JIM HERMEL - FULL BIO

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BIOGRAPHY

Like most genuinely talented recording artists, Jim Hermel's rise to success was no overnight occurrence. Considered one of the finest guitarists around, he was soon backing lead guitarist to Australia's top recording stars, John Farnham, Billy Thorpe, Ronnie Burns, Denise Drysdale, on concert tours early in their careers and later graduated to a session musician on records and television commercials. In the late 1970's and early 1980's, Jim emerged as a recording and concert star in his own right, as vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter. Three albums recorded at that time were all widely acclaimed, receiving national and international air-play.


International tours:

In 1980 Jim toured the United States, performing at most of the top clubs in Nashville, Tennessee, including an appearance on the same show as legendary rocker, Jerry Lee Lewis at the "Jerry Lee Lewis Showroom" in famous Printer's Alley, Nashville. in 1986 Jim again toured America, being based for three months in Austin, Texas, performing at the top venues in Austin, including appearances in Austin's Sixth Street, the home of Texas blues and former 'haunt' of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan. whilst in Austin Jim recorded his fourth album, "Texas Jam", which was featured in a "live-cross" to the studio during the six o'clock news. Jim also appeared on the main stage of the San Antonio Big River festival, an annual event which attracts 100,000 people, appeared on the top Saturday Night cable television variety show, "Citizen's Live" and performed concerts throughout the state of Texas. In 1991 Jim again toured the United States, this time as male lead vocalist/guitarist with the band "Red Buck". On this tour he again performed at the Big River festival, performed for the Desert Storm troops at the U.S. army base at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, appeared on NBC television, performed in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana, many venues in Arizona and featured in a 30 minute documentary for U.S. television.
In 1993 Jim was again with "Red Buck" when the band became the first western rock band in the world to perform in communist Laos and the first western rock band to perform in Vietnam since the war. All eleven concerts of South East Asia were 'sellouts' with the Hanoi daily paper reporting that "Australian band Red Buck's two concerts at the Red Army Stadium (the biggest stadium in Hanoi) were sold out within two hours, leaving many thousands of fans disappointed. The band could have filled the stadium for weeks." this tour of S.E. Asia also saw Red Buck become the first Australian band to perform at the famous Hard Rock Cafe in Bangkok, Thailand. In 1994 the band was invited back to perform at the Hard Rock cafe due to the success of the 1993 appearance. On this trip Red Buck also performed a two week season at the prestigious Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza Hotel in Bangkok.

After a drought of 15 years Jim released a 12 track CD of entirely original country, country rock and blues, written by South Australian songwriter Craig Roberts. The album "Highway To Ride" was recorded in 1999 using some of the finest session musicians in Australia.
One year later a five track cd was released entitled "The Ballad Of Creswick Mine," and in 2002 another cd, "Nothing To Lose," (15 tracks, again all written by Craig Roberts,) featuring Jim's unique brand of southern country rock, was released.

In 2000 Jim re-formed the classic rock, rhythm & blues band, 'BLACK CAT BONE,' with original band members Buce Benham, (bass), and Dave Brogden, (Drums.) "Black Cat Bone," originally formed in 1988, performed around Adelaide and South Australia off and on for 7 years, and Bruce and Dave were also often in "Red Buck." "Red Buck" (named after the red buck kangaroo,) was the name used when the band went to 5 piece for special projects of touring, recording, or film-making. As special projects were generally years apart, the always temporarily re-formed "Red Buck" would have different members.., depending on availability. Mostly Bruce and Dave were part of the band, but there were occasions when only one would be in "Red Buck" for a particular project.., and on one overseas tour they weren't in "Red Buck" at all!! "Black Cat Bone" is still a working, performing band, with 2 cd's to date, a live album, (Lightning Strikes Twice,) and a studio album, (White Lightning.)

In 2004 Jim married Virginia Coad, a fellow professional musician whom he'd met when they were both working at the Royal Melbourne Show in 1988. Jim and Virginia were married on the Quorn Railway Station in March of 2004, and honeymooned in the United States in May, 2004. On that tour, Jim and Virginia performed concerts in Arizona and Tennessee.


Jim is busier than ever, performing solo shows, band shows with "Black Cat Bone," "Jim Hermel & The Hot Chix" "Runaway Dixie" and touring and performing guest appearances on "Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters" concerts.