Billy Thorpe Most People I know Think That I’m Crazy
Billy Thorpe – William Richard “Billy” Thorpe – 29 March 1946 – February 28 2007.
We just found this great little article written by the JBSN founder Ken Sparkes that was written but not published for a 2015 show …. Even with him not around we still find little nuggets of Gold……
In the early sixties I was the new kid on the block hailed as Sydney’s youngest DJ and doing feature radio shows for 2GB Macquarie.
The ‘surfin craze’ had exploded worldwide and naturally we were all swept up and riding the waves and hangin 5. Sydney entrepreneur John Harrigan came into 2GB, then in Philip St Sydney and wanted to meet me. John was excited about a Kings Cross venue “Surf City” and wanted me to see a new band. The band was Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs who John Harrigan managed. Billy Thorpe once described John in these words;”John Harrigan was a hustler and swift as a fart. But above all else he was a believer in the scene and in me.”
I always had a respect for John Harrigans’ ability to spot talent, John also managed Ray Brown and the Whispers and opened up other venues like The Beach House, Star Club Sunset Disco and later with the legendary owner of Chequers Nightclub Dennis Wong Hawaiian Eye and Whiskey au Go Go
Seeing Billy and the band live and the audiences’ reaction left me with a lasting impression, so when his records started to be released they became a regular feature on my radio shows for decades.
The disc jockeys in that era selected their music play lists, yes there were music directors, but, we were left alone to sink or swim in the radio ratings. We knew that many of the music directors wanted us to fail so they could then control the music again but, at the time they were losing the battle.
Some DJs would even play the same record twice or three times in a row saying: “I thinks it’s nice so I’ll play it twice!” or “thrice”.
Memories of those early days came back to me with the recent release of the Umbrella Entertainment Music DVD Billy Thorpe “A Celebration” featuring songs, TV and live performances and again seeing the audience reaction. The girls certainly loved Billy.
What made him stand out from many fellow Aussie performers was his ability to take the most unlikely ballad and make it number one, songs like; Over the Rainbow, Twilight Time & Love letters. All had been hits for top American acts, it was like he wanted to show the yanks that a performer from down under could match them vocally and make the charts.
Thankfully, I am still in a position to showcase Billy Thorpe’s talent so I compiled and featured a tribute as part of the Jukebox Saturday Night Australia Day show playing many of the performances from this DVD. I particularly love the Don Lane interview and Bills outfit. However, like many tributes I realised I had only hit the tip of the iceberg missing hits like “It’s almost Summer” “Children of the Sun and his last LP Tangier….. so maybe a part two could be in the making for another episode.
One of my lasting memories is the Australia Day Sunbury Music Festival and as the host I was to introduce Billy. As I went onto the stage I heard the director Peter Faiman say through my head set “pad it out the band is not ready”. So began what must have been very amusing to TV viewers and the audience as I tried to “pad out”. I described things like all the onstage equipment (pity the vision has been lost would make a to YouTube comedy piece) and all the while Peter kept saying “continue padding”. Luckily for me, I had organised some of my Moonee Ponds mates to strategically place themselves on the wire that separated the audience from the stage with the express warning that if I come to interview them, not to swear or take their clothes off. I then began to interview these lads and all worked out, no swearing no “mooning” and as I continued to “pad”, then came the message “get back on the stage and introduce Billy Thorpe”. I always have believed that Thorpie and the boys wound up the sound even further than planned. Following my introduction, the sound from the stage felt like it hit me in the backside, travelled up through my body and nearly lifted me to the top of the hill!!
Today when people talk to me and I do not react immediately they say are you deaf? To which I reply “yes, slightly, courtesy of Billy Thorpe!”
Ken Sparkes
Additional history –
Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs
In 1963 Billy moved to Sydney in early 1963 and auditioned for Surf City in Kings Cross where his backing band was The Aztecs. The Aztecs quickly offered Billy the job as lead singer and they rapidly became a popular draw amongst the Sydney Music circuit. Throughout the 60’s Thorpe and the Aztecs had a number of hit singles including having multiple songs in the Top 20 in 1964 including: Poison Ivy, Mashed Potato, Sick & Tired, Blue Day and at the end of the year Over The Rainbow.
The Aztecs had a sharp polished look with matching suits and while you couldn’t hear the songs over the sound of the screams at their concerts, their popularity still continued to grow with appearances on Bandstand.
1965 saw the band support big overseas acts and continue to play to sell-out houses, but, it also saw Billy Thorpe separate with the original backing group and start the new Mark ll Aztecs with their first release “I told the Brook”
1966 saw a string of hits released and also saw the group join the Seven Network, where Billy hosted the Pop Show “It’s All Happening!”. The show only lasted 1 season and with its’end, The Aztecs Mark ll band members separated, with Billy dealing with widely publicised bankruptcy, personal issues and from a marketing standpoint, image problems.
Perhaps this was the catalyst to the development of the long haired, bearded and loud rocker that many of us loved and remember! 1968 not only bought about a new image for Billy, but, also more band members parting ways seeing Billy have to play guitar on stage! With some mentoring by Lobby Loyde, Billy soon hit his straps on guitar and the band truly transitioned to hard and very loud Rock!
A song that is legendary on the Australian music scene and shot Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs back into the stratosphere: “Most People I Know (Think That I’m Crazy)” went to the top of the charts, after appearing at the Sunbury 72 festival. The very event and show that was hosted by Jukebox Saturday Nights’ Founding father Ken Sparkes. Between 72 and 74 Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs released a number of hard rock Singles and Albums with their last being More Arse Than Class and that featured a gatefold cover and inside featured the band members bare bums!
In 75 the band wrapped up with a farewell concert at the Opera house – Billy continued on with a few solo albums before moving onto the US.
The Aztecs had a number of transformations and what seems like a rolling door of members… it seems that this occurred mainly due to financial disputes, but, some due to styling reinventions – below lists many of the members over the different years…
Who were the Band Members in the Aztecs?
Band Members in The Aztecs Mk I, 1963-1965
Colin Baigent – drums
John Watson – bass
Vince Maloney – guitar & vocals
Tony Barber – guitar & vocals
Band Members in The Aztecs Mk II, 1965-1966
Johnny Dick – drums
Mike Downes – guitar & vocals
Colin Risby – guitar & vocals
Jimmy Taylor – piano
Teddy Toi – bass
Tony Buchanan & Rocky Thomas – brass
Band Members in The Aztecs Mk III, 1968-70
Lobby Loyde – lead guitar
Dave McTaggart – bass
Jimmy Thompson – drums
Paul Wheeler -bass
Band Members in The Aztecs Mk IV, 1970-72
Warren Morgan – piano & vocals
Gil Matthews – drums & vocals
Kevin Murphy – drums
Steve Ninnis – drums
Paul Wheeler – bass
Band Members in The Aztecs Mk V, 1972-73
Gil Matthews – drums & vocals
Bruce Howard – piano
Paul Wheeler – bass
Band Members in The Aztecs Mk VI, 1973-75
Gil Matthews – drums & vocals
Warren Morgan – piano & vocals
Teddy Toi – bass
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