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Photographic Portfolio 1:

Some Obscure Australian Rock Musicians.

by Terry Foenander.

In the 1970's I had the enjoyable privilege of attending a number of rock music concerts held in Melbourne, Sydney and Newcastle. At this time, I was quite enthusiastic about rock music, as well as photography - taking photographs, that is, not developing and printing them. A combination of these two obsessions produced a portfolio of some rather interesting photographs of rock musicians of the era, including many of now long forgotten artists. I was also able to capture some great views of rock musicians performing live in concert on my trusty Bell and Howell Super 8 movie camera, now a piece of antiquity.

As the years passed, my attendance at these events lessened until they have now become an occasional outing to look forwards to, instead of a regularity.

The last big music concert I attended was the performance by Don McLean, of American Pie fame, at the Empire Theatre, here in Toowoomba, in March, 1998. Unfortunately no cameras were allowed in the theatre (probably for the benefit of the entrepreneurs wishing to cash in on their own images of the event), so I was only able to get three copies of his autograph as a momento of the event.

Produced on this page are a number of photographs taken in the early 1970's at several locations in Melbourne, of some now obscure Australian bands. Where possible, I have included some notations on these bands and their releases. The source of all such information is the 1987 publication Who's Who of Australian Rock, compiled by Chris Spencer and Zbig Nowara, and published by the Five Mile Press Pty. Ltd, Knoxfield, Victoria.

Melbourne based Band of Light only existed for a very brief period in the early to mid-1970's, and they had a minor hit with "THE DESTINY SONG" in 1973. Bass guitarist Ian Rilen later went on to some degree of fame in Blackfeather and Rose Tattoo. Here they can be seen performing at the South Melbourne Football Ground, on December 30, 1973.

The Dingoes were one of the better known groups who performed at the South Melbourne Football Ground, on December 30, 1973. Their 1973 hit, "WAY OUT WEST" was later recorded by ex-Australian Crawl frontman, James Reyne as a duo with James Blundell, and became a smash hit once again, some two decades later. In this view Dingoes vocalist Broderick Smith can be seen at the microphone to the right, on stage. He was later (in 1981) to have a massive hit with "MY FATHER'S HANDS" as Broderick Smith's Big Combo.

Kiwi band the La De Das based their influences on the Rolling Stones, Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, and the psychedelia of the late 1960's and early 1970's. They had at least two hits in the early 1970's with "MORNING GOOD MORNING" and "TOO POOPED TO POP." Vocalist Kevin Borich was later a part of a number of bands, including his own Kevin Borich Express. They are shown here as one of the dozen or so bands that performed, December 30, 1973, at the South Melbourne Football Ground.

The two Rosses, Wilson and Hannaford, were the better known members of Melbourne based Mighty Kong, shown here in two separate views taken at the South Melbourne Football Ground concert of December 30, 1973. Both had formed Mighty Kong after leaving the immensely popular Daddy Cool, which they were later to reform. However, post-Kong Daddy Cool were never able to reach the heights of pre-Kong days. Kong's only single, "CALLIN' ALL CATS" never really caught on with the DC crowd.

Gary Anderson is seen vocalising here at the Melbourne Town Hall, fronting his then band Buster Brown. He was later to become better known as "Angry" Anderson of Rose Tattoo fame. This view is dated Sunday, January 6, 1974.

Lobby Loyde and the Coloured Balls, although now long forgotten by many, was the band formed by the legendary guitarist and vocalist Barry Lyde (aka Lobby Loyde). Loyde, who had performed with Billy Thorpe in the Aztecs and several other groups, pre-Balls, was later to perform with Rose Tattoo, and as a producer of several hit making bands, including Machinations, Sunnyboys, and Painters and Dockers. This is another view taken at the Melbourne Town Hall on January 6, 1974.

Madder Lake had a major hit with 1973's "12 Lb. TOOTHBRUSH," several months prior to their performance here at the Melbourne Town Hall, on Sunday night, January 6, 1974. Although considered a progressive band, they remained relatively obscure, and basically a pub band.

This black and white view of jazz-rock outfit, Kush, was taken at the Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, on Sunday, May 5, 1974. The band's vocalist was cross dresser, Geoff Duff, and the band were influenced in these early years by the brass sounds of Chicago and Blood, Sweat and Tears.

This final view shows the crowds at the Myer Music Bowl during an earlier concert performed by American artist, Joan Baez, on Sunday afternnon, January 20, 1974. Some views of British and American musicians, including Baez, are the subject of my next page of images, Photographic Portfolio 2, currently under construction.

All photographs on this page are the property of the author, and may not be reproduced in any form whatsoever, without prior permission.

E-mail: tfoenander@hotmail.com

December, 2000.