The Easybeats was a rock and roll band from Sydney, Australia. With its 1966 international hit "Friday on My Mind," the band is widely considered as the best Australian rock act of the 1960s. The Easybeats formed in 1964 and found inspiration in the rock and roll British Invasion that was pioneered by The Beatles. Reaction to the band in its home country was likened to "Beatlemania," and the hysteria was soon called "Easyfever." Led by front man Stevie Wright, The Easybeats released a hit after hit during 1965 and 1966 including the number one hits "She's So Fine" and "Woman (Make You Feel Alright)." After landing an unprecedented five-year contract with American label United Artists Records, tragedy struck lead guitarist Harry Vanda, who discovered his wife dead in their apartment, forcing him to send his son to live with his parents while he honored his over-seas contract. The Easybeats toured Europe with the Rolling Stones before returning to Australia, leaving the band exhausted. Throughout 1968, The Easybeats drifted further apart and eventually broke up as a result of drugs and creative differences.
