Little River Band Pulled From Fallon

A Jan. 12 appearance by the current lineup of Little River Band on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” was yanked after protests from the 25-million-selling act’s original members.

Photo: AP Photo
Adams County Fair, Hastings, Neb.

The TV slot was to launch a year-long celebration of the 40th anniversary of LRB’s formation in Melbourne, Australia.

Original singer, Sydney-based Glenn Shorrock, expressed to show producers his “distress and outrage” over the booking. He says the current incarnation of the group is “grinding our good name into dust.”

Permission for them to perform two of LRB’s biggest U.S. hits (they had 13 Top 40 hits), “Reminiscing” and “Lady,” were withheld for the Fallon appearance.

LRB has undergone 28 lineup changes, with the final original member leaving in the early ’80s. The name was bought by guitarist Steve Housden who joined in 1981. Housden no longer tours with the band, now led by Kansas City-born bassist Wayne Nelson, who joined 1980.

Shorrock, along with fellow founders Graeme Goble and Beeb Birtles, have toured as Birtles, Shorrock Goble. But they have been refused permission to include their LRB ties in marketing.