John Lyde, better known as Lobby Loyde, erstwhile rhythm guitarist and monolithic figure in the birth and evolution of the Oz Rock sound and tradition, lost his fight with lung cancer on Saturday.
Lobby was a boyhood friend of Billy Thorpe, who credited him with having taught Thorpie how to play rock guitar. He stinted with the thrid iteration of Thorpie's Aztecs, giving rise to the "hurricane" style of sound epitomised by the Aztec's Sunbury appearances. His own offerings within the bounds of the Purple Heats, Wild Cherries and the infinitely better-known Cooloured Balls are much more obscure than those of his cohort Thorpe, but equally revered among the Australia rock music push... Molly Meldrum described him as not only a marvellously eccentric figure, but as possessing a keen intelligence and humour.
From the Coloured Balls was borne Buster Brown, from which Rose Tattoo eventually issued... and the circle was closed when Lobby, though ill, joined the Tatts in 2006 to pay tribute to Peter Wells, who was felled by his own battle with the Spanish Dancer.
Lobby, the man behind The Band With The 1000W Bass Rig, was 65.
As the stormclouds rumbled over Brisbane last night, it was too easy to imagine Lobby and Billy soundchecking for the Big Gig... rest in piece old sons.
Lobby was a boyhood friend of Billy Thorpe, who credited him with having taught Thorpie how to play rock guitar. He stinted with the thrid iteration of Thorpie's Aztecs, giving rise to the "hurricane" style of sound epitomised by the Aztec's Sunbury appearances. His own offerings within the bounds of the Purple Heats, Wild Cherries and the infinitely better-known Cooloured Balls are much more obscure than those of his cohort Thorpe, but equally revered among the Australia rock music push... Molly Meldrum described him as not only a marvellously eccentric figure, but as possessing a keen intelligence and humour.
From the Coloured Balls was borne Buster Brown, from which Rose Tattoo eventually issued... and the circle was closed when Lobby, though ill, joined the Tatts in 2006 to pay tribute to Peter Wells, who was felled by his own battle with the Spanish Dancer.
Lobby, the man behind The Band With The 1000W Bass Rig, was 65.
As the stormclouds rumbled over Brisbane last night, it was too easy to imagine Lobby and Billy soundchecking for the Big Gig... rest in piece old sons.
