – vocals (1966–1970; Died 1980)
* Vince Lovegrove – vocals (1966–1970; Died 2012)
* Wyn Milsom – guitar (1966–1970)
* Ted Ward – guitar (1966–1969), bass guitar (1969–1970)
* Bruce Abbott – bass guitar (1966–1968)
* Warwick Findlay – drums (1966–1968)
* John Cooksey – bass guitar (1968–1969)
* Doug Lavery – drums (1968–1969)
* Paddy Beach – drums (1969–1970)

## Discography
### Compilation albums

| Title | Album details |
| The Early Years (as Bon Scott with The Valentines & Fraternity) | Released: 1987 Format: CD, LP Label: See for Miles (SEE CD 247) |
| Peculiar Hole in the Sky | Released: 2003 Format: CD Label: Ascension Records (CDANSI 03) |
| The Sound of the Valentines | Released: 2016 Format: CD, LP Label: RPM Records (RPM531) |
| 1967-1970 | Released: August 2020 Format: LP Label: Demon Records (DEMREC665) |

### Extended plays

| Title | EP details |
| The Valentines | Released: 1968 Format: LP Label: Clarion Records (MCX-11,472) |
| My Old Man's a Groovy Old Man | Released: February 1969 Format: LP Label: Philips (PE-81) |

### Singles

List of singles, with Australian chart positions :
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions |
| Year | Title | AUS |
| 1967 | "Every Day I Have to Cry" (Arthur Alexander) / "I Can't Dance with You" (Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane) | 76 |
| 1967 | "She Said" (George Young, Stevie Wright) / "To Know You Is to Love You" (Phil Spector) | 98 |
| 1968 | "I Can Hear the Raindrops" (Ted Ward, Vince Lovegrove) / "Why Me?" (Ward, Lovegrove) | - |
| 1968 | "Peculiar Hole in the Sky" (Harry Vanda, Young) / "Love Makes Sweet Music" (Kevin Ayers) | - |
| 1969 | "Ebeneezer" (Rick Price, Mike Tyler) / "My Old Man's a Groovy Old Man" (Vanda, Young) | 100 |
| 1969 | "My Old Man's a Groovy Old Man" (Vanda, Young) / "Ebeneezer" (Rick Price, Mike Tyler) | 22 |
| 1969 | "Nick Nack Paddy Whack" (Lovegrove, Bon Scott, Ted Junko (Ward), John Cooksey, Paddy Beach, Wyn Milsom) / "Getting Better" (Scott, Milsom) | 53 |
| 1970 | "Juliette" (Milsom, Ward, Scott) / "Hoochie Coochie Billy" (Lovegrove, Ward, Milsom) | 28 |

### Other songs

* "Sooky Sooky" (Don Covay) – (1968)
* "Build Me Up Buttercup" (Mike d'Abo, Tony Macaulay) – (live TV appearance 1969)
* "Things Go Better with Coke" (Coca-Cola jingle) – (1969)
* Music portal
* Australia portal