Star unveiled
26 January 2021
Discipline
Rock band
Location
340 Hibiscus Coast Highway, Orewa
Inducted 2021
Dragon
The name Dragon came from a consultation of I Ching cards by early band vocalist Graeme Collins.
Dragon is a New Zealand rock band that was formed in January 1972 and relocated later to Sydney, in May 1975.
Keyboard player Paul Hewson wrote or co-wrote most of the group's 1970s hits: "April Sun in Cuba" peaked at No. 2 on 1977 The band was originally fronted by singer Marc Hunter and is currently led by his brother, bass player/vocalist Todd Hunter.
Australian singles chart "Are You Old Enough?" reached No. 1 in 1978 and "Still in Love with You" reached No. 15 also in 1978.
Later hits, from when the band re-grouped in the 1980s, were written by other band members, often working with outside associates: The Hunter brothers, with Todd's partner, Johanna Pigott, wrote "Rain", a No. 2 hit, in 1983, Dragon's June 1984 album Body and the Beat became one of the biggest-selling albums in Australia and New Zealand; Other, hits were written by the Hunters and/or Alan Mansfield, frequently in collaboration with any combination of Pigott, Mansfield's partner Sharon O'Neill, Marc Hunter's partner Wendy Hunter, or producers Todd Rundgren and David Hirschfelder.
The group performed, and released material, under the name Hunter in Europe and the United States during 1987.
Bondi Road album released in April 1989 on RCA and reached No. 18 on the Australian albums charts and the single "Young Years" written by Alan Mansfield and Sharon O'Neill also reached No. 18.
The pair had written two other tracks: "Ice in this Town" and "Good Time Girl". Dragon continued to record and tour with varying line-ups centered around the Hunter brothers and Mansfield.
They also supported Elton John for his 1990 Australian tour. Todd Hunter worked on Heartbreak High (TV series) from 1994 for six years as Music Composer, he retired from Dragon in 1995 after the release of Incarnations.
Dragon continued on without Todd Hunter. Then, in November 1997, Marc Hunter was diagnosed with severe throat cancer and died on 17 July 1998 Todd Hunter (bass) reformed Dragon in 2006 with a line-up of Mark Williams (vocals, guitar), Bruce Reid (guitar), and Pete Drummond (drums). The new line-up released Sunshine to Rain on the Liberation Blue label.
On 1 July 2008, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) recognised Dragon's iconic status when they were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
DRAGON is an Iconic kiwi band that all New Zealanders & even Aussie’s cherish as we all know that they have been influential over the decades in the NZ Music Industry and still are...
In performance
Star unveiling & gallery
Tribute to Marc Hunter
Marc Alexander Hunter was born in Taumarunui on 7 September 1953 and was a New Zealand rock and pop singer, songwriter and record producer. He was the lead vocalist of Dragon (1973–11/1979, 8/1982–1989, 1995–11/1997), a band formed by his older brother, Todd Hunter, in Auckland in January 1972.
They relocated to Sydney in May 1975. He was also a member of the Party Boys in 1985. For his solo career he issued five studio albums: Fiji Bitter (November 1979), Big City Talk (August 1981), Communication (September 1985), Night and Day (August 1990) and Talk to Strangers (late 1994).
During the 1970s Hunter developed heroin and alcohol addictions and was incarcerated at Mt Eden Prison in Auckland in 1978. He was recklessly outspoken and volatile on stage.
In November 1978, during the band's American tour supporting Johnny Winter, they performed in Dallas, Texas, where his remarks to the audience caused an uproar. Upon his return to Australia, in February 1979, he was fired from the group by his brother, Todd.
In August 1982 Hunter returned to the line-up of Dragon and continued with the group while also maintaining his solo career. The band included Craig Laird on lead guitar (currently of 1927) and Steve Boyd on drums (ex-Adam Brand).
In November 1997, Marc Hunter was diagnosed with throat cancer. He had felt unwell: "One doctor told Marc he probably had tonsillitis and sent him home. Unsatisfied with this diagnosis, Marc visited a throat specialist. 'The doctor felt around my throat, and said, "You have a large cancer." I sort of didn't hear anything for a minute. I was stunned. I just sat there.'"
His friends, including Renée Geyer, organised a benefit concert to raise money for his treatment and to provide for his wife and children. Geyer explained, "He's a dear old friend and he's someone who's put a lot of time and energy into the business. I just thought it would be great for the industry to give a little bit back to someone who has given so much." The concert, Night of the Hunter, was held in February 1998 at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda in Melbourne. It had various artists performing Dragon tracks: "Are You Old Enough?" by Tex Perkins and friends, Chris Wilson singing "O Zambezi", Paul Kelly and Geyer singing a duet of "I'm Still in Love with You", Snout performing "Rain", and Men at Work's Colin Hay providing a new song he wrote in Hunter's honour.
The finale, "April Sun in Cuba", was rendered by the ensemble led by John Farnham and his band, with Todd on bass guitar. The house erupted when Geyer led Hunter onto the stage where he joined in for his signature tune, in what became his last stage appearance. Todd described the concert: "Marc sang, maybe for the last time, that song. These musicians' incredible generosity was so phenomenal. There was a time when Marc thought nobody cared about his music. But he was amazed by what all these guys were doing, and it got to him in an incredible way."
The band disbanded in November 1997 when he was diagnosed with throat cancer, and he died on 17 July 1998. Benefit concerts were held to provide for his widow, Wendy Hunter, and their children.
On 1 July 2008, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) inducted Dragon into their Hall of Fame.
His biography, Chasing the Dragon: The Life and Death of Marc Hunter, was published by Jeff Apter in October 2011.
Marc Hunter passed away 17 July 1998