Stevie Wright, Lead Singer For Aussie Group The Easybeats, Dead At 68

The Easybeats' Stevie Wright

STEVIE WRIGHT, lead singer for AUSSIE rockers THE EASYBEATS -- of 'FRIDAY On My Mind" fame -- died at the age of 68, according to the GUARDIAN.

Billed as LITTLE STEVIE in his early years, WRIGHT was considered AUSTRALIA's prototype rock 'n' roll front man, his moves copied by the likes of AC/DC’s BON SCOTT. CHRISSIE AMPHLETT's DIVINYLS later covered THE EASYBETS' "I’ll Make You Happy."

Born in LEEDS in 1947, WRIGHT emigrated with his family to AUSTRALIA when he was nine, later meeting the production/songwriting team of DUTCH-born HARRY VANDA and SCOT GEORGE YOUNG (older brother of AC/DC’s MALCOLM and ANGUS) at a local migrant hostel to form THE EASYBEATS.

WRIGHT wrote lyrics for many of the EASYBEATS' early hits, including "She’s So Fine," "Wedding Ring" and the chart-topping 1966 AUSSIE hit, "Sorry."

VANDA and YOUNG wrote the band's international smash, "FRIDAY On My Mind," as WRIGHT's influence within the band began to wane.

WRIGHT eventually reunited with VANDA and YOUNG as a solo artist, best captured on his 11-minute single "Evie (Parts 1, 2 & 3)," which went #1 Down Under in 1974.

WRIGHT later became addicted to heroin, checking himself into rehab at a controversial private clinic, where he underwent deep sleep therapy, electoshock and even a drug-induced coma, w;hich left him with severe after-effects.

WRIGHT headlined a LEGENDS OF ROCK show in AUSTRALIA in what turned out to be his final performance in 2009. With THE EASYBEATS, he was inducted into the ARIA HALL OF FAME in 2005; in 2001, "FRIDAY On My Mind" was voted the best AUSTRALIAN song of all time by the AUSTRALASIAN PERFORMING RIGHTS ASSOCITION, the country's definitive working-class anthem.

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