Peter de Jong, the singer, songwriter and frontman of Newcastle rock band Heroes, has died after more than five decades as a central figure in the city’s live music community.
by Paul Cashmere
Peter de Jong, the frontman of Newcastle rock band Heroes, has died, bringing to an end a musical career that began in the early 1970s and became permanently linked to one of the most significant nights in Newcastle’s music history. His family confirmed his death this week, with tributes now being paid to the singer, guitarist and songwriter whose work with Heroes helped establish the band as one of the Hunter region’s most recognised rock acts.
De Jong first gained attention in 1971 with Armageddon, winning the Newcastle heat of Hoadley’s Battle of the Sounds in consecutive years. The group did not make commercial recordings, but its success established De Jong as a prominent young musician in the Newcastle scene.
In 1977, De Jong joined guitarist Mark Tinson, bassist Jim Porteous and drummer Phil Screen to form Heroes. The band developed a strong regional following before its association with the Star Hotel closure in 1979 gave it a national profile.
Heroes performed on the final night of the Star Hotel on September 19, 1979. The closure of the Newcastle hotel culminated in a riot in King Street after police intervened to end the band’s performance. De Jong and Heroes subsequently became part of the enduring folklore surrounding the event.
The experience was also connected to one of the band’s best-known songs, “The Star And The Slaughter”, although the song had been written before the riot. Heroes later performed it on ABC television’s Countdown, with the programme incorporating footage of the disturbances.
The publicity surrounding the Star Hotel events helped Heroes secure a recording deal with Albert Productions. Their self-titled debut album was recorded at Albert Studios with Harry Vanda and George Young, two former members of The Easybeats who had become among Australia’s most influential producers.
“Baby’s Had A Taste”, written by De Jong, became the band’s first single.
Heroes subsequently appeared on Countdown performing both “Baby’s Had A Taste” and “The Star And The Slaughter”. The band’s debut album reached the top of the Newcastle charts and also made an impact nationally.
For De Jong, the songs remained an important part of his musical identity long after Heroes’ original run ended. A second album was discussed during the band’s association with Albert Productions but was not released until 2015, when previously recorded and unreleased material was issued.
Heroes operated principally between 1977 and 1982 and subsequently reformed on several occasions. Their influence extended beyond their original period, with the band’s catalogue continuing to be revisited by Newcastle musicians and audiences.
De Jong remained active as a performer in the Newcastle and Hunter region. In later years he performed as a solo artist under the name Big Pete and also formed the duo Two Smarts with longtime Heroes bandmate Jim Porteous.
His death has prompted renewed attention to the significance of Heroes within Newcastle’s musical history. The band emerged from a particularly fertile period for Australian pub rock, when regional acts could build substantial local followings before seeking national exposure through record companies, touring and television.
Heroes’ appearance on Countdown was particularly significant for a Newcastle group. At a time when national television exposure could dramatically expand an artist’s audience, the band’s performances placed De Jong and his bandmates in front of viewers well beyond the Hunter.
The Star Hotel connection became an inseparable part of Heroes’ story, but De Jong’s contribution extended considerably further. His songwriting included “Baby’s Had A Taste”, while the band’s catalogue also included “Back To The Love” and “The Star And The Slaughter”. The songs have remained part of Newcastle’s local musical memory.
De Jong was also remembered as a musician who continued to perform for local audiences long after the national spotlight had moved elsewhere. His work with Two Smarts and as Big Pete maintained a direct connection with the regional venues and audiences where his career began.
The enduring affection for Heroes was evident in later reunions, including performances with surviving members. In 2024, De Jong again performed with Heroes at Mark Tinson’s 70th birthday celebration, demonstrating the continuing appeal of the band’s music decades after its original formation.
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 would later produce nationally successful acts including 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 has remembered 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.
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