Mike Furber

His father was Edward George Furber (born c. 1924) and his mother was Mary Furber ( Young c. 1926–1989); he was raised with a sister Marian.

When he was about 10, the family emigrated to Brisbane, Australia.

Furber as lead vocalist joined local pop band the Bowery Boys, which consisted of Robbie van Delft on lead guitar and vocals, Neville Peard on drums, Paul Wade on bass guitar and vocals, and Greg Walker on rhythm guitar.

Furber had met Peard and Wade on a suburban train, the pair had already formed the Bowery Boys earlier that year.

Michael Alexander Furber (28 September 1947 – 10 May 1973) was an English-born Australian entertainer popular in the mid-1960s as the lead singer of Mike Furber and the Bowery Boys.

Michael Alexander Furber was born on 28 September 1947 in the London suburb of Battersea, England.

Initially they performed in Brisbane and Surfers Paradise before relocating to Sydney in May 1965.

The group signed with Sunshine Records and were managed by label boss, Ivan Dayman, who also managed Normie Rowe.

Dayman promoted the group as Mike Furber and the Bowery Boys; according to writer, Dean Mittelhauser, Dayman had planned to have Furber as a solo artist from the start.

In late 1965 their debut single, "Just a Poor Boy", was released and in early 1966 it became a top 5 hit in Adelaide and top 30 in both Melbourne and Sydney.

Furber's group had hits with "Just a Poor Boy", "You Stole My Love" and "That's When Happiness Began" (all in 1966).

In the Go Set Pop Poll, Furber was voted in the top 5 as most popular Male Vocalist in both 1966 and 1967.

In February 1966 their second single, "You Stole My Love", was released – it is a cover version of the Mockingbirds 1965 single, written by the group's Graham Gouldman (later formed 10cc).

Furber's version was a top 10 hit in Melbourne and peaked at No. 12 in Adelaide.

At No. 36 nationally, it is his highest charting single on the Kent Music Report.

The Kommotion label released the group's debut album, Just a Poor Boy.

In that year Furber, as a popular artist, was interviewed on conscription in teen-oriented pop music newspaper Go-Set's article on Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War.

He stated, "you can't find an excuse for forcing a man to give up his chosen career to go into the army and fight a war in what would be one of the most dubious conflicts of all times."

In July 1966 a third single, "That's When Happiness Began", was issued but the group disbanded in August.

Dayman now focussed on Furber as a solo artist and organised more appearances on local TV: The Go!! Show and Kommotion.

In Go-Set's Pop Poll, Furber was voted in the top 5 as most popular Male Vocalist in both 1966 and 1967.

Furber released three solo singles in 1967, "Where Were You?"

(January), "I'm so Glad" (August) and "Bring Your Love Back Home" (October) but none charted.

A Go-Set reviewer praised "Bring Your Love Back Home" as "the best disc he has ever had. It could be the break he has been waiting for to put him right back on top."

During a performance in July 1967 in Queanbeyan he was dragged from the stage, "stunned and groggy, [he] climbed back with the aid of police and continued his act."

Furber's label, Sunshine, collapsed late in 1967 and the artist had a nervous breakdown.

He was conscripted for National Service during the Vietnam War.

In 1969 he signed with Columbia Records and released "There's No Love Left" in June.

That was followed in November by "I'm on Fire" / "Watch Me Burn", with both sides written by Vanda & Young (ex-The Easybeats) as a two-part pop suite.

Furber's subsequent solo singing career was less successful and in the early 1970s he turned to stage musicals: including Godspell and Nuclear.

In June 1970 Furber toured Australia with the Sect, and Doug Parkinson in Focus as support acts to United States group the Four Tops.

Furber performed in stage musicals: Godspell (April 1972) and Nuclear (March 1973).

He was fired from Nuclear soon after it started.

According to police investigators Furber committed suicide on 10 May 1973, by hanging, in the garage of his home.

Rock music historian, Ian McFarlane, writes, "Reputedly in the depths of depression, he hanged himself... It has been suggested, however, that Furber was actually murdered because he had befriended a Kings Cross prostitute."

Furber supposedly committed suicide by hanging in May 1973 (see below).

There were no national charts in Australia at that time, although David Kent back-calculated chart positions in 2005 and listed "Just a Poor Boy" in the top 50 in his Australian Chart Book 1940–1969's Kent Music Report.

The track was written by van Delft, Peard and Wade.

According to Iain McIntyre in his book, Tomorrow Is Today (2006), "'I'm on Fire' is scintillating pop track underscored by a ripping lead fuzz guitar line and a solid rhythm section" however "'Watch Me Burn' is even wilder, with twin lead guitars (one fuzz and one wah-wah) wailing away beneath Furber's excellent vocal performance".

Nevertheless, neither of the singles charted and Furber was dropped by Columbia.