Brien has always been best known for his work in the Pop/Rock fields of music however his career as a musician has led him through many musical genres. Having recorded nine studio albums and one live album, he has shown his skill as a studio artist, performer, writer and producer. His live performances speak for themselves.
These days he is best known as the front man for his band "The Rockets From Oz", with Donovan Whitworth, Adam Osmanovic and Cameron Overend, or the many solo performances that he performs throughout the Hunter Valley area of NSW..
However, his success can also be seen through his past work with groups such as The Retro Rockets, The Raiding Party, Steve Gibson and The New Cowboys, The Funbusters, The Tamworth Country Music Theatre Band and The Slim Jim Phantom Trio. The combination of these has led him to have an interesting and diverse career.
His 90’s group Circuslife received high acclaim from the music industry but collapsed before the first record was completed.
Brien has worked with international artists such as Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes, Suzie Quatro, Fastball, Mike Peters, and Slim Jim Phantom (The Stray Cats) to name a few.
" The Retro Rockets" headlined every major Rock n Roll and Rockabilly festival in Australia and New Zealand, recorded five studio albums and one live album. Brien wrote all the songs for this band and was the lead vocalist/guitarist.
Brien moved to America in January 2014. Being an Australian musician, educator, composer and performer Brien McVernon made Rahway New Jersey his new home. His passion for the arts and arts education made Rahway Arts District an easy fit for his skills. Living 12 miles from Manhattan and having access to some of the best music and related arts in the world had been a pursuit of Brien’s for many years. Having been issued an Australian Artist with an Exceptional Talent visa, this pursuit became a reality.
Throughout late 2015 - early 2016 Brien's career saw him performing in Australia, New Zealand, The USA and Aruba. Residing in Newcastle Australia again to be closer to family, he still ventured across the globe expanding his fan base.
2018 saw him return to his Rock n Roll roots with a new solo record "The New Adventures Of Captain Retro". This is a collection of original songs reflecting the many original influences in Brien's Rock Music life.
His current band "Brien McVernon and The Rockets From Oz", have played shows across Australia and New Zealand. The Rockets From Oz released their first album "Undercover" in 2019.
When the pandemic hit in 2020 many things changed. Brien turned towards his early roots in electronic music and started a new self recorded project 'The Profits OfZen" Several single releases and you tube video's have now been released under this title.
We are now into 2023 and letting the music direction find it's course.
A.
All I Want Is You - U2
Always On My Mind - Elvis
A Girl Like You – Edwin Collins
Addicted To Love – Robert Palmer
All The Small Things – Blink 182
Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again – The Angels
April Sun In Cuba – Dragon
Almost With You – The Church
Alone With You Tonight – Sunnyboys
A Beat For You – Pseudo Echo
Angel Of Harlem – U2
B.
Best Friends Girl – The Cars
Better Be Home Soon – Crowded House
Black And Gold – Sam Sparrow
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
Bad Case Of Loving You – Robert Palmer
Bad Mood Rising – Creedence Clearwater
Blister In The Sun – Violent Femmes
Boys Are Back In Town – Thin Lizzy
Bright Side Of The Road – Van Morrison
Born To Be Wild – Steppenwolf
Boys Of Summer - Don Henley
C.
Come Said The Boy – Mondo Rock
Cocaine – JJ Cale
Cracklin Rosie – Neil Diamond
China Girl – David Bowie
Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
Cut A Long Story Short – Spandau Ballet
Counting The Beat – The Swingers
D.
Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
Drive – The Cars
Dancing In The Dark – Bruce Springsteen
Don’t Change – INXS
Don’t You Forget About Me – Simple Minds
Down Under – Men At Work
Dancing With Myself – Billy Idol
Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac
E.
Easy – Lionel Ritchie
Everybody Wants To Rule The World – Tears For Fears
Every Time You Go Away – Paul Young
Eagle Rock – Daddy Cool
Every Breath You Take – The Police
F.
Fire - Bruce Springsteen
First Cut Is The Deepest - Rod Stewart
Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra
Funky Town - Pseudo Echo
G.
Get It On – T Rex
Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
Good Times – INXS/Jimmy Barnes
H.
Hurt So Good – John Mellencamp
Heroes – David Bowie
Hard Days Night – The Beatles
Honkey Tonk Woman – Rolling Stones
Hot Love – T Rex
Hold Me Now – The Thompson Twins
Hotel California – The Eagles
Have I Told You Lately – Van Morrison
I.
I Fought The Law – The Clash
I Hear Motion – Models
I Got You – Split Enz
I Wish I Were Blind – Bruce Springsteen
In Dreams – Roy Orbison
Is She Really Going Out With Him – Joe Jackson
I Love Rock n Roll – Joan Jett
I’m A Believer – The Monkees / Smashmouth
I Ran – Flock Of Seagulls
J.
Just Can’t Get Enough – Depeche Mode
Jumping Jack Flash – Rolling Stones
Jean Genie – David Bowie
Just What I Needed – The Cars
K.
Kiss – Prince
Khe Sahn – Cold Chisel
Kiss Is On My List – Hall & Oats
L.
Layla – Eric Clapton
Let Her Cry – Hootie And The Blowfish
Little Sister – Elvis
Love My Way – Psychedelic Furs
Love Will Keep Us Alive – The Eagles
La Bamba – Richie Valens
Let’s Stick Together – Bryan Ferry
Let’s Go – The Cars
Let’s Dance – David Bowie
Lonely Ol’ Night – John Mellencamp
LA Woman -The Doors
Love Me 2 Times – The Doors
Love Her Madly – The Doors
Lonely Boy – The Black Keys
Let It Be – The Beatles
M.
Mad World – Tears For Fears
Miss You – Rolling Stones
Missing You – John Waite
Mustang Sally – The Commitments
N.
Nutbush – Tina Turner
O.
Only You – Yazoo
Overkill – Men At Work
Old Time Rock N Roll
P.
Proud Mary - Creedence Clearwater
Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison
Paint It Black – Rolling Stones
Perfect – Ed Sheeran
Pretty In Pink - Psychedelic Furs
Price Of Love – Bryan Ferry
Q.
Quasimodo’s Dream – The Reels
R.
Rain – Dragon
Real Wild Child – Iggy Pop
Rebel Yell – Billy Idol
Revolution – The Beatles
Roadhouse Blues – The Doors
Rock Around The Clock – Bill Haley
Raspberry Beret – Prince
Riptide – Van Joyce
Rock This Town – Stray Cats
Roll Over Beethoven – Chuck Berry
Rich Girl – Hall & Oats
Run Away Boys – Stray Cats
S.
Still Haven’t Found – U2
Summer Of 69 – Bryan Adams
Solitary Man – Neil Diamond
Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran
Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
Suspicious Minds – Elvis
Satisfaction – Rolling Stones
Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles
Smooth – Santana
Stuck In The Middle – Steelers Wheel
Something So Strong – Crowded House
Superstition – Stevie Wonder
Sweet Dreams – Eurythmics
Sweet Home Chicago – Blues Bros
Should I stay Or Should I Go – The Clash
Stand By Me – John Lennon
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynard Skynard
T.
The Letter – Joe Cocker
This Guys In Love
Take It Easy – The Eagles
Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper
Throw Your Arms Around Me – Hunter And Collectors
The Way – Fastball
To Her Door – Paul Kelly
Tainted Love – Soft Cell
Tonight She Comes – The Cars
U.
Unguarded Moment – The Church
Unchain My Heart – Joe Cocker
V.
Valerie – Amy Winehouse
Viva La Vida – Coldplay
W.
White Wedding – Billy Idol
When You Say Nothing At All – Ronan Keating
Wicked Game – Chris Isaak
Wonderwall – Oasis
Wonder Of You – Elvis
While My Guitar Gently Weeps – The Beatles
Working Class Man – Jimmy Barnes
We Can Get Together – Icehouse
What I Like About You – Romantics
When I Come Around – Green Day
Y.
Yellow – Coldplay
You May Be Right – Billy Joel
Z.
Ziggy Stardust – David Bowie
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