Lobby Loyde: the G.O.D.father of Australian rock Paul Oldham Supervisor: Dr Vicki Crowley A thesis submitted to The University of South Australia Bachelor of Arts (Honours) School of Communication, International Studies and Languages Division of Education, Arts, and Social Science Contents Lobby Loyde: the G.O.D.father of Australian rock ................................................. i Contents ................................................................................................................................... ii Table of Figures ................................................................................................................... iv Abstract .................................................................................................................................. ivi Statement of Authorship ............................................................................................... viiiii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. ix Chapter One: Overture ....................................................................................................... 1 Introduction: Lobby Loyde 1941 - 2007 ....................................................................... 2 It is written: The dominant narrative of Australian rock formation...................... 4 Oz Rock, Billy Thorpe and AC/DC ............................................................................... 7 Private eye: Looking for Lobby Loyde .......................................................................... 8 The cult of Lobby Loyde ................................................................................................ 10 Chapter Two: Becoming Australia’s first guitar hero - an early historiography of Lobby Loyde ..................................................................................... 14 Little golden hands: Lobby Loyde’s beginnings ....................................................... 15 The boys with the Benzedrine beat: The Purple Hearts ......................................... 16 Adventures in psychedelia: The Wild Cherries ........................................................ 19 Reinventing Billy Thorpe: Lobby Loyde and The Aztecs ...................................... 21 Liberate rock: The origins of The Coloured Balls .................................................... 25 Chapter Three: Just when you think you seen everything: The nexus of The Coloured Balls and sharpies ............................................................................................ 28 The kids are alright: sharpie subculture ..................................................................... 29 Revenge band: Loyde turns his back on the music industry .................................. 32 Nexus, ‘event’ and rhizome: a brief Deleuzian detour ............................................. 32 Ball Power: the rise of The Coloured Balls ................................................................ 34 They call me the Devil’s disciple: moral panic and folk devils .............................. 35 The demise of The Coloured Balls ............................................................................... 38 Chapter Four: Working man’s boogie: Lobby Loyde moves into the margins ................................................................................................................................................... 40 Going down: the aftermath of The Coloured Balls’ break-up ................................ 41 Escape to London: Loyde’s relocates to learn his craft against a punk rock backdrop ............................................................................................................................. 42 “There’s a good guy up the back who’s sick of being up the front”: Loyde as record producer ................................................................................................................. 43 Human being: the disappearance of Australia’s first guitar hero .......................... 44 Secret origins: The rhizomatic roots of Australianness, grunge and Australian alternative music............................................................................................................... 45 Godfather of Australian rock ......................................................................................... 50 Conclusion: “If I’d have had success I would have been buggered” ................. 52 What’s it all mean?: In summation .............................................................................. 53 ii References ............................................................................................................................. 55 Appendix I: Supplementary Referenced News Articles ........................................ 60 Chris Copas (2006), ‘A legend finally gets his dues’, The Examiner, Launceston. .............................................................................................................................................. 60 Patrick Donovan (2006): ‘Legend Lobby just wants ‘to play a couple more times with mates’’, The Age, Melbourne. .............................................................................. 61 Patrick Emery (2006): ‘Lobby Loyde denies his own place in Australian guitar history’, Beat Magazine, Melbourne ............................................................................ 62 Ian McFarlane (2007): ‘VALE Lobby Loyde’, Rhythms Magazine, Brunswick Heads. .................................................................................................................................. 63 Lucinda Strahan (2002a): Conversations About Sharpies Culture, ABC, Melbourne. .............................................................................................................................................. 64 Lucinda Strahan (2002b): Sharpies A Unique Australian Subculture, ABC, Melbourne. ......................................................................................................................... 68 Clinton Walker (2007): ‘Coloured Balls - Ball Power review’, Rolling Stone Magazine, Sydney. ........................................................................................................... 71 References: ......................................................................................................................... 72 Appendix II: Selected Discography .............................................................................. 73 Appendix III: Useful Annotated Links ........................................................................ 74 Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs with Lobby Loyde from ABC’s GTK 1970. ............ 74 The Coloured Balls .......................................................................................................... 74 Melbourne’s sharpie subculture .................................................................................... 75 Bored! covering The Coloured Balls ............................................................................ 76 Figure 6: Ticket stub ....................................................................................................... 76 Lobby’s final show with The Coloured Balls at The Corner Hotel, Melbourne Tue Dec 19 2006 .............................................................................................................. 76 Michael Fein clips news obituary ................................................................................. 77 References .......................................................................................................................... 77 Appendix IV: CD supplement notes ............................................................................. 78 Audio Interview Clips: .................................................................................................... 78 Music Tracks: .................................................................................................................... 79 References .......................................................................................................................... 80 Aztec Music Permission Form ...................................................................................... 81 iii Table of Figures Figure Page Name Source 1 1 Lobby #1 Fran Callen 2010, original sketch created specifically for the purpose of this thesis. 2 14 Lobby #2 Fran Callen 2010, original sketch created specifically for the purpose of this thesis. 3 28 Lobby #3 Fran Callen 2010, original sketch created specifically for the purpose of this thesis. 4 40 Lobby #4 Fran Callen 2010, original sketch created specifically for the purpose of this thesis. 5 52 Lobby #5 Fran Callen 2010, original sketch created specifically for the purpose of this thesis. 6 76 Ticket Stub Ticket stub from Loyde’s final show on 19 December 2006 iv ‘Ghost Song’ (poem accompanying Fran Callen’s original sketches) How to listen for the ghost song hidden in these bones? To see what can only be seen with eyes closed To face what can only be faced with back turned Reached with fingers dipped in rippling thunder …holes filled with possibilities. Written by Paul Oldham 2010. v Abstract This thesis contends that the influence of Australian rock musician Lobby Loyde has been overlooked by Australia’s popular music scholarship. The research examines Loyde’s significance and influence through the neglected sphere of his work (1966- 1980) with The Coloured