ArtistDirect News
Peter de Jong, Frontman of Newcastles Heroes, Dies After Five Decades in Music
Peter de Jong, the singer, songwriter and frontman of the Newcastle rock band Heroes, has died this week, bringing an end to a career that began in the early 1970s and became inseparable from the city’s live‑music scene.
De Jong’s family confirmed his death, and tributes are now pouring in for the musician who helped establish Heroes as one of the Hunter region’s most recognised rock acts. The band’s history is tightly woven into one of Newcastle’s most dramatic nights: the final performance at the Star Hotel on 19 September 1979, an event that sparked a large‑scale riot.
De Jong first attracted attention in 1971 as a member of Armageddon, a Newcastle‑based group that won the Newcastle heat of Hoadley’s Battle of the Sounds in consecutive years. Although the band never released a commercial recording, the competition success positioned De Jong as a prominent young musician in the local scene.
In 1977, De Jong joined guitarist Mark Tinson, bassist Jim Porteous and drummer Phil Screen to form Heroes. The new line‑up built a strong regional following. The band’s profile rose dramatically when the Star Hotel, a popular pub and live‑music venue, closed in 1979. Heroes performed on the venue’s final night, and police intervention ended the show, leading to a riot on King Street that drew an estimated 4,000 participants.
The Star Hotel incident became a defining moment for the band. Heroes’ song “The Star And The Slaughter,” written before the riot, was later performed on the ABC television show Countdown, which incorporated footage of the disturbances. The publicity surrounding the event helped Heroes secure a recording contract with Albert Productions.
The band’s self‑titled debut album was recorded at Albert Studios with producers Harry Vanda and George Young, former members of The Easybeats who had become influential Australian producers. De Jong wrote the first single, “Baby’s Had A Taste.” Heroes appeared on Countdown performing both “Baby’s Had A Taste” and “The Star And The Slaughter.” The album topped the Newcastle charts and made a national impact.
A second album was discussed during the band’s time with Albert Productions, but it was not released until 2015. That year, previously recorded and unreleased material was issued, giving fans a new look at the band’s early work.
Heroes were active mainly between 1977 and 1982, and they reformed on several occasions. De Jong remained a performer in the Newcastle and Hunter region. In later years he performed solo under the name Big Pete and formed the duo Two Smarts with long‑time bandmate Jim Porteous. His continued presence in local venues kept the band’s music alive for new audiences.
The band’s appearance on Countdown was significant for a Newcastle group. National television exposure could dramatically expand an artist’s audience, and Heroes’ performances placed De Jong and his bandmates in front of viewers well beyond the Hunter.
Heroes’ catalogue, including “Baby’s Had A Taste,” “Back To The Love,” and “The Star And The Slaughter,” remains part of Newcastle’s musical memory. The band’s legacy is evident in later reunions, such as the 2024 performance with Heroes at Mark Tinson’s 70th birthday celebration.
For a generation of Newcastle musicians, Heroes represented a path from local venues to national television and recording. The band’s story also formed part of the foundation for the broader Newcastle rock tradition that later produced nationally successful acts such as The Screaming Jets and Silverchair.
De Jong’s death leaves Heroes’ music as the principal record of a career that connected several generations of Newcastle’s music community. His family remembers him not only for his work as a performer and songwriter but also for his role as a husband, father, friend and mentor to musicians in the region.
His music will now be heard in a different context, as Newcastle remembers one of its longstanding musical voices and the songs that helped define an important chapter in the city’s rock history.
De Jong’s family confirmed his death, and tributes are now pouring in for the musician who helped establish Heroes as one of the Hunter region’s most recognised rock acts. The band’s history is tightly woven into one of Newcastle’s most dramatic nights: the final performance at the Star Hotel on 19 September 1979, an event that sparked a large‑scale riot.
De Jong first attracted attention in 1971 as a member of Armageddon, a Newcastle‑based group that won the Newcastle heat of Hoadley’s Battle of the Sounds in consecutive years. Although the band never released a commercial recording, the competition success positioned De Jong as a prominent young musician in the local scene.
In 1977, De Jong joined guitarist Mark Tinson, bassist Jim Porteous and drummer Phil Screen to form Heroes. The new line‑up built a strong regional following. The band’s profile rose dramatically when the Star Hotel, a popular pub and live‑music venue, closed in 1979. Heroes performed on the venue’s final night, and police intervention ended the show, leading to a riot on King Street that drew an estimated 4,000 participants.
The Star Hotel incident became a defining moment for the band. Heroes’ song “The Star And The Slaughter,” written before the riot, was later performed on the ABC television show Countdown, which incorporated footage of the disturbances. The publicity surrounding the event helped Heroes secure a recording contract with Albert Productions.
The band’s self‑titled debut album was recorded at Albert Studios with producers Harry Vanda and George Young, former members of The Easybeats who had become influential Australian producers. De Jong wrote the first single, “Baby’s Had A Taste.” Heroes appeared on Countdown performing both “Baby’s Had A Taste” and “The Star And The Slaughter.” The album topped the Newcastle charts and made a national impact.
A second album was discussed during the band’s time with Albert Productions, but it was not released until 2015. That year, previously recorded and unreleased material was issued, giving fans a new look at the band’s early work.
Heroes were active mainly between 1977 and 1982, and they reformed on several occasions. De Jong remained a performer in the Newcastle and Hunter region. In later years he performed solo under the name Big Pete and formed the duo Two Smarts with long‑time bandmate Jim Porteous. His continued presence in local venues kept the band’s music alive for new audiences.
The band’s appearance on Countdown was significant for a Newcastle group. National television exposure could dramatically expand an artist’s audience, and Heroes’ performances placed De Jong and his bandmates in front of viewers well beyond the Hunter.
Heroes’ catalogue, including “Baby’s Had A Taste,” “Back To The Love,” and “The Star And The Slaughter,” remains part of Newcastle’s musical memory. The band’s legacy is evident in later reunions, such as the 2024 performance with Heroes at Mark Tinson’s 70th birthday celebration.
For a generation of Newcastle musicians, Heroes represented a path from local venues to national television and recording. The band’s story also formed part of the foundation for the broader Newcastle rock tradition that later produced nationally successful acts such as The Screaming Jets and Silverchair.
De Jong’s death leaves Heroes’ music as the principal record of a career that connected several generations of Newcastle’s music community. His family remembers him not only for his work as a performer and songwriter but also for his role as a husband, father, friend and mentor to musicians in the region.
His music will now be heard in a different context, as Newcastle remembers one of its longstanding musical voices and the songs that helped define an important chapter in the city’s rock history.