Doc Neeson Awarded Order of Australia Medal - Noise11 Music News
Doc Neeson photo by Ros O'Gorman, Noise11, Photo

Doc Neeson photo by Ros O'Gorman

Doc Neeson Awarded Order of Australia Medal

by Paul Cashmere on January 26, 2013

in News

Doc Neeson has been awarded the Order of Australia medal for his services to music and the community.

Doc Neeson photo by Ros O'Gorman

Doc Neeson photo by Ros O'Gorman

The 66-year old original singer for The Angels was diagnosed with a brain tumour over Christmas and is currently undergoing treatment. This news of the award coming on Australia Day was a big boost to Doc’s morale.

Doc was born in Ireland and migrated to Australia with his family as a child. In the 1960s he was conscripted into the Australian army and served as an education corps sergeant in Papua New Guinea for 18 months.

Doc was behind ‘The Tour of Duty – Concert for the Troops’ and held his first event in East Timor in 1999.

After suffering a spinal injury from a serious car accident, Doc announced his departure from The Angels on New Year’s Eve 1999.

In the past decade, Doc had a brief reunion with The Angels in 2008 around the reissue of the classic ‘Face To Face’ album when the band toured the album live. Since then he had announced plans to tour his own version of The Angels called The Angels 100% featuring former members of the band.

The Angels 100% project has been placed on hold while Doc undergoes his cancer treatment for most of this year.

Stay updated with your free Noise11 daily music newsletter. Subscribe to Noise11 Music News here

Related Posts

Ami Williamson
Ami Williamson Returns With First Album In Seven Years, Sing You Out Of Me

Ami Williamson will release her first new album in seven years on August 7, 2026, marking a significant new chapter for one of Australia's most accomplished folk singer-songwriters.

10 hours ago
John Brewster of The Angels with the guitar made by his son Sam
The Angels Celebrate 50 Years Of Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again With New All-Star Video

The Angels have unveiled a new commemorative video for Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the song that has become one of the most recognisable recordings in Australian rock history. The clip, assembled by founding guitarist Rick Brewster, features all of the vocalists who have fronted the band during its five-decade career and arrives as the group prepares to embark on a national anniversary tour spanning more than 25 dates around Australia.

June 1, 2026
The Angels by Erica Lorimer
The Angels Celebrate 50 Years Of Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again With National Tour

The Angels mark a defining moment in Australian rock history, with The Angels taking their Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again… 50 Years On tour across the country in 2026

March 18, 2026
Metallica performing The Angels’ Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again in Adelaide
Metallica Perform The Angels’ Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again In Adelaide

Metallica made Australian rock history in Adelaide last night when they delivered a surprise performance of The Angels' Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again, igniting an eruption from the crowd as thousands of voices roared back with the legendary Australian chant.

November 6, 2025
Tour of Duty cover
Historic 1999 Tour of Duty Concert Featuring John Farnham, Kylie Minogue and The Living End To Be Released For ANZAC Day

John Farnham said shortly after arriving in Dili: “I’ll never be able to explain to my family and friends how I felt being transported in a green truck accompanied by a soldier brandishing arms, and looking at children and women on the streets in what’s been a horrendous situation.”

April 20, 2024
The Angels perform at Red Hot Summer in Mornington at the Mornington Racecourse on Saturday 23 January 2016.
The Angels At Chelsea Heights Hotel Melbourne 19 August 2016 SETLIST

The Brewster Brothers are Australian musical treasures. The Angels are one of Australia’s greatest live bands. Dave Gleeson is a perfect frontman to take this band forward. The Angels band in 2016 is as powerful as it ever was.

August 20, 2016
Doc Neeson, Melbourne Countdown Spectacular, Photo Ros O'Gorman
Doc Neeson Public Memorial Planned

The family of Doc Neeson are planning a public memorial service for the late Angels singer for later this year.

June 14, 2014