Welcome to the website of one of Queensland's best rock bands.
The Breakaways
About the Band
Ken Buckley has worked much of the 70s with popular band The Graduates, as well as Semanon the remnants of the Quin Tikis and Ti-Kiwis (playing the Sydney clubs) and more recently over the last ten years with band The Good Rockin Daddys. The former band (The Graduates) travelled across several states of Australia as well as working on stage with bands like, 'The Masters Apprentices', 'Flying Circus', 'Tamun Shud', and 'Copperwine'. The band also successfully completed two stints to war-torn Vietnam as well as touring many other South East Asian countries. The Graduates played extensively throughout Melbourne in the early seventies at venues like South Side Six, Sandown Park and The Waltzing Matilda, and was the first rock group to be invited to play at, the then very prestigious, Wrest Point Casino. In Sydney the band worked the Millers Hotel circuit as well as various venues in other capital cities. Kens skill and experience as a lead guitarist and singer has seen him accompany well-known artists the likes of John Rowles, Johnny Devlin, Eden Kane, Little Pattie, Mike Furber, Ronnie Burns and so on. Kens dedication to music and harmonies is a positive strength for The Breakaways.
Avito (King) Alefosio is the current drummer of The Breakaways. He began his career at the end of the sixties with the Catholic Youth Club Band in Dunedin, N.Z. In the early seventies he formed the popular group Harmony Three plus One. Then after time with a few great groups, he decided to leave for Australia. In 1989 Avito arrived in Aussie and upon realizing his talent, he was snapped up by The Juke Box Jives, a very popular Gold Coast Rock and Roll Group. When it later disbanded, Avito joined a select number of other bands, including Rumble Fish blues band, and popular group, 'The Jaguars. Later he was convinced by a member of the The Good Rockin Daddys, to join the Dads, and he did so for a productive eight month period. Avito is an accomplished and very professional drummer, who not only keeps near perfect time, but also has close to perfect pitch when it comes to harmony. His happy disposition is also one of his major strengths.
Peter Hall is an accomplished Bass player and singer.Peter brings a wealth of experience to the band as a very talented bassist and competent vocalist. Before Peters move to Australia, he was an integral part of the New Zealand music scene for a number of decades. Peter was co songwriter for the successful New Zealand band Bitter End, having chart success with the song Single Man in 1967. Over the years Peter has had further success in touring with popular artists who include Britains Eric Burdon, Dave Dee, Beaky, Dozy, Mick and Titch, Barry Ryan, Tony Christie as well as Australian popular instrumental band, The Atlantics. For a while Peter was the bassist for successful bands, Ray Columbus and The Invaders, and New Zealand band Trixx. Peters musical ability has once again been put to very good use in popular Australian band The Breakaways, where his smooth bass style, great harmonies and musical expertise add volumes to the sound. His sunny disposition is also a plus for the band.
Roger Dunlop the newest member of 'The Breakaways', hails from Christchurch, new Zealand, where he played in a variety of groups which covered a wealth of styles, including rock, jazz, country and show band material. He began playing guitar at the age of seven and moved to drums in the sixties, after joining the New Zealand army. Dances were often held where he was stationed, and as they failed to find a drummer, Roger volunteered, and so began a long musical career. This included playing and singing with successful Christchurch band 'Sage', and later a duo called 'Y-Knot', and then later, top show band, 'The Viscounts'. 1994 saw Roger move to the Gold Coast in Australia, with his wife and daughter. Then after a few more stints in groups , 'The Capital Showband', and 'Rewind', he joined up with Ken to help form the band, 'Kinda Kool', which later became 'The Good Rockin Daddys'. After 'GRD' disbanded, Roger went back to his passion for playing guitar, and after a year off, was approached to join 'The Breakaways', where he has settled into singing and playing rhythm guitar. Roger's strength lies in the fact that as well as being a very good drummer, and guitarist, he is also an excellent vocalist.
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