The current members of Little River Band are Wayne Nelson (bass, vocals), Chris Marion (keyboards, vocals), Ryan Ricks (drums, vocals), Colin Whinnery (guitar, vocals) and Bruce Wallace (guitar, vocals). None of them is an original member, none was in the band in the 1970s, and none of them is Australian. Nelson has the longest history with the group, having first joined in 1980.
Little River Band formed in Melbourne, Australia, in March 1975 and has had over 30 members since then. Its best-known songs include “Reminiscing,” its highest-charting single on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 3, “Help Is on Its Way,” its only Australian number-one hit, and “Cool Change.” Here is the current line-up, with roles and years as the band’s member list gives them.
Wayne Nelson (1980–96, 1999–present)
Bass and vocals. Nelson first joined in 1980, when the band’s 1980s members also included John Farnham, Stephen Housden, David Hirschfelder and Steve Prestwich. He left in 1996 and returned in 1999, and he is the senior member of today’s band.
Chris Marion (2004–present)
Keyboards and vocals since 2004.
Ryan Ricks (2012–present)
Drums and vocals since 2012.
Colin Whinnery (2018–present)
Guitar and vocals since 2018.
Bruce Wallace (2022–present)
Guitar and vocals since 2022, the most recent addition to the line-up.
The Classic Little River Band Line-Up
The members most fans remember are not in the current band. The classic line-up was:
- Glenn Shorrock, vocals (1975–82, 1987–96), who wrote “Cool Change”
- Graeham Goble, guitar and vocals (1975–92), who wrote “Reminiscing”
- Beeb Birtles, guitar and vocals (1975–83)
- Derek Pellicci, drums (1975–84, 1987–97)
- David Briggs, guitar (1976–81)
- George McArdle, bass (1976–79)
The 1976 line-up of Shorrock, Goble, Birtles, McArdle, Briggs and Pellicci was inducted into the ARIA hall of fame in 2004.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are any original members still in Little River Band? No. None of the musicians performing as Little River Band today were original members or were in the band in the 1970s.
- Who sang lead for Little River Band in the 1980s? John Farnham sang lead from 1982 to 1986, after Glenn Shorrock first left.
- Who is the longest-serving current member? Wayne Nelson, who first joined in 1980.
- Where did Little River Band form? In Melbourne, Australia, in 1975.
See also the complete list of Little River Band members, the complete list of Men at Work band members and the current members of Toto.
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