Ray Arnott - 1979 - Rude Dudes

Ray Arnott is an Australian rock drummer, singer and songwriter who was one of the most prominent musicians in Australian rock in the 1970s and 1980s.

In early 1971 he replaced original drummer Mark Kennedy in the renowned Australian progressive rock group Spectrum and he remained with them until they split in early 1973. He sang backing and lead vocals with the band, as well as drumming, and he contributed several songs to their repertoire.

Arnott left Spectrum to join Mighty Kong, a new band formed by ex-Daddy Cool members Ross Wilson and Ross Hannaford, but the new group was very shortlived and broke up soon after recording its only LP in late 1973.

Arnott took over the drum stoool from the original drummer in two of the most prominent Australian groups of the period, The Dingoes in the late 1970s and Cold Chisel in 1983, but in both cases his tenure was relatively short.

Cold Chisel frontman Jim Barnes took on Arnott for his first two solo releases, the Swingshift album in 1984 and, the following year, the EP For The Working Class Man.

Arnott now lives and works on the Mid North coast of Australia as a teacher & occasional band member.

Also last heard of teaching with the Australian TAFE (music).

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