'Helped shape the sound of a generation': Legendary The Easybeats guitarist Dick Diamonde dies aged 76

ARIA Award-winning The Easybeats bass guitarist and Hall of Famer Dick Diamonde has died. He was 76.

The Australian Recording Industry Association confirmed the sad news in a statement shared to its officiail Instagram account, reflecting on Diamonde's monumental legacy on Australian rock music.

"ARIA is saddened by the passing of Dick Diamonde, a legendary musician and a founding member of iconic Australian band, The Easybeats," the statement, shared overnight, began.

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"As the bassist for one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s, Dick helped shape the sound of a generation, contributing to unforgettable hits like Friday on My Mind that were instrumental in putting Australian rock music on the world stage," the statement continued.

"His work with The Easybeats laid the foundation for future generations of Australian artists to find their voice and success both at home and abroad."

Born Dingeman Adriaan Henry van der Sluijs in the Netherlands in 1947, Diamonde and his family moved to Sydney when he was four years old.

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He grew up in Villawood, near what was then known as Sydney's Villawood Migrant Hostel, now known as Villawood Immigration Detention Centre.

In late 1964, when Diamonde was around 17 years old, he and four other European migrants founded The Easybeats after meeting in the centre.

They were only truly active for five years (aside from a brief reunion in 1986), but by the time they disbanded in 1969, The Easybeats had become one of the most successful rock acts in the country.

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Known for hits including 1965's She's So Fine, it was 1966's Friday on My Mind that put them and, by extension, Australian rock on the global stage.

In 2005, The Easybeats were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Diamonde died on September 18. He is the third founding member of the band to have died in the last decade – Stevie Wright died aged 68 in 2015, and George Young died aged 70 in 2017.

They are survived by lead guitarist Harry Vanda and drummer Snowy Fleet.

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