Beeb Birtles was born Gerard Bertelkamp in 1948, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Beeb is a celebrated musician, singer, songwriter, and guitarist.
As a founding member of iconic bands such as Zoot, Mississippi, and the Little River Band, Birtles has left an indelible mark on the music industry, both in Australia and internationally.
His story is one of remarkable transition—from his Dutch heritage to becoming an influential figure in Australian rock.
Gerard Bertelkamp, better known by his stage name Beeb Birtles, was born into a Dutch family in post-war Amsterdam. His father was a skilled carpenter and building contractor, while his mother shared a love for music that would influence her son’s career.
In 1959, the Bertelkamp family embarked on a life-changing journey - emigrating to Australia. Settling in Adelaide, South Australia, the family embraced their new home, which provided fertile ground for young Gerard’s passion for music to flourish.
While attending high School in Adelaide, Beeb formed his first band, Times Unlimited. This group evolved into Down the Line, where he began honing his craft by covering popular English Mod songs.
In 1967, Birtles joined the influential band Zoot as the bassist and vocalist. Zoot gained popularity with its energetic performances and hits like a rock-infused version of The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby.”
Zoot’s success propelled Beeb into the limelight, but the band disbanded in '71, paving the way for new musical endeavours.
Beeb then formed the duo Frieze with fellow Zoot member (the late) Darryl Cotton, which marked another chapter in his early career.
In '72, Beeb joined the folk-rock group Mississippi, which later transformed into the Little River Band (LRB) in 1975.
As a founding member, Beeb played a pivotal role in crafting the band’s harmonious rock sound, contributing to their global success. Hits like “Reminiscing,” “Help Is on Its Way,” and “Lonesome Loser” cemented the band’s reputation as one of Australia’s greatest musical exports.
Beeb remained with the Little River Band until 1983, during which they sold millions of records worldwide.
After leaving LRB, Birtles collaborated with Graeham Goble, another LRB alum, to form the duo Birtles & Goble, releasing the album The Last Romance.
He later pursued solo projects, including the 2000 album Driven by Dreams. In 2002, Birtles reunited with former LRB members Glenn Shorrock and Graeham Goble to form Birtles Shorrock Goble, performing LRB classics alongside new material.
Beeb Birtles’ contributions to music have earned him widespread recognition. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his service to music and inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame in 2004 alongside his Little River Band colleagues.
He was also appointed a Member of the Order of Australia “for significant service to the performing arts as a singer, songwriter and musician”.
Despite his success in Australia and beyond, Beeb remains deeply connected to his Dutch roots. Today he resides in Nashville, USA where he continues to write and produce music.
He has written an autobiography called 'Everyday of My Life" and his passion for music hasn't waned at all.
Join us during this episode as Beeb shares the story of his incredible musical life through Zoot, Mississippi and the extraordinary Little River Band.
