Peter Starkie

Peter George Starkie (21 August 1948 – 14 September 2020) was an Australian rock musician. He was the founding guitarist of Skyhooks in 1973 and joined Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons in 1975. His younger brother, Bob "Bongo" Starkie, replaced him on guitar in Skyhooks. Peter Starkie died on 14 September 2020, aged 72, of complications arising from a fall.

Life and career

Early life

Peter George Starkie was born on 21 August 1948, He was the eldest of four children, including younger brother Bob "Bongo" Starkie.

Starkie's father was an RAAF wing commander and World War II veteran. The family periodically moved due to his father's postings, including the Woomera Rocket Range (c. 1955), Melbourne (late 1950s), Canberra (c. 1959), London (1961–1963) and then returned to Melbourne. They were joined by Joe Camilleri on vocals, who later recalled, "[they] spotted me and because they didn't have a singer, they asked me to join ... They played all the stuff on the radio, including the Beatles and the Stones. I joined the band that night... But then Dave and Peter decided to go to university, so I was a bit lost."

By the early 1970s, Starkie and Flett had formed Lipp and the Double Dekker Brothers, which variously included Avril Bell, Fred Cass, Jane Clifton on vocals, Paul Madigan, Arty Trippie, Ian Wallace and Bruce Woodcock.

Starkie left Skyhooks in August 1973 and was replaced on guitar by his younger brother, Bob. Hill died in late October 2005, aged 52.

According to Bob Starkie, "[Peter] has played semi-regularly with Paul Madigan (for which he should have received a medal) and has maintained a constant playing relationship with Peter Inglis."

Death

On 13 September 2020, Starkie was renovating his mother-in-law's home in Shepparton when he fell from a ladder and was seriously injured. He was air-lifted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital where he was treated "but was unable to be saved". and was survived by his partner, Diana, his daughters and his siblings. He was accorded tributes by music promoter Michael Gudinski, who had signed Skyhooks to his Mushroom Records label, as well as fellow band member Red Symons.