StageWRite

Des O'Reilly

Des started out in the music industry during the 'swinging sixties' as a drummer and lead singer, leaving school at 16 to pursue his musical career. After a trip to France for six months playing the American bases, Des returned to England and, aged 18, Des had a spell playing with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes in Liverpool. After having to travel from Preston to Liverpool on the bus, (with his entire drum kit!!), Des was glad when he was approached to join a new three piece group back in Preston!

Soon after, the group were asked by a local Preston singer to back him at an audition he had in London, with legendary record producer Joe Meek,(the man who wrote ‘Telstar’) But Joe didn’t sign the singer, he signed the group instead!!

                                        The Puppets

                                                  London 1963

Joe Meek also changed the name of the group to ‘The Puppets’, and between 1962 and 1967 Des and the band backed many major UK and American artists, both in Britain and overseas. Des gained much of his musical knowledge and experience from backing artists such as ’Little Miss Dynamite’ Brenda Lee, The Fabulous Ronettes, Big Dee Irwin, of 'Would You Like To Swing On A Star?' fame, Dee Dee Sharp, the ‘Mashed Potato’ lady, plus that excellent rocker Gene Vincent.

                The Puppets 1962                                    Gene Vincent

                                                                                  The 'Be Bop-A-Lula' man.

                            Gene Vincent on stage with The Puppets

                                       Rainbow Theatre Blackpool 1965

While in 'The Puppets', Des also worked with many 60’s UK idols, performers such as Marty Wilde, Michael Cox, Vince Eager, Duffy Power, and Jess Conrad. 'The Puppets' also backed Crispian St. Peters for six months during which time he had two UK top five hits, ‘You Were On My Mind’ and ‘Pied Piper’, before working with Billy Fury as his backing band.

In Feb of 1967 Joe Meek shot both himself and his landlady, and The Puppets were left without a manager. At the same time Billy Fury’s health began to fail, and, over time, his gigs dried up. The Puppets broke up towards the end of that year and Des continued to gig around for the next few years, as a drummer/singer before arriving in Pt. Noarlunga in 1979.

In 1981 Des met local bass player, Andrew Hilton, and with Des on drums, they put together a trio, bringing in a keyboard player, and gigged around the city until 1986, when Des gave up playing drums and went up front as lead singer. Andrew switched to guitar, and they formed a new band called ‘Monkey Business’. About a year later, Rob Ryan was brought in, playing keyboards, and for a while The Adelaide Guitar Doctor himself, Neil Andrews also played in the band.

                  Rob, Des & Andrew               Monkey Business at the Royal Show 1990

Monkey Business were around for about 10 years, playing at most of the big shows South of Adelaide. In 1994 Monkey Business were booked by the then Noarlunga Council to appear at the Noarlunga Festival, where Des met his partner, Mos Day, but as the ‘Pokies’ took over the pub scene, gigs started to dry up in Adelaide, and in 1997 Des put his singing career on hold and started hosting Quiz Nights instead, presenting four quizzes a week all over Adelaide until 2006.

Des is also a well known local identity, both as 'Monkey Business' lead singer and as the 'Microphone Man' at Colonnades for over 15 years. Des has also presented many live shows in the Southern area, from the Celtic Festivals to the Australia Day Concerts, and many children have grown up listening to Des host the City of Onkaparinga Christmas Pageants.

                                       The City of Onkaparinga                 

                                        Christmas Pageant 2005

Recently Des had the opportunity to reunite with 'Monkey Business' guitarist Andrew Hilton and sing with his new band, 'Slow Cooker', at the  Aldinga Arts-Eco Village's At The Green Adelaide Fringe Festival event, held on Saturday 21st March 2009. For those at that concert who wanted more, and for those who would like to see Des performing, check out our 'Videos' page to watch Slow Cooker, featuring Des O'Reilly, in concert.