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The cream of Perth's medical specialists have fond memories of  1975, when a group of mates at The University of WA decided they'd form a rock band to help pay their bills.

All medical students, with six years of study at UWA ahead of them, the boys got lots of gigs by undercutting the competition.  "We charged $500 and all the other bands at that time were charging $800 so we got all the gigs," says drummer Peter Leedman.

"We played at lots of 21sts - about 100 parties a year - as well as school balls and social clubs.  Hopefully somebody will remember us - we were called Graeme Hankey and the MDs," he says.

Twenty years after their last gig, the lanky musicians who enjoyed the free drinks at 21 ^st parties, have snipped off their mullets, donned sharp suits and matured into Perth's top medical specialists.

Drummer Professor Peter Leedman is an endocrinologist, lead guitarist Steve Gordon is a cardiologist, keyboard player Peter England is a urologist and the lead singer and bass guitarist Graeme Hankey is a neurologist.

"I've been wanting to get the band back together for about 10 years," says Professor Leedman.  "We finally got together for a jam session one day and my son said he'd like us to play at his 21 ^st. Our music went down well with the young ones at the party as well as our friends, so now we're getting together for a Rock N' Roll dance party which will be a fundraiser."

Professor Leedman, who is also Deputy Director of the WA Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR) is raising funds for the Ride to Conquer Cancer, which will benefit cancer research at the institute.  Funds raised at the party will go to Team WAIMR.

The Rock N'Roll dance party will be held on July 20 at the Royal Freshwater Yacht club.  The cost is $160 per person, including food and drinks.

Buy tickets on the WAIMR website , by clicking on the rock n' roll poster.

Left to right: Neurologist Graeme Hankey, Endocrinologist Peter Leedman, Urologist Peter England, Cardiologist Steve Gordon and Roadie Robert Parker.

Media references

Carolyn Monaghan (Communications Manager, WAIMR)  (+ 61 8)  9224 0377  /  (+61 4) 48 021 932
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783