Phil Jones & Quintessence


I received this email today, it has links to a couple of old vids out of the archives of Phil 'Shiva' Jones in 1970s, thought I would pass it on for your pleasure

Dear friends and lovers of QUINTESSENCE

A veritable tsunami of new live QUINTESSENCE material is about to crash on your earshores very soon: the blistering March 1970 St Pancras Town Hall show (or at least the 38 mins that remain) and over three hours worth of Queen Elizabeth Hall 1971 recordings, from two wholly unreleased concerts recorded the same day, all superbly recorded.

These have been licensed by Hux Records from Universal/Island with substantial sleevenotes by Colin Harper. Colin also unearthed a VHS of a 1971 LWT TV show on religious music featuring Q miming to "Dive Deep" and "Jesus, Buddha"... There is apparently more film around and we are happy to announce more to come in the not too distant future.

These 2 songs I have uploaded on Youtube and they can be seen here:

God Rock TV Programme (UK) June 1971
Jesus, Buddha, Moses, Gauranga


Dive Deep

HUX Records are also going to release the KALA album with additional live tracks.


The homepage at
www.mooncowhq.ch/Quintessence/index.htm has been updated accordingly, with 20 stills from these performances in the GALLERY section. Have a look an enjoy!


Have a great summer!
Love and bows Rudra

Reunions: Izzy



video

Hillbilly Blues Bandit at Lennox Point Hotel '09

An excellent capture of Peter Hurcombe playing slide ..

There is another video we are working on, featuring guest Dave Rankin ..





This was a task of love, it has taken the two of us forever to put it together .. Nanny Lynne is such a diva, she didn't like any of the photos of her taken with Izzy and Lynne - even photoshop couldn't alter them to her satisfaction! The videos were 'too orange', she couldn't find her notes yarta, yarta. We sure hope we have put together a post that will satisfy her .. fingers crossed.


Nanny Lynne is travelling up from Grafton to stay with us for the weekend (she was having one of her 'reunions') .. Peter 'Izzy Foreal' Knox was playing with his band the Hillbilly Blues Bandits at our local pub .. Lennox Point Hotel that is. Peter iswas a peer from the olden days (though their paths had crossed on many occasions, at the Ball Pants, French's Tavern and Whitty's Wine Bar) they had never been formally acquainted.


Peter and his partner Lynne arrived at our house around 11 a.m., Nanny was so nervous she immediately put Izzy to work fixing Jye's guitar .. job done, introductions over .. they choofed off, arranging to meet later that afternoon for lunch at Lennox Beach Park. Lots and lots and lots of photos were taken, but as stated previously Nanny didn't like the snaps of her so we have selected what we considered to be complimentary.


Mummy and Nanny toddled off at 8 anticipating the night ahead (we went to bed). I don't have many details of the night .. list of songs would be nice. I am sure Izzy will fill in these details when he reads this post. I know they had a lovely night as Nanny was all smiles the next day.


This is Nanny's favourite photo, even though she is slouching. This is a snap of Mummy taking a snap of Lynne Braithwaite-Sanders taking a snap of Izzy and Nanny .. notice Brianna imitating Nanny's slouch.

Nanny must liked one of the band members as here she is trying to drag him home..

not really, she has no idea what she was doing.



This could have been a 'nice' photo of the band except the drummer's head is obscured

.. better luck next time Nan




I pinched this off Myspace


Scrubby Pete Hurcombe, plays white-hot guitar & vocals, he has been playing various tunings on guitars since he was a kid, & as a result he is a great slide guitar exponent. He is the alchemist of the band & has played many festivals, & shows, selling his soul too often to remember, only for the love of roots music. He has played everywhere from Sydney to Coolangatta, Birdsville & Oodnadatta via the Simpson Desert to Fitroy Crossing, Derby & Broom, & up north to Bamaga at Cape York, but he still loves the chance to play live music.
--------------------------------
Izzy Foreal, front man, Vocalist & Bass player from the Legendary Zarsoff Brothers Band has now joined the band after the passing of Rollin D Gale & is contributing his well honed skills to the line up. You can look him up on the web in many places! The Zarsoff’s were renowned throughout the 80’s for their bizarre onstage antics. They toured extensively throughout Oz. Their album Rude Awakening reached the album charts in 1984. Prior to this he had been a member of the Original Battersea Heroes, led by Terry Darmody & then in The 69ers’ line up by 1970. The 69ers played a riotous set at the second annual Sunbury festival in January 1973. Their track ..Harry Rag' appeared on the triple live set The Great Australian Rock Festival Sunbury 1973, issued by Mushroom. Festival also issued ..Harry Rag' as a single that month, backed with ..Blood Flash' and ..Rag Mama'. A year later, Festival/Infinity issued the band's Sunbury set as the album Francis Butler's 69ers Live. Although he smells of success, he is quite a nice chap really!
--------------------------------------
Peter Jaggle, Director of DrumOz Percussion Solutions, obviously plays percussion on just about anything! He has composed film soundtracks for the ABC and NZBC, conducted workshops all over Australasia, & internationally & has played with John English, John Williamson, John Farhnam & Dionne Warwick to name a few Johns. He has played on stage and television in NZ, UK & Europe. He founded Young Drums School of Percussion, which has performed all over the Capitals of Oz & at the Aberdeen International Youth Festival in Scotland. PJ’s teaching methods have been endorsed and supported by most of the biggest names in percussion. Including:- Zildjian, PREMiER, SABIAN, MEINL, Mapex, TOCA, and ECO
.


Gosford Blues Festival




Hi there, it's me Brianna, bringing to you the Dylan Report. Nanny's off to Gosford, what can possibly go wrong this time. Well, everything of course!

Donning her new grey tracksuit, pink and grey jumper and matching pink Ugg boots, she toddled off at 9.00 pm, deliberating whether to take the short cut to Maccas and buy a Happy Meal; (was it happy, Nooooooooooo!). She decided cutting across the grass would be quicker. The 'short cut', found her ankle deep in mud and her lovely pink Ugg boots (now black) weren't impressed .. either was the assistant at Maccas that insisted on asking her what she wanted in her McValue Meal ... THAT ONE THERE $6.25!!!! why are you charging me $7.25 Nanny wanted to know .. apparently because she had large chips and coke!!!!

Sludging off to Grafton Station she was informed that there were no trains tonight and to make matters worse she wasn't on the manifest as a passenger. An argument ensued and she was 'permitted' to board the coach. It was a painful journey as Nanny can't sit without a great deal of pain.

She was dumped at Gosford Station at 5.00 am, it was bitterly cold and she had a two hour wait until the Hotel Gosford opened. Did it open NOOOOOO! Back again at 9.00 am she was horrified to find that she was not registered for a room. It was like a bad 'mushroom trip', did she exist at all? Matter solved, it was indeed Saturday morning and NOT Friday as she had thought! Well, this explained her 'missing' train reservation.


Sleeping until 5.00 pm she hurriedly dressed and taxied off to the Gosford RSL, there she was greeted by Rod 'Beachhead' Jeffery .. had she missed much? Not really, so that was OK. Rod introduced her around and she became acquainted with Dave 'Flake' Allen (pictured to the left) and his two mates Rod and Frank (ex President of the JOK Fan Club) no less. They were chatting about the olden days when Dutch Tilders was spotted, apparently he was to be a surprise for Beachie's birthday. The guys pressured her to go over and introduce herself.

Nothing is worse than bad blues, however, highlights were 'Chase the Sun' a group of young up and comings, (here's a photo of obscured people and a side profile of the lead guitarist, no other photos could be taken as her batteries were 'exhausted'.




Beachie stunned the crowd with his 'voice like an angel', Dutch Tilders and Jim Conway (ever greats), and a pianist Ali Penney were outstanding. She had missed the Foreday Riders and Phil Colson so that was disappointing, but catching up with Dave 'Flake' Allen and Rod 'Beachhead' Jeffery made it all worth while.

Beachie along with his 'makeshift' band; the evergreen Dutch 'Keep the Faith' Tilders, Gary Dale on lead (worth a listen to, his style is unique and I was impressed), Raoul 'spit the dummy' on bass, Ali Penney showed her personality on the organ?, Adam Barnard, proved to be an exceptionally skilled drummer, (youngest son of Australian jazz trumpeter, Bob Barnard). The harp player did his thing impressively, his name as yet is unknown.


Mal Eastick next - bored with 'city' blues, she went and played the pokies and won $700!! After costs she was $200 up!!

Partying 'til all hours with 'Ghost Road', Beachie and Dutch (with grand recollections of the Royal George and Shane Duckham) she awoke feeling quite nauseated and struggled (as best a hung-over bod can) home. All up she had 4 1/2 rums - the old girl ain't what she used to be.

Did I mention that at midnight after two rums in 6 hours she was asked to leave the RSL for being intoxicated. She brought an array of bar staff to back up her 'sober' story and was permitted to stay. 'Sorry' didn't stop her heart thumping at a grand old rate. Maybe her last trip for a while. Though plans are in place for The Manly Jazz Festival and The Dorrigo Bluegrass Festival in November>p>




Jim Conway (harp), Dom Turner and Rob Hirst






A younger Dutch with his impeccable Piedmont picking “Baby, Please Don’t Go”

The use of the word Piedmont has been disputed - what do you reckon?

Beachie doing "Laid Back"

BEACHHEAD performing at Tattersalls Hotel in Goulburn NSW as part of the 2008 Australian Blues Music Festival: Saturday - February 9, 2008.Rod BEACHHEAD Jeffery (vocals/leader), Gary 'GUITAR' Dale (guitar), Raoul Hawkins (bass guitar) and Adam TREV Barnard (drums).Guest harmonica player is 'Harmonica Ron' Ind.


Lynne K: Hey Rod, still stifting through your videos from Rooster McBlurter to find the best one for here

ROD 'BEACHHEAD' JEFFERY: "Gidday Lynne, I reckon that the best vid of me from YouTube is probably doing Laid Back in Goulburn with BEACHHEAD in February 2008. LAID BACK.


Christ you went through some shit. I didn't know about the request for you to leave the RSL until just now. After I saw you into a cab on Sunday morning and was headed to a parking spot closer to the main entrance on the club for coffee before leaving I was cleaned up by some bloke in a Ford 1-tonner ute. Happy birthday me!


Just as a mention, my drummer's name is Adam Barnard, not Blanchard. He is the youngest son of Australian jazz trumpeter, Bob Barnard."

DAVE ALLEN: "Hi,hope you got home ok, what a lousy way to have to travel, hope you enjoyed it anyway, it was great to meet you. best Dave"



Vibes and Berry St


Cream's slightly upbeat “Steppin Out” from the BBC 1966



1967-8 Phil (photo) was a regular at Berry Street along with his brother Errol Wood, Ross J Waters and Kelly, 'Little Sue', Christine Froebel, Dave Miller and Jacquie McGarry, Judy Miller, Pete Grainey, Gary Ross, Big John

Bill 'Florence Lawrence' Tranchitella, Tony 'Merv Rabies' Robinson,
Tony 'Mort Fist' Fitzgerald, .Frank Cayley, Tony aka Zorba,
Deidree McMasters aka Nita Mann, Sally Brokensha and Paul Seagraves,
Leifus, Tessa and Richard, Carl, Bob Ritchie, Martin Walsh, Dutch Andy,
Andy Palace, Greg 'Bear',
Ned 'Nedrac' and Andy Carden,
The Sect: Neil Smith, Danny Groves, Michael McCormack, Vaughan Bros,
Bob 'Newcastle' Hudson,
The Valentines: Bon Scott
The Nutwood Rug
Starving Wild Dogs: Warwick 'Wally Mudd' and Paul 'Doggie' Wyld,
are names which come to mind when I recall the days spent in our 'pad' in Berry Street, North Sydney




The burning question and one of the great mysteries of '68, besides 'where was MacArthur Park and who was Jude?', was; 'who were the young couple who arrived Friday nights and stayed behind when we all piled into Frank Cayley's car and choofed off to Vibes'? I have been in touch with Sue Kielt nee Toohey, (my flat mate at the time), - she doesn't have a clue. She and her partner Danny Groves (ex Sect, Climax 5), do however, recall arriving home from a gig and finding me lying on the floor along with The Nutwood Rug and people trapsing from room to room looking very blurry eyed.
An email arrived this week from Dave 'Sons' Miller, none other than the male half of the 'stay at homes'! He said, very little privacy was had by him and his girlfriend Jacquie McGarry, (now wife), as 'people tended to use the bedroom window as an egress, even though the front door was in perfectly good working order'.


Lynne, Sue, Diane (Margot Edwards Not present)


Berry Street was a three bed-room duplex in North Sydney; bereft of carpets, minimal furniture and an empty fridge - the only thing of note was my granma's pianola. My Dad had secured it for me to share with my friends Sue and Diane .. 'our first real flat' .. 'unaccountability' is the word that comes to mind. Along with our new found freedom and rations of vita-wheats and grated Kraft cheese came hoards of people chosen for their particular querks or talents.

In my wisdom I had decided to leave work in the Council to further my education - matriculation was my aim. However, my main goal, was to head off to 'Vibes', that is of course, I didn't over-medicate and spend the evening in the bathroom cleaning the tiles with a toothbrush.



VIBES: A discoteque ('disco') in an old office or warehouse near Central


This is an early photo taken of the MNJ Sect at the Lindfield Stomp

Danny Groves (drums), Unknown (bass), Neil Smith (lead), Mick Lester (vocals), Liam (harp)


Friday nights we were greeted by Frank Martin peering at us from behind his cubicle. Paying our $2 entrance fee (or was it $1), we'd fly up two flights of stairs, by-passing the lounge and refreshment's room heading for a huge bare expanse on the second floor.

A Chicago blues style band named The Sect were the resident band, comprising of; Mick Lester (vocals and harp), Neil Smith and Paul Baker on lead, Mick Morphett (bass), Vaughan Bros on organ and drummers Michael McCormack and Danny Groves. Special guests included The Nutwood Rug (a wild looking bunch of guys from California, Dr. Kandy's Third Eye and Alison McCallum.

The empty room was soon packed to the rafters as the ear shattering sound of The Sect blasted covers from Paul Butterfield, John Mayall, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. Paul and Neil would hammer out 'Stepping Out' to gasps from the audience.

End of the set, I'd scarper down the stairs to loll and chat on the sofas Frank had kindly put there for my convenience .. over the PA the roadie (who took great pride in his record collection) treated us to the underground music of Janis Joplin's Big Brother and the Holding Company, Frank Zappa and the Mother's of Invention 'Suzie Creamcheese', Jimi Hendrix 'Experience', John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, Fleetwood Mac and Jefferson Airplaine headed by Grace Slick.

Straggling off to The Greenwood Tree to watch Peter Anson was our next port of call, then back home to Berry Street dragging half of Sydney with us. Granma's pianola that Dad had kindly given me was centre stage with performances by Doggie or the odd concerto by Margot. Phil, Merv and Mort would entertain us with their skits from Monty Python or The Goons.

Saturday arvos were spent hosing out the flat, lazing in the sun in various yoga positions listening to the radio, re-energizing for a return trip to Vibes. Sundays arvos, various bands would practise in the lounge room, they were hazy days - most drifted off to make their way in the adult world, (as did my grandma's pianola!).


.

The Valentines




Alison McCallum

EMAIL RESPONSES

DAVE MILLER: "Hi Lynne, I've just checked out the new photos of the Sect and the associated blogs. The venue at Lindfield looks like the famous 'Lindfield Stomp' the first dance venue I ever went to aged about 15. Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs was one of the first bands I saw there. To avoid confusion, the Dave Miller of the 'Dave Miller Set' referred to here (the band Mick McCormack from the Sect joined) is not me.
Phil Colson apparently enjoyed the evening and caught up with his old mates including Dutch Tilders
who he has recorded with, Jim Conway and the Foreday Riders (they were on when you were sleeping at the Hotel 1pm onwards). He will be playing with the 'Riders' at the Echuca Festival (on the Murray River) on the 25th and 26th July next. If you check out the 'Foreday Riders' web site they have their performance schedule listed and you should be able to catch up with them at a convenient time in the not too distant future (actually I wouldn't mind seeing them either, its been a long time.) This reminds me of a funny anecdote. My kids bought us tickets to see Ray Charles at Wyndam Estate and he died not long after. They then bought us tickets to see James Brown at the State Theatre and he died shortly after that. Then my kids asked us if they could buy us tickets to see Madonna (wishful thinking!) Regards Dave "

CLICK HERE for Sect posts


Dylan Report: Back to Taylor Square





Well, Nanny Lynne is having writer's block again .. no worries! What, with the anticipation of meeting up with old friends, the travelling etc, well, that's what I'm for - Nanny's Jimmy Olsen!

On the train she teamed up with a guy who had been a camera man at Channel 7 in the '60s, he was doing a doco., on the history of Taylors Arms as told by the locals!! Taylors Square - Taylor's Arm, well she never!


Was it a trouble free journey .. noooooo way the Pete Seeger 'For Pete's Sake' Celebration had been cancelled and, Nanny Lynne forgot her mobile, so was unable to arrange a meeting with Larry Knight and Peter Gatehouse .. 'It's not the destination it's the journey' she reminded herself.

Assuming her 'Taylor Square Historian' personae cum photographer she embarked on a series of chance meetings .. Vittorio at the Piccolo Bar welcomed 'the celebrity from the bush' with open arms, well, after all, she was a friend of the famous actor Beatnik Cas (noted for his bit parts in various Aussie movies) .


"Daahling, you just missed Jeanne Lewis by 5 mins, but she will be back," gushed Vittorio, handing her a book by Rowan Hagan. It was 'Darlo', set in the '80s - life in King's Cross in just the year she had left it behind. She got stuck into it and was immediately engrossed -

Gesticulating in a 'stylish' fashion (forever the gay old chap) he proceeded to pile postcards, posters, fairy wings, (pink fairy wings?) and a very large T-shirt with the Pet Shop Boys logo imprinted on the front onto her table, she looked up from the book and ungraciously remarked "now I have to find a fat gay friend to give it to", no-one was amused so she buried her head back in the book. One of the patrons asked amicably if she was 'waiting for an Internet root' laughingly, she turned to the room and denounced the offender who made a hasty exit.




Nan was refused entry to the Photographic Exhibition at the King's Cross Library, "but I used to work in this building, I am an original local", she protested. Trudging back to the Piccolo she told her woes to Vittorio, who teamed her up with a young 'un Adrian, and off she toddled (with the judge, no less), to the judging of the exhibit! This is my good friend Gillian he announced to the lady pointing at Nanny Lynne. A quick scan of the room - yikes underdressed in her Suzanne Gray jeans and beige crocks. Nanny Lynne, did a calculation of presented photos, noted her opinions and spent her time there filming (out the window) the comings and goings from the tobacconist shop on Darlinghurst Road.



video


Back at the Piccolo Bar her valued opinions were listened to by noted photographer Glen and all was well. Glen was photographing Woolloomooloo, so much was had in common.



'Vitti' (as she familiarly called the owner of the Piccolo Bar by now,) was a hoot. "bloody foreigners" he spat in his accent with a distinct Italian flavour, (he was referring to the hapless line of people applying for a flat in Ward Avenue).

"Stop" he screamed at a local identity riding passed, "Smile, Lynne (as he familiarly called Nanny) would like to take your photo" .. the also hapless Animal as he was fondly named paused midst traffic and smiled politely for Nanny. Gosh, was there no end to her 'new found status'.


The 'hapless' Animal



Off to photograph the few remaining familiar sites,

...hobbling back to the Backpackers on Victoria Street avec blisters, what to do! Thongs, yes thongs that's what she needed. Ah, hell, where's the thong shop? A British tourist informed Nanny that thongs could be purchased in tourist shops or supermarkets - of course, silly Nanny.

Ken Adams asked Nan to take a picture of the Diplomat near the ABC so, sporting her new thongs - a nice pair, olive green suede she headed for Farrell Avenue behind the site of the old King's Cross Post Office, were short lived, trodden on by a heavy footed Asian - another thong shop was needed. Good an import shop in Oxford Street 'Thongs $5' they'll do the trick.




The Village - gone


The Oxford Tavern


The Beauchamp

The Mandala


fondly remembered from SWD song "Nithsdale"



French's Tavern gone


Rhubarbs in Douglass Street, gone



Yes, The Times They're a-Changing two shots taken of seagulls at the Cross


1. in Victoria Street at 3.00 am! 2. and at The Alamein Fountain


NOTE: Saturday night, off to Annandale Bluegrass Society monthly meeting. Nanny sang exhuberantly at the rehearsal of The Sinners chorus, (she was asked to sing as guest artist the next meeting, she declined). Then Doug DeKroo caught her eye and she was off yelling 'move aside groupie coming thru'' which was met with laughter. Sunday was spent with Terry Darmody and family, they met up with a very handsome Peter Nehil (washboard player OBH) who informed her that Peter Anson had just left - drats, oh, and that he was now married, to which she replied 'Never mind, I can wait another 40 years'. Nanny has some lovely photos from the Meeting so I will put up separately tomorrow.

Very little left of 'the scene', ah well, back to good old Grafton away from fantasy world .

Dave Miller: 'Did you have a photographer following you around, there are some great shots.Dave M'

Photos: from Dave Miller


removed temporarily due to 'diva' performances by models


Jacquie and Dave @ Dinimba

" downloaded the Wally Mudd songs and it was great to hear his soulful voice again .. Dave Miller "

"Hi Lynne, my name is Dave Miller. I came across your site on the net by accident and it blew me away as I instantly recognised nearly everyone in the photos including one of me playing in the Sons of Agamemnon at Whittys (partially obscured by Mort's Jug).

My younger sister Judy and my wife Jacquie were also part of that scene. I remember your places at Berry Street, North Sydney and Alison Road, Randwick and spent a lot of time at 294 South Dowling Street with Swannee and the crowd.

I went to UNSW with Mort, Errol, Phil, Merv etc. I was a foundation member of the 'Sons', a band we formed up at Ted Noffs Wayside Chapel, Kings Cross in late 1965. We moved to the Windsor Castle Hotel Paddington for a while, then to Whittys Wine Bar. I couldn't play fulltime with the band due to commitments, but the band welcomed me to sit in whenever I could make it and there was no shortage of good harp players frequenting Whittys including Derek Robertson, Wally Mudd, Terry Darmody etc.

I have photos of that scene and have attached some of these and a letter written by the legendary Howlin Wolf thanking some of the gang from Whittys for wishing him happy birthday. Mort Fist was my best mate who I knew from the age of 5 till his death in 1998 and also the person who introduced me to his friend Jacquie at Whittys, the girl that I have now been married to for thirty nine years. Although he's been dead for over ten years now, I still think of him and other mates from the Whittys scene that have sadly passed away including Ross Darmody, Warwick Wylde (Wheezing Walter T. Mudd ) and his brother Paul Wylde (Starving Wild Dog).

This reminds me of another story. I noticed a photo of Jimmy Page at a local night spot on your blog.

The Story: I was arranging a night out with Mort who used to write up interviews for 'Drift' magizine and he said he had to interview someone first but would meet me at a club later. When he finished this interview he invited this 'someone' to the night spot where they were seated. When I arrived and I wandered over to them and plonked myself down. " Dave meet Jimmy" Mort said. I instantly recognised him as Jimmy Page the legendry guitarist from the 'Yardbirds' who later founded the iconic 'Led Zepplin'. After som chit chat Jimmy said he had been invited to a party up at Kings Cross and would we like to go with him. (well, does the Pope shit in the woods) Before he finished the sentence I was outside hailing a taxi. We piled in a cab and went to a unit at the Cross which was owned by a singer Dinah Lee who used to sing on a show my older sister Fran sang on 'Brian Henderson's Band Stand'. All the celebs were there and I couldn't believe how well behaved they were. To be honest it was boring, none of the hell raising pop stars are known for. We should have taken him up to Taylor Square! Regards Dave'

'The Christine 1968' photo of one of the girls you mentioned is Christine Froebel who used to ride a big motorbike and was a school mate of Judy at Our Lady of Doloures at Chatswood.

Jacquie had all the Drift Magazines until her mother had a clean up and threw them out. She could not believe it! I dont remember Ralph Graham but I have lost a few brain cells over the years. A survivor meeting sounds great. The last time I saw a group of these survivors was at my sisters 50th in 2001, a great Country and Western theme party at Balmain where I met up with Terry Darmody, Steve James, Peter Nehill, Gavick Nicholson to mention a few.'

Its fine to use the photo of Jacquie, its one of my favourites. It was taken at Paradise Beach, Pittwater circa 1967. My cousin made the mistake of loaning us her beach house in her absence. It became very crowded with our friends (some of the crew from Whittys included) and the partying raged over the weekend.You've not seen panic like it when my parents arrived unexpectedly to check up on us."

Howling Wolf

a shot of the 'Sons' at the Windsor Castle '66, love the smile on Pauls face.


at Whittys with Bob McGowan (complete with Kazoo in harness)

A nice shot with Swannee at the Castle '66

The original lineup of the 'Sons'- Les Procter (bass), Paul (piano), John (guitar), Swannee (12 string guitar), Dave (harmonica) and Mort Fist (Jug) at the Windsor Castle '66.



taken at a Whittys Christmas get together at the Maccabeen Hall Darlinghurst
left to right Dave, Terry, Paul, Wally and Mort. '67 ?


Dennis Aubrey in Centennial Park

Email responses:-
Dave Allen: "Great reading Dave Miller's story, his sister's partner Phil Colson is an old mate mate from bands from thatera. Could you please pass to Dave, my email and burning mountain studio blog info so I maybe able to contact Phil to say hi. Dave Allen xx"

Dave Miller: "Received Dave Allens details and passed them on to Phil Colson. Phil is keen to check out Burning Mountain Studio and catch up with Dave Allen who he remembers well. Phil was a session muso on the 'Men at Work' albums and a guitarist in the Colin Hay Band in his younger days, he remembers Clive Coulson and said he was a roadie with Led Zepplin."

Dave Miller: "hi Lynette,the harp player in this shot is me. I think I had just turned 18 at the time so was legally allowed to be in the pub, unlike Mort who was only 17 and looked like 15. Those glasses I wore at the time were similar to the ones Terry wore and I later wore metal frame ones as seen in the photo of us at the Maccabeen Hall. Mort grew rapidly and embraced the psychedelic era as is apparent in the transformation of his appearance in the latter shot. The Windsor Casle was chosen only as a rehearsal venue because it was always empty mid week and we wouldn't disturb anyone. After only a few weeks the word got around about this fun band and the place was packed to the rafters. The publican only paid us in all the alcohol we could drink in the breaks. It became apparent to Swannee that this guy was raking in lots of money after several months but he still refused to pay us any cash. There was this wine bar in Oxford Street around the corner from Swannee's place where no one drank any day of the week. (People who drank wine were called winos and lived on park benches, it was not as fashionable as it is today.) Swannee invited Cec Whitty down to take a look at what had happened at the Castle and he didn't hesitate offering him a more lucretive deal to move to his Wine bar. The crowd followed and the rest is history. Regards Dave"

Allannah: "Hi Lynne, Wow, thanks for the email from Dave Miller - fantastic - your site has been a portal to the past for all of us. Thanks for sharing. I only saw the Sons a few times. Does anyone have any photos of French's Wine Bar? Remember downstairs there when it opened? Love the letter from Howlin Wolf (Chester Burnett) - what a gem. Allannah"

Deidree McMasters: "That's fabuloso! So Swannee was responsible for Whitty's!! Wow! My introduction to the wonderful world of Sydney in July '68! Deidree."

Ralph Graham: "Thanks Lynne!, eventually I will write some stuff about Jim Crowley Wally, Dog, Peter Knox etc. Can't believe they are all gone ('cept you, me, Peter and Red of course :o)), I played at Whitty's and Frenches and the Ball Pants."

Phil Wood: "Fantastic Lynnie, I've thought of Dave a number of times thinking about them times. I seem to remember he was living out round Dural - Glenorie at one time (as was G'avec (Neil Nicholson)) and I think that may have been in the late 70's.
Anyhoo, could I have his email?"





Taylor Square and Beyond: Slideshow

Wally Mudd


I couldn't wait to put up these photos of 290 South Dowling and Nithsdale Streets, I hope you will drop me a line with your recollections of 290 or your first encounter with Wal ..


290 South Dowling Street

Wheezin' Walter 'T' Mudd was the core of Taylor Square in the latter 60s .. remembered for his contributions to music; playing with such bands as the Sons of Agamemnon and the Starving Wild Dogs


" .. Wally, he held Taylor Square to ransom for 5 years .. " says Terry Wilkins


Wally's arrival on the scene with his brother Paul is best summed up on Red McKelvie's tribute song to Wally and Paul ..



RED McKELVIE "Wally's Song"

I've done some hard times in the rain, and I saw a friend go down the drain
Whenever I think to way back to then, I wish I could play his songs again


Nithsdale's the only song I know, read it on a lamp post long ago
Sometimes I think it was a dream, those days the best I've ever seen

Howdy Wally, Howdy Paul, I'm glad I knew ya, (but) I miss you all

They came down from Auburn years ago, Paul and Wally, Wyld you know
They played the bars on Taylor Square, held the place to ransom for 5 years
But, nothing lasts forever that is true, we all left for glory and better things to do
Cecil B Fardouly where are you now, cos I'd like to talk to you somehow

Howdy Wally, Howdy Paul, I'm glad I knew ya, (but) I miss you all

In your life you'll have a lot of friends, I never thought that his would ever end
I knew a hundred guys like me back then, that's why I wrote this song for them

Howdy Wally, Howdy Paul, I'm glad I knew ya, but I miss you all
Howdy Wally, Howdy Paul, I'm glad I knew ya, but I miss you all .. my life I'll miss you all


Red tells me Terry Wilkins can enlighten us on 'Cecil B Fardouly'!



this photo of Nithsdale Street is for Red

Wally, his harp attached as if a body part, first came to my attention at Rhubarbs a 'happening' disco located off Liverpool Street, in Douglass Lane. He was fronting a group of wild looking guys and brought to us a collection of jug and blues numbers.

Was it his little hat perched on top of his mop of curly hair? Was it his querky movements and his equally querky, staccato singing style that attracted me to him? Yes! Wally was charismatic, an entourage of admirers tagged along behind him. One could be sure of a party, meeting interesting people and all night entertainment whilst in his company, wherever Wal went I did go and visa versa. Wally's enthusiasm and love of music, particularly the blues, endeared him to those who were privileged to make his acquaintance.


I recall visiting a house in Bondi Junction and it was there I met Allannah and Wally. Wal relocated to 290 South Dowling Street; Steve James, Terry Wilkins, Stuart West, Paul Wyld, Jim Crowley, Larry Knight, Sonya Kereopas, Sue Challis and Allannah also managed to squeeze into this insignificant looking Terrace House.


Wal and I formed a friendship which endured the journey throughout the Taylor Square era and beyond, we shared our love of music and our ups and downs .. we spent many a night playing our guitars and singing our hearts out. Wally gave me a song I always suspected was written for Maree "One Dollar, Two Dollar".

I was enamoured with the personae that was, 'Wally Mudd'. All said and done Wally was a very shy person, not one to talk at any length about himself, his personal feelings or views. I don't know if anyone ever really knew Warwick Wyld, but, one could always catch him blowing his harp with any band around the traps.

In 1973 my husband and I welcomed him into our home in Batman Lane, Surrey Hills, (a narrow laneway not far from Nithsdale Street as a matter of fact), he would come and go toting his guitar. Then he disappeared, or maybe we did! He turned up like the proverbial penny at my daughter's naming party in 1975 .. I recall Steve O'Connor and me meeting up with him at a pub jam in Surry Hills in the late '70s, and that was it. Until, of course, I began writing about my journey growing up in King's Cross .. as I approached my 'jug band' years my anticipation heightened .. Wally Mudd, where was Wally?

I found an old negative, had it processed and the rest is history .. I was blessed with emails, photos, comments and recollections of this period and was able to reunite with old friends and acquaintances: Errol and Phil Wood, Danny Groves, Sue Toohey, Terry Darmody, Neil Smith, Alan Johnson, Peter Nehil, Larry Knight, Red McKelvie, Peter Gatehouse, Allannah, Dave Miller, Judy Miller, Jacquie McGarry, Peter 'Izzy Foreal' Knox ..... who next?

Red sent me these photos:


1. & 2. Sun. arvo in an old run-down studio right behind Oxford Hotel cnr Foley's Lane and Bourke St. We had been listening to Dylan's John Wesley Hardin LP and went there to learn "Wicked Messenger", "I'll be your Baby 2 ngt" and "You better Watch You'sel" Little Walter Jacobs.



3. me and Wally standing on a bed in the top room street side had a balcony at 290 about 1968



4. Feb 1968 Jim and Sandy at the Oxford



Jim's Obituary I think of him lot's when I walk the streets of Timaru I know the house he grew up in I've met some of his school friends I had a great chat with him in 2000



5. haha me and Wally Gosbell St we had a Sat night off and!!!



6. My last gig with the band you probably recognise some people there 2 days later I went to the UK hm 28 Nov 1968

Red McKelvie: " hi Lynne um I went to Australia 13 Aug 1967 haha I 'm pretty sure I didn't actually MEET Wally until the I showed up at the Oxford Hotel on a Thursday night to play with the SWD's maybe 2 weeks before that Shane Duckham let me and Bob? and a NZ drummer Warwick Lee play a set in one of their breaks at the Oxford Bob ? ( lived with his mum in Jersey Rd Woollahra) great guy must have arranged it. Terry Wilkins was playing gtr with Shane Duckham abt a week later Terry showed up to a party at our flat in Liverpool St and we jammed a bit on acoustic gtrs then the following week he came by and asked me would I play with the SWD's at the Oxford that week 'cos their gtr player had gone to Melbourne and couldn't get back to do the gig so yeah I went there and met Wally and Darryl McKenzie haha and away we went they asked me to stay on and I guess that wuz the break I'd been waiting for ! so I guess the short answer is I met Wally at the Oxford abt late Jan 1968

I only saw Waldo that one time and from the audience he did have straight fair hair and played geetar as I remember I had a chat with Lan last ngt in the course of the conversation I remembered that I had seen SWD's play at the Oxford before I joined them Paul was playing an upright piano at the windows end and his girl friend was sitting on the piano watching him play Rod was the bass- player the drummer was a guy called ' Hutch' in the photo you have of Rod I can see by the shape of the windows 'curved' at the top that is upstairs at the 'Oxford Hotel' this would've been late 1967 but I didn't know anyone yet

.. the geetar player I filled in for haha 4 abt 8 months wuz 'Chinese Chris' and when i went to the UK he got his gig back and that's him in photo of 'Matchbox' EX S W Dogs taken at the Kings X Bar BQ and you're in the photo all good stuff I met Waldo only one time I went to the ' Ball Pants' in the Cross and he wuz playing that ngt the name Rob Jamieson doesn't ring any bells I'm sorry Peter Knox told me once that he gigged with Waldo at the "Ball Pants' great to hear from ya cheers Red"


Allannah: " I think I first met Wally through Terry Wilkins - we were at the Oxford I think one Sat afternoon with the Sons playing - my memory is pretty shot. Terry would do his usual 'table hopping' chatting to everyone including musos. We really loved the music scene in the 60s at Taylor Square. Wally and I were always good friends. I wonder whatever happened to Wally's girlfriend 'Trisha' who went to Hong Kong c1966/7?"


Photos: from Ralph Graham

This was a mission that involved quite a few people. Many thanks to; Red McKelvie, Mark Gregory, Elaine Bardwell, Mary Vincent and Ralph Graham

Red McKelvie: 'Ralph Graham said send them to whoever may want them the band photos were all abt 1972/ 73 as I said we'd all love to catch up with Tony Borg I've tried but there's millions of Borg's out there BUT only one Tony he was in NZ from abt 1974........ and then I saw him again abt 1989 in Auck and yes they are great photos'

ummmmm the photo that has Dave Turner, Tony Borg, Jim Crowley, Ian Young and Doug Smith, the band was called 'Fat' I played with them briefly late 1972 really enjoyed it 'cos there was a lot of reggae also NZ keyboard player Geith Pickford was innt and Larry Knight re the other band with the 'female' in front Ralph would know cheers Lynne haha I never knew you were at school with Sonja it's a small world cheers 4 now lynne Red'



Dave, Red and Di at the Oxford Tavern


Jim Crowley



Ralph Graham, Doug Smith, Unknown, Ian Young, Jim Crowley

Dave Turner, Jim Crowley, Tony Borg, Alanna Kereopa, Ralph Graham, Larry Knight
ALANNA IS SONJA'S SISTER, we all attended Darlinghurst Public School .. lynk !!



Doug Smith, Ralph Graham, Unkown, Jim Crowley, Ian Young


Doug Smith, Jim Crowley, Ian Young, Ralph Graham



Taylor Square: Introduction


The inner city area of Darlinghurst, Paddington and King's Cross were my stomping/stamping grounds as a youngster and remained so until my 30s.

Whitty's Wine Bar, Oxford and French's Tavern ... Friday and Saturday nights blues, folk and jug bands ... 'light' shows' at the Cell Block Theatre, underground movies and live performances at the Mandala Theatre on the corner of Oxford and South Dowling Streets, surf movies and live folk performances at the Wintergarden in Rose Bay .. We were never at a loss for stimuli and entertainment and travel from one venue to another in the course of the night .. including The Windsor Castle (nestled in amongst the terrace houses) on Sundays, lazing around playing pool and listening to jazz. The Greenwood Tree was also a favoured spot.

When the week was done .. Sundays one could venture down to the Domain Park and listen to and participate in various political debates with John Webster and Raven, or wander around to the many other soap box speakers .. the route to the Domain would take in Lady Macquarie Chair, Sydney Harbour, The Botanical Gardens, The Opera House, Sydney Art Gallery, The Mitchell Library, The Conservatorium of Music and sometimes a stroll through the Rocks to view various displays of artistery. Wayside Chapel on a Sunday was also the go for a while as musicians came to enterain us with their varying talents - Bob Hudson for one!

Numerous music venues were available to us: Folk Cellar, Folk Attick, Pact Folk, Surf City, Beach House, Beach City, Beatle Village, Hawaaian Eye, The Sound Lounge, Whiskey Au Go Go, Rhubarbs, , Beethovens, Vibes, Op Pop, Here, Suzie Wong's, Ball Pants, Adam's Apple, King's Cross BBQ, Whitty's Wine Bar, Oxford and French's Taverns, Loue's, John Huies, The Roxy, Yellow House ..... Arts Factory, Wayside Chapel, The Last Straw, Gas Lash, The Cask, Chez Ivy's and there were resident bands in almost every pub and surf club.

The Terrace Houses in and around the Cross, once occupied by my school chums and their lower or working class families, became 'pads' in the 60s, where common interests in music and politics were shared. Some of these terraces were converted to 'folk' venues and coffee lounges, others became 'squats' for bums and runaways'.


A creative subculture evolved: A wide variety of people from all levels of the social scale came together; curious middle class university students, office workers, surfers, runaways. A combination of political activists, musicians, artists, pot smoking, drug dabblers, petty thieves and the mentally deranged. Most were altruistic. We were were lumped together and described by the 'straights' as longhairs, druggies or misfits - referred to as 'hippies' or 'drop-outs'. Our catch cry was 'Tune In, Turn On and Drop Out' .. some were week-end 'drop-ins' only and scurried back to their comfortable homes in the upper North Shore, Kingsgrove ...

'Normal' people in the Cross were considered 'odd' by suburban standards. King's Cross attracted the weird. This barrage of eccentricity surrounded me in my formative years. I was lucky to survive. After years of abuse, I clambered onto a 'life-raft' . I chose to write about these times in order to find old pals and I have been successful in my mission.