The Easybeats' Dick Diamonde Passes Away

The Easybeats bassist Dick Diamonde (born Dingeman Adriaan Henry van der Sluijs) has passed away. He was 76 years old.

Australian music journalist Glenn A. Baker first shared the sad news on social media on Friday evening (20 September). Musician Andre Els also posted the news on the Ballina Community Notice Board Facebook page. Music publication Noise11 reported the news yesterday (22 September).

Diamonde, born in the Netherlands in 1947, emigrated with his family to Australia when he was four years old. Raised in a Jehovah’s Witness family, they lived in a migrant hostel in the suburb of Villawood, New South Wales, where Diamonde would meet his future bandmates.

In 1964, Diamonde co-founded The Easybeats with fellow Dutchman Harry Vanda (born Johannes van den Berg) on lead guitar and vocals, Scottish guitarist and vocalist George Young, and two Englishmen: lead singer Stevie Wright and drummer Snowy Fleet.

After splitting up in 1969, the Friday On My Mind group reunited for a tour in 1986. In 2005, The Easybeats were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Singer Stevie Wright died in 2015, and George Young died in 2017.

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Paying tribute to Diamonde on Facebook, Baker said of the band: “The Easybeats turned Australia upside down – they were like our Beatles and Rolling Stones combined.

“Much of the attention was directed at Little Stevie, a frontman like no other. If they did notice DICK DIAMONDE, a dark, brooding presence up the back of the band, it was just for four metronomic chanted words: come* and* see* her.”

Baker added, “Founding member Dick was, like so many bass players (I’m thinking Wyman and Entwistle), a sober anchor in the band. For those who have seen the ABC TV series Friday On My Mind, the laundry scene (which I was present when they were shooting) tells much about how it all came together.

“With Stevie, George and Dick now gone, there are only two members of the classic band left – Harry and Snowy.

“Farewell Dingeman!”

In another tribute, Els added that he toured with The Easybeats in the ‘60s, where he “managed to spend some time with Dick, who I learned many Bass runs from as he was an incredible bass player. R.I.P. Dick.”