Initially, the band line-up consisted of drummer Peter Hood, bassist Bosco Bosanac, Theo Penglis on lead and rhythm guitar, and guitarist Eddy Matzenik.
[2] Note: There was a rock band in the Boston, Massachusetts area also called the Atlantics in the mid-1970s and early 1980s; songs of theirs included "Weekend", "When You're Young", and "Lonelyhearts".
They signed a deal with booking agent Joan King, who convinced the members to quit their day jobs and produce a demo, which she shopped to a variety of record labels.
Most Australian instrumental rock bands at the time merely aped and covered material from The Shadows or, to a lesser extent, The Ventures.
[3] The Atlantics had the advantage of having twin lead guitarists, both highly proficient on solo work and both capable of pushing the band along with a driving rhythm.
"Moon Man" was an original song written by Peter Hood, and "Dark Eyes" was a traditional tune reinterpreted by the band.
By this time the surfing music craze had reached Australia's shores and a host of local bands such as The Statesmen, Jimmy D & the Starlighters (a.k.a.
In July 1963, The Atlantics released the single that would become their biggest hit, most well-known song and one which remains a classic of its genre to this day.
"Bombora" was written by Hood and Skiathitis,[3] and was named after an Aboriginal term for large waves breaking over submerged rock shelves.
In November 1963, they released the follow-up, another similar thundering surf instrumental, "The Crusher" which, while not quite as successful as "Bombora", still made a respectable dent in the Australian charts.
A bold and ambitious attempt at a mini Sci-Fi space opera, it had a dramatic build-up intro, tempo changes and dynamic changes.
[3] They exchanged their suits and thin ties for casual shirts, T-shirts and jeans and grew their hair long, guitarist Theo Penglis switched to keyboards and they added a vocalist, Johnny Rebb.
They recorded songs with a variety of styles between 1965 and 1970 including a cover of The Beau Brummels' top 40 hit "You Tell Me Why" with 12 string guitar hook & harmonies, and an instrumental, "Take A Trip," under the pseudonym band name as The Gift of Love.
Fox won a Golden Guitar as the best new talent award for 1978 at Australia's annual prestigious Tamworth Country Music Festival for his song "If Nobody Loves You", which came from his first album.
Bob now resides in southern NSW and teaches guitar, whilst Bosco Bosanac now performs around Australia in a Johnny Cash Review.
On 2 December 2006 they appeared live, playing "Bombora" on the ABC Television show Delightful Rain, a celebration of four decades of Australian surf rock music.
In November 2009, Bombora Creative released a DVD, The Atlantics Live at Freshwater, of an impromptu performance the band did at the end of their recording sessions for Delightful Rain.