Dick Diamonde
{{Short description|Australian musician (1947–2024)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Dick Diamonde
| image = Dick Diamonde 1968 (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption = Diamonde performing in 1968
| birth_name = Dingeman Adriaan Henry van der Sluijs
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1947|12|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = Hilversum, Netherlands
| origin = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|09|18|1947|12|28|df=y}}
| death_place =
| genre = Rock
| occupation = Musician
| instrument = Bass guitar
| years_active = 1964–1969, 1986
| label = Parlophone, Albert
| website =
}}
Dingeman Adriaan Henry van der Sluijs ({{IPA|nl|ˈdɪŋəˌmɑn ˈɑdriaːn ˈɦɛnri ˈvɑn dər ˈslœys}}; 28 December 1947 – 18 September 2024), better known by his stage name Dick Diamonde, was an Australian bass guitarist. He was a founding mainstay member of the Easybeats. Diamonde, with the group, was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2005.
Early years
Dingeman Adriaan Henry van der Sluijs was born in 1947 in Hilversum, Netherlands.{{cite news | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article176531637 | title = the easybeats | newspaper = The Good Neighbour |location=ACT | date = 1 June 1967 | accessdate = 16 November 2015 | page = 4 | publisher = National Library of Australia }} His father is Harry van der Sluijs (also seen as Vandersluys) and he has a younger sister.{{cite news | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51284425 | title = A family reunion for the Easybeats | author = Kusko, Julie | newspaper = The Australian Women's Weekly | date = 15 October 1969 | accessdate = 16 November 2015 | pages = 8–9 | publisher = National Library of Australia }} Diamonde emigrated with his family from the Netherlands to Australia when he was four years old.{{cite web | url = http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=362534&search=aria+award&images=&c=&s= | title = 2006/126/1 Award, 'ARIA Hall of Fame', awarded to 'Dick Diamonde from 'The Easybeats' ', metal / cloth, designed by Mark Denning, made by Northside Patternmakers, Australia, 2005 | work = Powerhouse Museum Collection | publisher = Powerhouse Museum | year = 2006 | accessdate = 16 November 2015 }} Diamonde was raised in a Jehovah's Witness family, living in the suburb of Villawood near the migrant hostel of that name.{{cite encyclopedia |last=McFarlane |first=Ian |authorlink=Ian McFarlane |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop |title=Encyclopedia entry for 'Stevie Wright' |url=//www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=794 |accessdate=16 November 2015 |year=1999 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=St Leonards, NSW |isbn=1-86508-072-1 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040419011757/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=794 |archivedate=19 April 2004 }}
The Easybeats
Widely regarded as Australia's greatest pop group of the mid-1960s, The Easybeats had their beginnings in Sydney's Villawood Migrant Hostel. All of the five founding members were migrants to Australia from Europe. In mid-1964 the group was formed by van der Sluys (renamed as Dick Diamonde) on bass guitar. He was joined by fellow Dutchman Johannes van den Berg (known as Harry Vanda) on lead guitar and vocals, George Young from Scotland on guitar and vocals, and two Englishmen: lead singer Stevie Wright (Yorkshire) and drummer Snowy Fleet (Liverpool).{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-easybeats-mn0000145086/biography | title = The Easybeats | Biography & History | author = Elder, Bruce | authorlink = Bruce Elder (journalist) | work = AllMusic | publisher = All Media Guide | accessdate = 16 November 2015 }}
By October 1969, the Easybeats had disbanded and according to Young, Diamonde was "having a ball just being Dick."{{cite news | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107897444 | title = Chasing Beats | author1 = Munson Christobel | author2 = Foster, Michael | newspaper = The Canberra Times | date = 11 October 1969 | accessdate = 16 November 2015 | page = 17 | publisher = National Library of Australia }} In that same month his mother reflected, "He has given up the faith ... We never encouraged him to follow this life. As Jehovah's Witnesses, we do not believe in creature worship ... It is not right the children idolize him." In September 1986, Diamonde participated in a reunion of the Easybeats for a series of concerts touring Australian capitals in the following two months.{{cite news | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131837987 | title = Easybeats get together for 'a bit of fun' | author = Nestel, Christine | newspaper = The Canberra Times | date = 11 September 1986 | accessdate = 16 November 2015 | page = 3 Supplement: The Good Times | publisher = National Library of Australia }} According to Stuart Coupe of The Canberra Times Diamonde had been "playing with a series of small-time bands up the north-east coast."{{cite news | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article130627101 | title = Legendary band back in action | author = Coupe, Stuart | newspaper = The Canberra Times | date = 9 November 1986 | accessdate = 16 November 2015 |page=11 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} The group was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2005.
Death
Diamonde died on 18 September 2024, at the age of 76.{{Cite web|url=https://www.noise11.com/news/r-i-p-dick-diamonde-of-the-easybeats-20240922|title=R.I.P. Dick Diamonde of The Easybeats|first=Paul|last=Cashmere|date=22 September 2024|website=Noise11.com|access-date=22 September 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Gossling |first1=Bronte |title='Helped shape the sound of a generation': Legendary The Easybeats guitarist Dick Diamonde dies aged 76 |url=https://celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/dick-diamonde-death-the-easybeats-guitarist-dies-aged-76/f946ba73-fcb2-4f2e-8d67-c06f9c6e250e |access-date=25 September 2024 |publisher=Nine Entertainment |date=24 September 2024}}
Discography
{{Main|The Easybeats discography}}
=Studio albums=
- Easy (1965){{cite web |title=The Easybeats |url=https://www.toppermost.co.uk/the-easybeats/ |website=Toppermost|date=28 October 2017 }}
- It's 2 Easy (1966){{cite news |title=Kram, Tim Rogers, Phil Jamieson, Chris Cheney and Tex Perkins join forces for Easybeats tribute gigs |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/qweekend/kram-tim-rogers-phil-jamieson-chris-cheney-and-tex-perkins-join-forces-for-easybeats-tribute-gigs/news-story/4eefad50face888818c21461f3ccf5f9 |access-date=27 September 2024 |work=The Courier Mail |date=2 December 2017}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music: Dutch Swing College Band-Heptones |date=1998 |publisher=Muze |page=1695}}
- Volume 3 (1966)
- Good Friday / Friday on My Mind (1967)
- Vigil / Falling Off the Edge of the World (1969)
- Friends (1970)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{discogs artist|Dick Diamonde}}
- {{imdb name|3883589}}
{{The Easybeats}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Diamonde, Dick}}
Category:Australian bass guitarists
Category:Australian rock bass guitarists
Category:Australian male bass guitarists
Category:Dutch emigrants to Australia
Category:Entertainers from Hilversum