| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
FatsoForgotso
Bronze Member
80 Posts |
 Posted - 03/11/2008 : 07:53:30
|
| I picked up a few of this guy's albums and I must say Billy Thorpe is one of my new inspirations. Amazing guitar player and boy does he have some pipes! Anyone else know of him? |
|
|
Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 08:27:59
|
Never heard of him� What style?
This is a very good idea to make a topic of lesser known but good guitar players that we all should give an ear. I really like to get my views widened by tips from friends.
|
 |
|
|
Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 08:43:03
|
quote:
Originally posted by FatsoForgotso
I picked up a few of this guy's albums and I must say Billy Thorpe is one of my new inspirations. Amazing guitar player and boy does he have some pipes! Anyone else know of him?
Hi FatsoForgotso
Local Aussie legend, played many times at the local pub, just a few Km down the road.
I was lucky enough to see him play recently, during the "Long Way To The Top" tour.
My good friend "Robbo" PETER ROBINSON, the drummer that played with many great Aussie bands, most famous was "Spectrum" then renamed to the "MURTCEPS" Spectrum backwards.
Was the main drummer in that tour. The DVD is available on-line, if you are interested & look around. probably even some clips on youtube.
One my other best buddies, used to roadie sometimes for him.
He was one of many greats, that played Australia's 70's "Sunbury"festival/s.
As well as every other gig going in Australia.
During his younger adolescent days was reported to have been a Choir Boy, & that's were his love & singing & music came from.
Would play outro's longer than the actual song.
Thorpie just Played BLOODY LOUD, & even louder.
Played Old Marshalls & Les Pauls, I don't ever remember seeing him with a Strat, or anything else, come to think of it.
Wrote ("Some people I know" think that I'm crazy).
Never seemed to have mellowed out-even in his later years.
He was affectionately know as the wild man of rock
Most people knew him as, & called him Thorpie
Sadly we lost him due to health reason.
He left two adult daughters & a loving wife.
And a generation of rock lovers
I managed to find a DVD of his July 31st 1993, Boggo Road Jail, 20 Anniv, reunion concert, with the old AZTECS, & a local pawnbrokers recently.
Boggo Road Jail is an old jail complex, in Brisbane
Many Aussie rock bands have played there.
If you like Thorpie, you might also Like Angry Anderson & Rose Tattoo.
Gil 'Rats" Matthews:
The Drummer from the Aztecs, now runs a business called Aztec Music, you can find them on the web. (see link below)
He has been getting the rights to & republishing many 70's & 80's Great bands & their music.
He does about 10 or so per year, & in limited quantities.
You'll find some pictures of Thorpie over there.
You will find some great Aussie rock over there, & quite a few Aztecs re-releases.
http://www.aztecmusic.net/
I hope this was a bit of an insight into the man's long & great career.
Let me know if you might have any other questions, that I might be able to answer.
YES! I can play "Most People I know" I've been playing it ever since I heard it on the radio as a teenager, with a Crappy amp & Canora  guitar.
Regards Dr. Bob |
|
|
|
FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 10:55:56
|
great to see someone remembering some of these bands and people....i'm not to familiar with the aussie scene but i think every country had a somewhat similar experience,i know ireland had some great bands that didn't 'make it' bigtime but still were very good all the same...i think what happened to a lot of them here was they got the 'next U2' anchor tied around their neck by music critics and PR people in record companies and that was their death knell..... i've seen some of them go on to have sucessful careers in other aspects of the music business and better still some of them are starting to get back together and do the odd gig..i pulled a a record player out of a builders skip a while back and i've been having great fun going through all my old vinyls.... ..... |
Edited by - FRANZONI on 03/11/2008 13:49:33 |
|
|
|
jack
Platinum Member
USA
1418 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 14:05:54
|
| I think Billy Thorpe's biggest hit was "Children Of The Sun", a song which kind of has a Billy Squier-ish vibe to me... |
|
|
|
FatsoForgotso
Bronze Member
80 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 22:53:51
|
I would have loved to see him. I hate to learn of wonderful musicians who died way before their time. SRV, Billy Thorpe, etc
my favorite is "mama" I'm trying to get that Sunbury CD for it
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7sSDrDQ0VEU |
|
|
|
FatsoForgotso
Bronze Member
80 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 23:11:36
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Bob
quote:
Originally posted by FatsoForgotso
I picked up a few of this guy's albums and I must say Billy Thorpe is one of my new inspirations. Amazing guitar player and boy does he have some pipes! Anyone else know of him?
Hi FatsoForgotso
Local Aussie legend, played many times at the local pub, just a few Km down the road.
I was lucky enough to see him play recently, during the "Long Way To The Top" tour.
My good friend "Robbo" PETER ROBINSON, the drummer that played with many great Aussie bands, most famous was "Spectrum" then renamed to the "MURTCEPS" Spectrum backwards.
Was the main drummer in that tour. The DVD is available on-line, if you are interested & look around. probably even some clips on youtube.
One my other best buddies, used to roadie sometimes for him.
He was one of many greats, that played Australia's 70's "Sunbury"festival/s.
As well as every other gig going in Australia.
During his younger adolescent days was reported to have been a Choir Boy, & that's were his love & singing & music came from.
Would play outro's longer than the actual song.
Thorpie just Played BLOODY LOUD, & even louder.
Played Old Marshalls & Les Pauls, I don't ever remember seeing him with a Strat, or anything else, come to think of it.
Wrote ("Some people I know" think that I'm crazy).
Never seemed to have mellowed out-even in his later years.
He was affectionately know as the wild man of rock
Most people knew him as, & called him Thorpie
Sadly we lost him due to health reason.
He left two adult daughters & a loving wife.
And a generation of rock lovers
I managed to find a DVD of his July 31st 1993, Boggo Road Jail, 20 Anniv, reunion concert, with the old AZTECS, & a local pawnbrokers recently.
Boggo Road Jail is an old jail complex, in Brisbane
Many Aussie rock bands have played there.
If you like Thorpie, you might also Like Angry Anderson & Rose Tattoo.
Gil 'Rats" Matthews:
The Drummer from the Aztecs, now runs a business called Aztec Music, you can find them on the web. (see link below)
He has been getting the rights to & republishing many 70's & 80's Great bands & their music.
He does about 10 or so per year, & in limited quantities.
You'll find some pictures of Thorpie over there.
You will find some great Aussie rock over there, & quite a few Aztecs re-releases.
http://www.aztecmusic.net/
I hope this was a bit of an insight into the man's long & great career.
Let me know if you might have any other questions, that I might be able to answer.
YES! I can play "Most People I know" I've been playing it ever since I heard it on the radio as a teenager, with a Crappy amp & Canora guitar.
Regards Dr. Bob
thats badass that you have some history and knowledge with him. I'll check those bands out. Billy's guitar playing on no more war blows me away every time. Glad to see he is highly recognized where he is from, he deserves it. |
|
|
|
Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2008 : 00:20:31
|
All Aussies of a certain age with any musical inclination (Dr. Bob and myself included) know and love Thorpie.
Much lamented.
|
Edited by - Laurie on 03/12/2008 00:20:52 |
|
|
|
Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2008 : 07:55:03
|
Hi lauries2
Do you still strum out "Most People I know"? now & again?
That's such a simple & great chord into.
You guys got me all keen again, last night I watched the 1993 Boggo road Jail "Jailhouse Rock" DVD.
Sad & great at the same time, I guess I miss him ore that I was willing to admit.
Pity it's near impossible to get the limited run copies of that concert.
I have the Angry Anderson Rose Tattoo live concert from that 3 disk set.
Even on the Roes Tattoo DVD - it's good to see Peter Wells, who also has since passed away.
Great rock slide player.
Search for Rose Tattoo's "Bad Boy for Love" or "We Can't Be Beaten"
Regards Dr. Bob |
Edited by - Dr. Bob on 03/12/2008 07:57:17 |
|
|
|
FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2008 : 09:49:28
|
| Just been checking out the links from you tube..excellent stuff..i'm getting the feeling he was loved in oz the way we loved phil lynott and rory gallagher here in ireland....must be some party thare all having in the great gig in the sky..especially now that jeff healey has just joined the gang as well..at least they have a couple of bass players with buddy miles and philo.... |
|
|
|
FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2008 : 10:54:53
|
Dr Bob wrote "Played Old Marshalls & Les Pauls, I don't ever remember seeing him with a Strat, or anything else, come to think of it."
I was checking out some more you tube clips and i came across one just called 'billy thorpe' no song title or anything ,i think it's that song about being crazy...!! anyway he's playing a black strat... and he is getting a beautiful sound out of it as well.....i also checked out a song called 'girls of summer' and the lyrics are great...billys playing acoustic on this one,sounds like he might have a chorus pedal on it....maybe a CE-2....?? ..did he mellow out a little bit in later years..?? great song....
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Billy Thorpe
