BILLY THORPE

It's almost Winter.

 

Billy Thorpe's premature passing on the last day of Summer eight years ago affected me pretty much like it seemed to affect everyone over fifty years of age............... badly. It's not so much that an 'icon' (an overused and lazy label) had left us but, rather, a large chunk of Oz pop culture had broken away from the firmament and disappeared into a hole. What was left would never look and never feel the same.

 

Listening to talk-back radio at the time of his death, I remember that everyone had a story about Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs. I guess that's a measure of Thorpie's power, influence and infiltration. He was a master communicator and a master entertainer.

 

My Thorpe stories, I'd wager, would mirror tens of thousands of others. I'm an avid collector of rock music and have been listening to good vibes since about 14 years of age. Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs' 'Live At The Melbourne Town Hall' was the fifth album I ever bought and- I've got to tell you- my 'first ten' included stuff from Iron Butterfly, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck. The Aztecs were that good! Both 'Live At The Melbourne Town Hall' and 1970's 'The Hoax Is Over' are awesome Aztecs' albums and totally unique from both Antipodean and world perspectives.

 

My only encounter with viewing an Aztecs' concert occurred in 1994 when Thorpe briefly returned from the States, reformed the Aztecs (i.e. the classic 'Mark 2' band comprising 'Pig' Morgan, Paul Wheeler and Gil Matthews) and toured Sydney and Melbourne venues. Parramatta's 'War and Peace' had just re-opened after a ten year hiatus and was included on the band's tight schedule.

 

The temptress and I made a bee-line to the blood-house. As you'd expect, the volume was at ear-splitting levels and I still recall a ringing in my ears for days afterwards. What I can also vividly remember is the way Thorpe connected with the audience that night. Whilst performing, he would occasionally catch your gaze and grin as he kept you in his sights. It was a personal and a powerful communication.

 

A lot has been made of Thorpe being in the vanguard of the pub rock scene in the early seventies. In my opinion, this is only partly true. Thorpe had abandoned Australia long before pub rock kicked in as part of our musical and cultural history. Rather, where Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs really made their name lies in the town hall 'dances' that occurred in Sydney and Melbourne during 1970/ 1971. Draconian licensing laws meant that hotels, in those times, were not allowed to stage live music events of the sort that Thorpie and other hippie-type bands offered. I had the chance to see The Aztecs at Ashfield Town Hall in late 1971 but passed. I still have major regrets over such a poor decision.

 

If anyone really wants to hear how good The Aztecs were, may I humbly suggest you listen to the opening two tracks of 'Live At The Melbourne Town Hall'. There is no more thrilling introduction to any rock concert of any era. 'Pig' Morgan opens on the enormous town hall organ whilst Thorpe delivers what is almost a pastoral rendition of 'Somebody left me crying' (without guitar) before the entire band ramps up with 'Time To Live' following a stunning Thorpe guitar segue between the two pieces. Trust me, if you've never heard it, it will send chills down your spine.

 

Maybe music is the only thing that really 'talks'. Billy Thorpe talked.

Submission to Vinyl Hoarders United f/b group on 1 March 2015.