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| June, 2010 David travelled to Canada and grabbed a snap of Terry |
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| David and Terry |
THEM
Terry Wilkins
TERRY DARMODY - Original Battersea Heroes
So much I have to say about this fabulous band, possibly one of the best jug bands of its time, I do intend to spend more time on this post .. bravo Terry
'It's Real', Volume 1
Tune in to Skidrow Radio 8.00 am to 9.00 am on Sundays for Terry's Gospel Music
'It's Real', Volume 1
Terry Darmody and Steve Messer (on harp) have joined forces to produce this wonderful easy listening, spiritually based CD. Years of musical knowledge and mutual love of Jesus have gone into this beautifully presented collection. Their friendship goes way back to a chance meeting at a gig in Prahan, (when Steve played with the Ordinarys ).
Terry Darmody ..."The Original Battersea Heroes had many members. It was founded round 1963 as a jug band by Martin James (banjo, 6 & 12 string guitars, lead vocal, harmonica & kazoo, & original songwriting) .... Peter Nehill played washboard at first, then tea chest bass and bass guitar. We had plenty of guitar players including Chuck Quinton, Roger Blake, Graham Bennett, Lindsay Hewson (John's brother), Neville Drury, Gavec Nicholson, Bob McGowan, Tony Burkys & Mick Diggles. Dennis Burke joined Martin & me on washboard & drums. When Martin left, I started singing lead. Ross Waters added some real musical class when he was with us on fiddle. Peter Miller joined on bass while Peter Nehill joined & left a few times. We moved more & more towards perfecting 'good-time' rock'n'roll (our heroes were the Loving Spoonful, Band, Dylan & 50s rockers & folk roots & jazz musicians). Rob Dames (Purple Hearts) joined on bass for a time, as did Peter Knox & Terry Wilson Slime Men, Wasted Daze, Magnetics) with Barry X drums. In the last gasp of the Heroes, 2 musos from Melbourne, Lee 'Fred' Cass - drums & Mick Diggles joined & we kept puttering along like a goodtime r&r version of Murph & the MagicTones 'til 1970. Have I forgotten anyone? An OBH LP was recorded by Bob, Tony, Peter N, Dennis & me. That was a tight band. We pretty well lived together & often played at the Arts Factory. In about 1971 Bob, Tony, Warwick K & John T formed Uncle Bob's Band, a really good unit that picked up where the best days of the Heroes left off. They asked me to join as singer & we had 5 or so very musical years that finished in Melbourne. Now? Musically, I'm a folkroots/country/blues - influenced gospel singer, guitar strummer & harp/kazoo player...Terry D"
Terry Stacey & The Woodworms
featuring Terry Darmody on harp
Tune in to Skidrow Radio 8.00 am to 9.00 am on Sundays for Terry's Gospel Music
Peter 'Izzyforeal' Knox
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Peter 'IZZYFOREAL' Knox ( Zarsoff Bros, New Original Battersea Heroes, '69ers, Hillbilly Blues Bandits )
Izzy has just opened a Facebook Group called
" Does anyone remember the Ball Pants?"
He was resident bass player there for some time. Izzy hopes it is OK to use the foto of Brougham Lane from your site for the group. Izzy is playing Bass on the Red Mckelvie video and its on Forealnfriends Utube if you don't have it. Feel free to grab it. Its a great site you've made. I was at Taylor Square as well, Frenchs, Flinders Street and Courthouse mainly but my memories are vague - can't think why. I have also linked your site to our blogs because it seems to me the internet needs a lot more memories of Sydney in those years. I guess WE are now the HISTORY. Thanks for all your work. Looking forward to the next thing to come. Yrs"
Third Union Band with Peter Knox (bass) and Red McKelvie (lead)
Peter Knox (now known by the performing name of Izzy Foreal). Izzy (as Peter Knox) entered the Taylor Square music scene in the late 60s, playing at the Oxford Hotel in the strange Dylanesque outfit Sylvester Quincy Barkers Music Box, which featured Waldo Hayes on guitar and Mike Turner on drums. That band also played regularly at the Trolley Car Bar in City Road, and the Wayside Chapel in The Cross. Also as Peter Knox, Izzy played with Daryl McKenzie and Red McKelvie in Quill, having replaced Terry Wilkins on bass when Terry joined Flying Circus.
Do you remember Peter Knox? For a time after his stint with Quill, Peter/Izzy played the wine bars around Taylor Square. In his typically skullduggerous fashion, he had a little outfit called Fluke (the name was a piss-take on Flake, who were hugely popular at the time). Fluke never got famous, so the piss-take on the name never got to offend anyone.
In 1970 Peter/Izzy joined The 69ERS, replacing Brian Bethell. The band at that stage featured Keith Longman on drums, who was soon to be replaced by Dave Ovenden. Peter/Izzy was in that band’s lineup when they played at the 1973 Sunbury Festival in Victoria, to much critical acclaim and general merriment.
In late 1970 or some time in 1971 (though these years may need to be verified by others who were there), that Peter/Izzy played bass with the Original Battersea Heroes, who by that time had moved away from their wine bar beginnings and were firmly entrenched in the rock music circuit. The Heroes at that stage featured Tony Burkys and Bob McGowan on guitars, Terry Darmody out front, and Dennis (whose surname will have to be verified elsewhere) on a hybrid drumkit/washboard concoction.
A bit later in the 1970s (again, someone else will have to verify dates), Peter/Izzy played bass with Red McKelvie, Graham Lister and Dave Ovenden in the Third Union Band (who started out as Johnny and The Ringworms, but that’s another story …). It’s Peter/Izzy playing bass in the GTK clip of the Third Union Band featured elsewhere on this site. Peter/Izzy was replaced in the Third Union Band by Harry Brus (but that’s also another story …)
The Royal George
My first contact on the internet was Paul Stevens, Paul was involved in the forming of Frank's Cafe, possibly the first leather shop in Sydney.. will add his email directly
Paul Stevens aka 'Earring Paul' recalls the heady days spent at The Royal George Hotel in Sussex Street on his site, (Tales of the Royal George). References to Frank Hammond, Cass, Germaine Greer, Chuck, Christa, Black Alan and Africa. TThe George was 'the scene' before Taylor Square, the place to be!!
Paul lived Victoria Street, King's Cross in the early '60s, and attended Sydney University, he was part of the 'Young Push' at the George and is currently teaching English literature in the UK).
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ALAN MEADOWS
The Roxy around the corner from Whitty's .. a huge old building painted red .. I only went there once.
'Excellent site for info, most informative Lynn ~ good work...now nobody mentioned The Roxy in Taylor Square run by Tim Martin .. spawning ground for some great musicians including the Emanuel brothers .. it was where I met Earlwood Greg who was a regular performer there in the mid seventies. Others may have detailed memories of the venue and artists. just as an aside... I remember gigging with the Neasdens at Buster Browns down from Taylor square on Oxford street.. the waiters were on roller skates and we were supporting Madam Lash.. indeed strange bedfellows...and we were told it was a family show! Glad you caught up with Chris Blanchflower. We had a lot of fun when we played in Richard Brooks Puffin' Billies harmonica band. Incidentally he was the harmonica player in Greg Quill's Country Radio, a band that had a couple of good selling albums in the early seventies.I have attached a shot taken at my fortieth ( Forty years in OZ) and showing a group of great mates that have been playing together for over thirty years... Allan [Meadows]'
Earlwood Greg, Jim Jarvis, John Jacobs and Alan Meadows'Absent on this occasion Pete Mackie ~ ex Cockroaches who also plays bass in the five piece line up'
'We have from left Alan Meadows, next to him Jim " Fingers" Jarvis, Earlwood Greg centre stage, then Johnny "Tom Tom" Jacobs and at right Pete Mackie on bass. Incidentally the back of the head in the foreground belongs to Dave Clayton - musician and producer extraordinaire who has played in some wonderful bands alongside the Conway Brothers, Ian Date and George Washing machine. Earlwood Greg Derrig in the photo. We have been good buddies since the early seventies, and I have been playing with him in The Feet for over ten years. I had the pleasure of playing with the guys in a series of gigs last year, which included the Wollembi Folk Festival. Incidentally Earlwood Greg played with Jim Jarvis also in the pic and Trevor Wynn in Rent party - a terrific acoustic blues act that gigged in the early seventies in Sydney I have attached pics of some of the bands . Does that bring back any memories~ cheers Alan'
Sweaty Palms Orchestra 1980/1982
Clayton, Philthy Donnison, Alan, Ross Welch and Jim Penel
'The shot of the Neasdens shows me bare legged standing next to
Richard Ruhle, Julie George, Andy George and Rob Gray'
Stove Pipe Spasm Band 1968/ 1970
'DK Pilley Chris Blanchflower Phil Donnison Julie and Andy George'
Hokum ~on ~Somble 1976 to around 1985
to see more of Al Meadows and Duck Soup click here
WARREN FAHEY
2010 (Feb) .. Warren Fahey owned Larrikin Records up until Marion Sinclairs death in 1988. He is not at all connected to the current Kookaburra debate.
Journey with Warren Fahey an excellent coverage on early folk venues.
Warren Fahey .. "howdy, had a look at the site. some good snaps and memories. terry darmody - goodness. i had a lot to do with many of the jug bands you mention - either i recorded them or put them on at numerous Larrikin concerts. Your choice of music also parallels much of my music carried at Folkways - especially the blues. I was a friend of Dave Van Ronk - we performed at the same festival (Vancouver) and ended up getting stuck at a Chicago airport hotel (with Pete Seeger, Patrick Sky, and Cephis and Wiggins - now THAT was a night to remember."
FLAKE - Dave Allen
Dave 'Flake' Allen ... "Hi Lynne,I was just given a link to your fantastic blog. I lived at Darlinghurst in the early 70's, first sharing digs with Joe Lane, then when I met my now wife, a wonderful old drag queen, Rickie Daniel, was our best man at our very conventional wedding, very funny stuff.
I played in Flake and various groups in the late 60's to 70's, at Paddo Town Hall, The Mandala, Whisky etc. There are many photos from that time if you dig deep enough on my blogs. You are welcome to use anything, copy or link. best wishes Dave Allen"
Dave's blog sites are informative and enlightening ... here is an extract from Burning Studios .. lynk
Dave Allen ... "I'll never forget what was a real adventure for me!!
'Just wear something conservative.' said Dave. I took this to mean that I was not to look a Surfie, Rocker, Who-boy (Mod), or Sharpie. I met Dave at Hurlstone Park station, and away we went, via rail to St James, then straight up William St. Dave was lean, and strode with a purpose, at times getting ahead of me. He was wearing a 3 button banion shirt,( a type of collared T), Martin jacket, straight leg trousers, and desert boots. I seem to remember the whole outfit being a very neutral beige colour, except the desert boots, which were camel coloured , of course!! ... click here
BURNING MOUNTAIN STUDIO Dave's blog
PHIL JONES PART 2 forming of the Unknown Blues and
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