In 1975, Baker took on their management, renamed them as Ol' 55 for the Tom Waits song, and recruited front man Frankie J. Holden and, later in the year, saxophonist Wilbur Wilde.
The band enjoyed popularity with a style that bordered on parody but managed to combine novelty retro kitsch and clever theatrics with a keen sense of pop dynamics and an acute understanding of rock 'n' roll.
The band scored five top 20 hits on the Australian Kent Music Report singles chart and their debut album, Take It Greasy peaked at No.
In September they released their debut single as a double A-side with a Paul Anka cover "Diana" backed with The Spaniels' "Goodnight Sweetheart" on Mushroom Records.
The next year the track “skateboard thrills” was used in the documentary “highway one.” Plummer left in January 1977 and was replaced on drums by Geoff "Spud" Peterkin (ex-Springwater).
They were often billed with fellow Mushroom Records groups Skyhooks and Ted Mulry Gang as well as other notable acts AC/DC and Sherbet.
[1] In August 1977, Ol' 55 unveiled its re-vamped line-up with new singer Mike Raffone (aka Paul Stevens, ex-Silver Studs).
Guitarists, Drummond and Jones retained the rights to the name Ol' 55, and recruited original drummer Plummer, and added Terry Bellew(ex-Hotrox Band)on bass guitar and Robert "Bad Bob Tawney" Drummond on guitar; Geoff Plummer left in July 1980 and was replaced by Doug Martyn on drums and vocals.
[1][2] After 1975 when Fanis had become OL' 55, under Baker's guidance, they developed a style that bordered on parody, but managed to combine novelty retro kitsch and clever theatrics with a keen sense of pop dynamics and an acute understanding of rock 'n' roll.
They were described by rock historian, Ian McFarlane as "Heavy metal pop that combined Beach Boys style vocals with Ramones guitar riffs and Buggles synthesisers".
[11] In 1982 (Australia Day weekend at Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne), Holden, Jones, Manzie, Plummer, Wilde and "guitarist for hire" Gunther Gorman reconvened as The Fives to appear at the Mushroom Evolution Concert to celebrate the label's 10th anniversary.
Three tracks from the band appeared on the live triple LP album of the event (subsequently released on VHS, DVD(LIBDVD1098), CD and now iTunes).
The most successful line-up also reformed for the Mushroom 25th Anniversary concert in 1997 and tracks were included in the VHS, DVD and CD releases.
Manzie lived in Hollywood, he writes film music—mainly for horror movies,[12] and produces recordings for bands and has a partner and three children, Jackson, Alexandra and Clive.
Geoff "Drainpipe" Plummer died on 2 February 2006, leaving behind his wife Sandra and four children Sharne, Malory, Myles and Oliver.