In November 1978, during the band's American tour, supporting Johnny Winter, they performed in Dallas, Texas, where "he made some general stage observations about redneck buddies, illegal oral sex and utility trucks" and called the audience members "faggots".
'"[5] Hunter attended Taumarunui High School and started performing as a cabaret singer, Todd later reminisced, "Oh, he was fabulous!
"[6] Marc Hunter joined Dragon in 1973 on lead vocals, percussion and saxophone, replacing their founding member singer, pianist Graeme Collins.
[8][9] They were managed by Wayne de Grouchy who told Hunter that he should "stop playing the congas, be more of a front man... Marc was more than just one of the musos.
[8] Dragon became one of Australia's biggest-selling bands, scoring a number of hit singles, including "April Sun in Cuba" (No.
He was recklessly outspoken and volatile on-stage: in November 1978 during the band's North American tour, supporting Johnny Winter, they performed in Dallas, Texas, where "he made some general stage observations about redneck buddies, illegal oral sex and utility trucks" and called the audience members, "faggots".
"[1] Dragon were named in the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Drug Trafficking (1981–83), due to their association with fellow New Zealander, Greg Ollard.
"[10] According to David Nichols, in the mid-1970s, "Three of the five members of Dragon – Marc Hunter, Hewson, and Storey – were by now associated with heroin selling and consumption.
[4][14] Back in Australia he signed a recording deal with CBS, which issued his debut solo album, Fiji Bitter, in November 1979.
[7][14] Fiji Bitter was recorded at Studios 301 in Sydney with Richard Lush producing and engineering – Hunter wrote or co-wrote most of its tracks.
[7][16] Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described them as "an ad hoc aggregation of musicians who were drawn together by a love of playing raucous R&B".
[7] Debbie Muir of The Canberra Times, felt it "covered a wide range of material that bore some resemblance to his last album, Fiji Bitter, but was totally different to his old, Dragon days.
"[17] He had used session musicians: Kevin Borich, Dave Mason (of the Reels) and Mark Punch (ex-Renée Geyer Band).
[17] Muir's fellow journalist at The Canberra Times, Garry Raffaele, opined that it "is flat, directionless, unexciting, effete rock and roll.
"[10] In August 1982 Dragon reformed with the line-up of Marc, Todd, Hewson, Jacobsen and Robert Taylor on guitar (ex-Mammal) for a national Class Reunion tour.
[7][8] McFarlane noted that it was "Ostensibly run to pay off outstanding debts, the tour proved so successful that the band re-formed on a permanent basis.
[7][19] Hunter issued his third solo album, Communication, in September 1985 with various session musicians used: Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Kirk Lorange, Mark Punch and Peter Walker on guitars, Todd Hunter and Phil Scorgie on bass guitar, Allan Mansfield and Don Walker on keyboards, and Mark Kennedy and Ricky Fataar on drums.
[14] Marc Hunter was invited by Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Keith Walker to contribute to a various artists' children's album, Zzzero (1989).
[4] He provided lullaby versions of Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child" and Bob Dylan's "Forever Young".
[4] He worked with Walker producing when recording his next solo album, Night and Day (August 1990), which was "a collection of jazz and pop standards.
'"[5] His friends, including Renée Geyer, organised a benefit concert to raise money for his treatment and to provide for his wife and children.
The finale, "April Sun in Cuba", was rendered by the ensemble led by John Farnham and his band, with Todd on bass guitar.
"[5] Another benefit, the Good Vibrations concert, was staged soon after at Selina's nightclub in the Coogee Bay Hotel in Sydney's eastern suburbs.
Hunter was unavailable – he was in Korea undergoing alternative therapy to prepare for a major throat operation, but he sent a letter which was read to the crowd.
[20] A memorial service for him was held at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Sydney, followed by an all-star benefit concert to raise money to support his widow and children.
On 1 July 2008, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) recognised Dragon's iconic status when they were inducted into their Hall of Fame.
During a fiery version of "April Sun in Cuba", the late Dragon singer Marc Hunter was incorporated into the chorus via a stirring performance video shown on a huge screen behind the band.
[3][28] Fiona Scott-Norman of The Sydney Morning Herald felt it "should be a classic modern-day tragedy" as Hunter provided "an embarrassment of talent and charisma, held the promise of greatness in his hands and pissed it all away through heroin, narcissism and self-sabotage.
"[33] However, she felt that Apter's presentation was "a utilitarian read that feels like it's been knocked out pretty quickly... Hunter is never likeable, or even knowable.
Heroin, booze and women feature in equally gargantuan proportions"; however, the biography, "lacks the real passion that underpins some of the great rock books.