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JOHN ANNAS

John is best known for his work in the mid seventies with Australian guitar legend Kevin Borich. During this period John was voted Ram magazines Australian Drummer of the Year, three years in succession. He recorded four albums, and toured Europe and the USA in 1978 and 1979 as an original member of the Kevin Borich Express.    Jamming with Carlos Santana and his band at The Rockarena Concert, in front of a crowd of  60,000 was one of John’s career highlights.

John has recorded and toured with some of Australia's top artists, such as Renee Geyer, Marc Hunter, Sharon O’Neil, Kevin Borich Express, Brodrick Smith’s Big Combo, The Barry Leef Band, just to name a few.

John was one of the first Aussie drummers to play huge double kick multi tom setups, and probably the first guy to welcome and integrate electronics into his drumkit. He also, introduced Latin, Funk and Fusion elements into hard rock drumming, at a time when the credo was keep it simple and keep it straight, OR ELSE!!!!

Australian music magazine DRUM SCENE included

John in an article featuring the most influential Australian Drummers of the Millenium..

John was born into a musical family in Melbourne Victoria. His Uncle, Con Velis was a swing-jazz drummer in the late 40’s, John’s sister played piano, and brother Jim Annas is a composer and multi-instrumentalist.

By eight years old John had graduated from kitchen pots and pans to a real snare drum.  By age Ten, he had access to his older brother’s drum kit  and started taking lessons from Harold Ripper.

With a wide variety of music at the time from 60’s Rock, Pop, Soul , British R&B to Jazz. It was through his brother’s record collection that John heard a track by Latin jazz flautist Herbie Mann, featuring the Afro-Cuban Conga player Patato Valdez.  Hearing Cuban percussion at an early age was a big influence on John, and changed his perception of what could be achieved  rhythmically.

Between 1969-1974 John with brother Jim on bass, formed the band ATLAS, who played a wide range of material including Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Uriah Heep, Canned Heat, Johnny Winter, Jethro Tull, Mandrill and Santana .John’s highlights with Atlas were working with Aussie vocal legend Doug Parkinson  and playing at the SUNBURY Rock Festivals in ‘72, and ‘74.

In 1975, John and Atlas percussionist Joe Maker, formed the group GYPSY, who eventually became a backing band for singers Jeff St John and Wendy Saddington. While in Gypsy, John’s drumming caught the eye of Kevin Borich, and by June ’76, John had moved to Sydney and become an original member of Kevin’s new band, the KEVIN BORICH EXPRESS.

In the Eighties John recorded and toured, with Dragon's vocalist MARC HUNTER, and joined hot funk outfit the BARRY LEEF BAND, at the Sydney Musicians Club.

Moving to Melbourne, John Played with Sam See & Chris Stockley in the STOCKLEY SEE BAND

He then joined Brodrick Smith and Mal Eastick to record & tour the BRODRICK SMITH'S BIG COMBO album, which achieved Gold record status. 

John also toured & recorded with the SPANIARDS, a group fronted by Singer Mick Pealing, from the band STARS, and Billy Miller, .singer songwriter & front man with THE FERRETTS.

John and Billy Miller collaborated on original music for the COUNTDOWN ROCK AWARDS, 1984.

While in Melbourne John teamed up with singer songwriter Janey Kitto This collaboration led to John writing and recording with Janey. At first working as a duo, touring Victoria, Central Australia and the Northern Territory.  Then forming a band with Roger McLachlan on Bass, Phil Para on Guitar, and The reverend Mick O'conner on Hammond Organ. The band KITTO went on to showcase Janey's amazing voice and heartfelt songs..

In 1992 John rejoined Kevin Borich,  recording two albums "Live At The Big Kahuna" (a double album CD ) and the Studio album "Heart Starter".

During 1996, 97 & 98 John took some time out from Borich to tour with American Blues artist CHRIS CAIN.

Johns works as a freelance performer, and has played on projects and toured with  Lil Fi & The Allstars, Swanee, Mark Williams, Chris Finnen, NZ Party Boys, The Sydney Morning Herald, Shauna Jensen,The Coogee Brothers, BB,Steal, Alex Pertout and The Ted Mulry Benefit Concert .

John Annas plays and endorses  PEARL drums and  ZILDJIAN cymbals exclusively.

Contact by Email at    elfunko@optusnet.com.au

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