Billy Thorpe

The indefatigable Billy Thorpe is one of the true legends of Australian rock'n'roll. Ever the journeyman rock'n'roll chameleon, Thorpie evolved from child star, beat pop sensation and cuddly pop crooner to finally emerge as the country's wildest and heaviest blues rocker. By the early 1970s, fronting the umpteenth version of his ever-changing Aztecs, Thorpie was the unassailable monarch of Australian rock music.

Growing tired of the faded denims and the Aussie pub rock ethos, Thorpie left Australia in 1976 to try his luck in Los Angeles. He produced a series of inventive, futuristic concept albums which sold remarkably well in the USA, but were overlooked locally. He returned to Australia in 1994 as a conquering hero, issued the three-CD box set Lock Up Your Mothers and relaunched himself on the Australian pub and concert circuit. There have been few more remarkable careers in Australian rock'n'roll.

Thorpie was born in Manchester, England. He immigrated to Australia with his family when he was nine, and settled in Brisbane, Queensland. By the time he was ten years old, Thorpie was performing on Brisbane television (billed as Little Rock Allen). He toured country areas with singer Reg Lindsay. By the time he was 15, Thorpie had worked in stage shows, variety television, clubs and even vaudeville at Brisbane's Theatre Royal with George Wallace. He also toured with the likes of Johnny O'Keefe and Col Joye. In late 1963, as a seasoned 17-year-old, Thorpie moved to Sydney and joined his first band The Aztecs. The original Aztecs line-up comprised Vince Maloney (lead guitar; ex-Vibratones), Val Jones (rhythm guitar), John 'Bluey' Watson (bass; ex-Vibratones) and Col Baigent (drums).

Links:
http://www.thorpie.com/