Doc Neeson

Bernard Patrick "Doc" Neeson OAM (4 January 1947 – 4 June 2014) was an Australian singer-songwriter and musician. He was the front man for the hard rock band The Angels from its formation in February 1976 through to 1999. The band then split up and reformed in 2008 after a lengthy legal battle where Doc resumed his place as front man. For the group, Neeson was the main singer-songwriter and was the driving force behind the band being propelled into stardom for a period spanning over three decades. Their top 20 studio albums on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart are Face to Face (June 1978), No Exit (June 1979), Dark Room (June 1980), Night Attack (November 1981), Watch the Red (May 1983), Two Minute Warning (November 1984) and Howling (October 1986). Their number-one album, Beyond Salvation, on the ARIA Albums Chart appeared in February 1990 and was followed by another top 20 album, Red Back Fever (November 1991). The group's top 20 singles on the related Australian charts are "No Secrets", "Into the Heat" (1981), "Never so Live" (1981), "We Gotta Get out of This Place" (1987), "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again" (live, 1988), "Let the Night Roll On" (1990) and "Dogs Are Talking" (1990). On 20 October 1998, at the ARIA Awards the group were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

In early December 1999, three weeks prior to his performance at the Tour of Duty - Concert for the Troops in East Timor, Neeson had a car accident on the Sydney M4 Motorway, which led to years of pain and rehabilitation. Against all medical advice, he returned to the stage to carry on his legacy and resumed performing in 2006. He died of a brain tumour on 4 June 2014, aged 67, approximately 18 months from his initial diagnosis.

Early life

Bernard Patrick Neeson was born on 4 January 1947 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

As a teenager he had promoted dances and in mid-1967 he advised an Adelaide group, Down the Line: "Y'know, you should change the name to something short and punchy like Zoot".

Personal life

Neeson's first marriage was to Dzintra in 1974. They had two sons, but the relationship ended after 15 years.

Awards and nominations Australian Songwriter's Hall of Fame The Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 2004 to honour the lifetime achievements of some of Australia's greatest songwriters. 2008 himself Australian Songwriter's Hall of Fame Doc was also awarded the Australian Service Medal by General Cosgrove for services to the troops in East Timor and the Australian Defence Medal for his service in the Royal Australian Regiment and the Royal Australian Army Education Corps.(ArmyNewspaper)

Angels lead singer Doc Neeson was presented with his Order of Australia OAM medal at Government House in Sydney, 26 January 2013.