So many photos and emails ..here are three that came to light recently.
In my haste, I omitted to take note of the photographer
Dom and Mort
Ian Willis
Jim and Wally
THEM
Showing posts with label Wally Mudd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wally Mudd. Show all posts
WALLY & THE DOGS by Ralph Graham
Ralph Graham's memories of Taylor Square
Ralph Graham (2006) ... "Perhaps I was not a “core” member of the Taylor Square mob as there are a few faces on the Taylor Square site that I don’t remember but I certainly was around and I’d like share some of what I remember.
Jim Crowley
Played drums for a time with the Starving Wild Dogs, a blues band with Wally Mudd (Warwick Wyld) who played harp and sang, others will know who the other members were. I also played guitar for a short time with a band at Whitty’s etc. but I don’t think it was the Dogs. Jim is a Kiwi and also played in bands with fellow Kiwi guitarist, Red McKelvie. [Jim was from Timaru which is where Red McKelvie now lives.] This was 1969. In 1970, I was the resident guitarist (Peter Knox was the bass player) at the Ball Pants coffee shop in Brougham Lane at Kings Cross and cooling my heels after a failed relationship when Jim Crowley tracked me down at my flat at the Cross. He asked if I wanted to join a band that was going to Vietnam. I thought it sounded like an adventure and the band flew out in February 1970. From that time on Jim and I shared many an adventure over the years, living together and playing in bands in Australia, Hong Kong Thailand etc.
In 2002, Jim lived only a few minutes away from where I live here in Epping, but we had not seen each other for quite a long time. I rang out of the blue to borrow a mike stand only to find to my horror that Jim had passed on two months prior on 17 March. His liver failed him. It was a big blow as I was not able to be with him through his sickness before he died, and missed his funeral. He left a wife and two fine boys. Jim’s father died at 57 when Jim was 13 and Jim died at 57 when one of his sons was 13. His heritage was Irish and he had revived his Catholicism some years before. He left us on St Patrick's Day.
Wally Mudd
In July 1979, Jim Crowley and I were sharing a house in Paddington and we moved to a house in Naremburn, north of North Sydney where we lived for several years. After much persuasion on Jim’s part, we managed to extract Wally from the scene at - the Cross, Darlinghurst etc – and he came to live with us. I cherish the times I sat with him in his room when we played guitar and he shared a couple of songs he had written.“Since I came to the city how my life has changed, All of the people and all of the names'.
I remember the chords and a few more words of this and he only played it once! I would love to have a copy of the whole song. I was profoundly affected by the way he disappeared to another world when he sang, seeming not to be aware of himself or the room, opening his eyes at the end as if to suddenly become aware of his surroundings again.
It must have been his destiny as not long after (I think Jim and I might have been on tour with John Williamson), Wally suddenly packed up and headed back to the never never where it seems many a good person had been lost. Within a couple of months, sadly, Wally was gone, I’m afraid.
Paul Johnson “Pig”
One night I was on the way to Ball Pants coffee shop where I was the regular guitarist, I heard a voice singing that I thought sounded like a cross between John Lee Hooker and Nat King Cole. He was actually young, white, tall, brash, already life worn and possessed of a wonderful blues voice. He played guitar and blues harp and I spent many a night playing my electric guitar for him and delighting in his vocals. A lady who often performed at the “Pants” known as Leonie (later performing around the traps as Leonora Jackson) had a “party” at her flat. Pig’s party trick was to ask for the lights to be turned off whereupon he de-trousered and set fire to a huge fart. Perhaps he should have been nick named 'Blue flame' or 'Methane'. One night at the Ball Pants he was standing there playing on his own and his song finished with rapturous applause. He obviously felt that he was below par that night and that we should have recognised it as he ripped off his guitar, threw it on the floor and said “You are all f**d! You know damn well that was terrible!” and strode out into the night. In the 80’s, some 16 years later while on tour with Digger Revell I ran into him in Melbourne where he, having now embraced country music, was performing ‘round Melbourne in a duo with his girl friend. In 2008 I was trying to track him down and discovered that he had died in the late nineties. So sad and disappointing, a CD of his is available from Dave Dawson’s website.
Paul Wyld “Dog”
You would think the nickname dog would describe a wild man but Paul, as I found him, was quiet and a gentleman. In 1977 my country rock band Rainshine was signed to a deal by our manager Colin Petersen, (former child star of the movie 'Smiley' and ex Bee Gees). Paul came to Alberts Studio and played piano on some tracks. The tracks, never released, were "Miles Away" (written by our Drummer, Shane Flew), "Flashing Lights" (written by me, Ralph Graham) and "Old Cowhand". His playing was a delight.
Mort Fist
I didn't meet Mort in the Taylor Square days, but much later in Tamworth in the 90's where he wrote for the local paper and was everywhere during the Country Music Festival in January each year, soaking in and writing up the music scene as he saw it. I liked Mort and he would often turn up to see our band. Eureka!, playing Celtic rock (Folk Rock) and some rocky bush songs, was not your regular Tamworth fare but we went over well and Mort, who told us he loved the band was almost embarrassing in his gushing praise in print. I was so saddened to hear of yet another premature passing of a lovely man."
The link for Dave Dawson's site who has copies of Paul "Pig" Johnson's ( later known as A. P. Johnson) CD with the Dead Livers is
http://www.nucountry.com.au email on the site. Thanks, Ralph
IN SEARCH OF THE STARVING WILD DOGS 2008
1973 Wally and Lynne in Batman Lane, Surry Hills
My jug band days!
My pulse quickened as I recalled the time I spent around the Taylor Square area. I wondered where Wally and the boys were now? I did a quick search and located Red McKelvie on Myspace, Red had put up a tracks from his latest CD. One of the tunes he had named, "Wally's Song". Dare I play it? I did and I cried, it was a tribute to the days at Taylor Square, to Wally Mudd, his brother Paul and friends.
WHITTY'S WINE BAR '67, Oxford Street, Taylor Square
Proprietors Cec and Joan Whitty
After a day's slog at the Sydney County Council I cut across Hyde Park and made my way down Oxford Street towards Taylor Square. Looking quite the part with denims and tee shirt I anticipated a night of jug and blues with The Starving Wild Dogs.
First stop was Cecil B Fardouli's delicatessen, situated between Whittys and the Chew and Spew, corner of Flinders and Oxford, where I purchased a wizened stick of cabanossi, a crusty bread roll and a lump of cheese, these items, I complimented with a number of ciders as I awaited the band to make an appearance.
Up front was Wheezin' Walter T Mudd on vocals and harp, his brother Paul 'Doggie' Wyld on keyboards and the dapper Terry Wilkins on bass.Many band members came and went, Red McKelvie and Chinese Chris on lead, Charlie Watts, Jim Crowley and Daryl MacKenzie on drums. Mort sat in on occasions treating us to his soulful harp and tempting us with his jug.
I have a very clear memory of Terry announcing that he was changing his style of playing the bass guitar. He traded his use of the plectrum, for an upward finger stroke. (clarify with Terry). Terry a Libran had studied to be a teacher prior to joining the Dogs. He was ever so neat, neat moustache, neat jeans and neat shirt.
The place was packed, and patrons spilt onto Oxford Street. The guys ripped into their repertoire of blues and jug: 'What's that Smells like Fish Mama', 'Mystery Train', 'Messin' with the Kid', 'Dust my Broom', 'Stealin' and Willie Dixon's 'Walking Blues'.
Around '69, the 'Dogs' moved into 290 South Dowling Street, Paddington/Darlinghurst. Faces I remember are Jim Crowley, Wally Mudd, Sonya Kereopa, Terry Wilkins, Paul Wyld, Sue Challis, Allannah, Stuart West and Steve James. I took up temporary residence on top of a sideboard under the stairs!!
The terrace was electric! a different vibe in each room. Terry had the downstairs front room, people gathered there to share their latest musical discoveries. Anna, Red McKelvie, Bob McGowan, Kathy James, Swannee, Martin James, Lindsay Bourke, Hamburger Joe, John A Bird, Sandy, Phil Manning, Shane Duckham, Neil Bramley, Dave and Moya Sturdy (twins), Pip, Adrian Rawlins .. laughing, laughing, laughing...a revolving door so to speak.
The tenement extended out the back onto a courtyard and then into another terrace which housed the overflow from '290', Sonya Kereopa, Larry Knight, Peter Gatehouse, Peter Gardiner, Alan Johnson, Dave Cook and Alan Johnson are a few of the crew I recall.
Steven 'Sudsy' Sutcliff arrived at 290 one evening, paranoid as hell. He had been listening to The Rolling Stones 'Satanic Majesty', and was convinced that the Stones were sending him messages via the album, he placed a glass to the wall and listened to 'the voices' being transmitted by the D's (detectives). Poor Sudsy, his life ended abruptly from an overdose, we had little knowledge of schizophrenia in those days.
We often shared riffs and blues info., good clean healthy fun. However, one rainy Sunday afternoon someone suggested we have a raffle. Names were placed into a hat, I drew Steve James. Steve and I were mates and were happy to jam for an hour or so. The fact that we had conducted a raffle led to much speculation. My friend Errol Wood visited and moved me off my prime position on the sideboard and into his flat in Alison Road, Randwick. The rent was seventeen dollars, my share was three.
RECOLLECTIONS OF WALLY
Since this article, I have received emails, photos, comments and recollections of this period and was able to reunite with old friends and acquaintances, including Errol and Phil Wood, Diane Willard, Danny Groves, Sue Toohey, Terry Darmody, Neil Smith, Alan Johnson, Peter Nehill, Larry Knight, Red McKelvie, Peter Gatehouse, Allannah, Dave Miller, Judy Miller, Jacquie McGarry, Peter 'Izzy Forreal' Knox .....
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| 290 South Dowling Street, Darlinghurst |
A pub jam in Surry Hills in 1979 is the last memory I have of Wally. Wheezin' Walter 'T' Mudd will be remembered for his contribution to the Sydney Underground music scene during the late 60s, best summed up in Red's tribute song RED McKELVIE "Wally's Song"
In Search of the Starving Wild Dogs
'Wally, held Taylor Square to ransom for 5 years' says Terry Wilkins'
Wally, hat perched on a mop of curly hair, first caught my eye at Rhubarbs, (a cavern-like venue in Douglass Lane, off Liverpool Street. He was backed by a wild looking bunch, calling themselves the Starving Wild (Wyld) Dogs.Wally's quirky movements and staccato singing, the wail coming from his harp and the passionate rawness of the blues sound emanating from these young lads was beyond compare . . I just had to meet them! I implored my mate, Mort to introduce me. He agreed, and the following Saturday afternoon we caught the bus from Miller Street, North Sydney, hopped off at Wynyard and took the 318 to Bondi Junction. I loved Mort's company, his childlike passion made every encounter take on a magical quality, he was a born actor and the world was his stage.
42 Denison Street
A short walk and we entered a huge terrace . The sun. which streamed through the hallway, illuminated the house in a manner peculiar to terraces. Wally was sitting at the base of the stairway engrossed in a conversation with Allannah. A loaf of Vogel bread owned the kitchen table, accompanied by a bread knife which laid expectantly beside it.
Warwick Wyld, aka Wheezing Walter T Mudd and I formed a friendship which endured throughout the Taylor Square scene and beyond, we shared a love of old folkblues and spent many a night singing and strumming our guitars. I was enamoured with the personae that was, 'Wally Mudd'. Hw was not one to talk at any length about himself. However, one could always catch him blowing his harp with any band around the traps.
290 South Dowling Street
Who lived there and who was transient? Steve James, Terry Wilkins, Stuart West, Paul Wyld, Jim Crowley, Larry Knight, Sonya Kereopa, Sue Challis and Allannah were the regular tenants.
"One Dollar, Two Dollar" written by Wally
'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 McKelvie'
'I think I first met Wally through Terry Wilkins - we were at the Oxford I 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? Allannah Wooloughan '
'I think I first met Wally through Terry Wilkins - we were at the Oxford I 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? Allannah Wooloughan '
RED McKELVIE
Rummaging through memorabilia, I came across a negative. I took it along to the nearest camera store to be developed. I was blown away, in my hand I held a black and white snap of Wally Mudd, Bob had taken in the lounge of our terrace in Batman Lane, Surry Hills.
I located Red McKelvie's site on Myspace; he had released a CD and put up a few sample mp3s on his Home page. One track in particular caught my eye, Red McKelvie "Wally's Song" mp3 .. dare I play it? I did and it made me weep. If you were in Taylor Square in the 60s and knew Wally and Paul Wyld this song will be blow you away.
'Lynne Best is that you? It's Red here, wot a great photo, you made me weep old gal that is the loveliest photo of Wally I've ever seen. When my friend Grahame came out to visit me in 2000 he ha ha got on my case abt writing songs again, after he went back I thought abt it and starting writing "Song for Wally" I called up Terry W and we chatted and out of the blue he sez "Oh, Taylor Square 'Wally held the place to ransom for 5 years' ! Lynne hows abt emailing me your ph#. I'd love to have a chat with ya and I'd love to send you a copy of the CD. cheers Red [McKelvie]'
Wally and Red
In Search of The Starving Wild Dogs ..
"Lynne use the photo's that's absolutely fine would you mind 'crediting' them to Wayne Doull. Wayne took so many photos I have called him and he sez it's fine with him to use...Red McKelvie"
Wally Mudd Daryl McKenzie, Wally Mudd and Red McKelvie 1. and 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 South Dowling Street c.'68 4. Feb 1968 Jim and Sandy at the Oxford 'Jim's Obituary, I think of him lots 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 recognize some people there This photos were taken at the Hebron Hall Darlinghurst right across road from Langley St okay hmmm Chris was born Apr 71 we were only there at most 5 months so it's 1971 (there was a little park behind it on Palmer St I used to take Chris there to give Lan a break) we lived at 22 Langley St in a small house John A Bird and Sandy had it before us and he organised for us to take over the lease after him and Sandy found other digs the band was just put together for Wayne and Lyn's wedding we don't appear to have a bass-player 'Ace' Follington on drums Doggie, Wally and me it's abt Aug 1971 I've been waiting since 1992 for these photo's !! I hope they come out alright I'm SO lucky to have these photos, have more will send them to you asap cheers 4 now Red McKelvie ..
"Lynne use the photo's that's absolutely fine would you mind 'crediting' them to Wayne Doull. Wayne took so many photos I have called him and he sez it's fine with him to use...Red McKelvie"
Wally Mudd Daryl McKenzie, Wally Mudd and Red McKelvie 1. and 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 South Dowling Street c.'68 4. Feb 1968 Jim and Sandy at the Oxford 'Jim's Obituary, I think of him lots 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 recognize some people there This photos were taken at the Hebron Hall Darlinghurst right across road from Langley St okay hmmm Chris was born Apr 71 we were only there at most 5 months so it's 1971 (there was a little park behind it on Palmer St I used to take Chris there to give Lan a break) we lived at 22 Langley St in a small house John A Bird and Sandy had it before us and he organised for us to take over the lease after him and Sandy found other digs the band was just put together for Wayne and Lyn's wedding we don't appear to have a bass-player 'Ace' Follington on drums Doggie, Wally and me it's abt Aug 1971 I've been waiting since 1992 for these photo's !! I hope they come out alright I'm SO lucky to have these photos, have more will send them to you asap cheers 4 now Red McKelvie ..
Photos: courtesy Leonie Reid
Here are the photos promised to me by Terry Wilkins, via Leonie Reid. I never had the pleasure of meeting Leonie as she had embarked on a journey to the UK just.
Dave Miller "Hi Lynne, Dave Miller here, thank you so much for letting me share Leonie's photos, it was a very emotional experience for me looking at photos of my friends that I hung around with from the age of seventeen. It sure brings back a lot of fond memories whilst at the same time its very sad that some of those friends are no longer with us. How incredibly young they all looked. Mort's brother Ham Fist (Michael) and seriously is that the same Phil Wood I went skiing with two weeks ago, he'd be pretty safe in a police line up (lol). Lyn Carrick and Carolyn Smith (the Beverly Hills girls) whom I first met at the Folk Attic (their names are on that letter from Howlin Wolf) and of course Veronica Wellman and Leonie who were like sisters to me (as if I didn't have enough already - 4) and rescued me from over indulgence at the many parties at 294 South Dowling Street. These were the formative years for me as a teenage boy and I felt privileged to have shared it with such wonderful people.
Dave Miller "Hi Lynne, Dave Miller here, thank you so much for letting me share Leonie's photos, it was a very emotional experience for me looking at photos of my friends that I hung around with from the age of seventeen. It sure brings back a lot of fond memories whilst at the same time its very sad that some of those friends are no longer with us. How incredibly young they all looked. Mort's brother Ham Fist (Michael) and seriously is that the same Phil Wood I went skiing with two weeks ago, he'd be pretty safe in a police line up (lol). Lyn Carrick and Carolyn Smith (the Beverly Hills girls) whom I first met at the Folk Attic (their names are on that letter from Howlin Wolf) and of course Veronica Wellman and Leonie who were like sisters to me (as if I didn't have enough already - 4) and rescued me from over indulgence at the many parties at 294 South Dowling Street. These were the formative years for me as a teenage boy and I felt privileged to have shared it with such wonderful people.
I'm inspired to dig through my photo collection and send you anything of interest that I can find and happy Birthday for tomorrow. love Dave "
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| Leonie, Mort, Unknown, Michael 'Ham Fist' Fitzgerald, Is that Anna? |
Derek (harp) and Marilyn Robinson
Leonie, Bob McG, Derek, Marilyn
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| John, Vronx, Terry Wilkins, Leonie Reid and Little Gulliver |
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| Les Proctor, Swannee, Bob McGowan, Wally Mudd |
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| Mort Fist and Phil Wood |
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| Terry, Phil and Anna |
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| Unknown, Leonie, Mort |
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| Frank Cayley |
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| Mort |
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| Wally |
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| Leonie, Vronx and Mort |
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| Lyn Carrick, Veronica 'Vronx' Wellman, Carol and Leonie Reid |
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| Lyn, Carol, Leonie and Vronx |
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| Lyn Corrick |
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| Veronica 'Vronx' Wellman |
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| Ross J Waters |
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| Mort Fist and Terry Wilkins |
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| Mort and Terry |
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| Dave Shultz |
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| Veronica Wellman and Bon Scott |
- Red called last night Nov 24, 2010 and said he thinks this photo was taken in a pad in Cathedral Street, Woolloomooloo .. Lynne
ROYAL NATIONAL PARK - PHOTOS Keltic Ken Adams
Sadly, I regret to say Ken Adams passed away ..
'when I was in Taylor Square (67-68) Cecil Whitty was the proprietor of Whitty's Wine Bar. (I think he used to be a boxer ... and Joan was somewhat younger than him. After I returned Stateside, Joan sent me a t-shirt commemorating their new venture Adam's Apple ... Ken Adams'
These photos were taken by my good friend Keltic Ken Adams, a Taylor Squarian in the 60s. Photos include: Wally Mudd, Charlie Watts, Bill Lockrey, Mort Fist, Terry Wilkins, Swannee, John A Bird, Bob McGowan, Keith, Marilyn and Derek Robinson .. and more .. any comments on 'who is who' would be most welcome
'Hi Lynne ...you don't know me, but I was just looking at your blog with my jaw almost dropping to the floor --- I was THERE: Taylor Square, Whitty's, The Oxford Hotel -- 1967-68!!! I was a goofy 15/16 year-old Yank who was big for his age, so I got to booze it up with the older folks. As I saw the pictures of Wally and the rest, I almost thought I was looking at a world that, 40 plus years later, only existed in my faded memories. I remember Wally and others playing the joints in the square (remember the names 'German John' and 'Swanee'?)...my brother was/is a fellow they called 'Dirty Big Dingo'. Who knows, we probably crossed paths some Friday and Saturday nights from Whitty's to the 'chew & spew' then across the street to The Oxford . , Thank you, Lynne ... what a blast to see and read about a community I got to be a part of...WOW! My family returned to the States in August of '68, but I still dream of the day when my feet will again walk on the streets of Sydney (my late mother was born in Paddington, so I'm bona-fide 1/2 Aussie).Thank you again, Lynne...I'd love to stay in touch with you from here in Central California. Blessings .. Ken Adams"
REDO
1967 Whitty's Wine Bar
Wally Mudd-harp/Tony 'Mort Fist' Fitzgerald-jug/Terry Wilkins-bass (foreground)
This was Terry's first 'gig', what an historical photo!
Starving Wild Dogs Piano Band @ Whitty's June 3, 1967
Wally Mudd, Mort Fist and Terry Wilkins
or Waldo Hayes
L to R Sue Lockrey, Bill Lockrey and Keith
'when I was in Taylor Square (67-68) Cecil Whitty was the proprietor of Whitty's Wine Bar. (I think he used to be a boxer ... and Joan was somewhat younger than him. After I returned Stateside, Joan sent me a t-shirt commemorating their new venture Adam's Apple ... Ken Adams'
These photos were taken by my good friend Keltic Ken Adams, a Taylor Squarian in the 60s. Photos include: Wally Mudd, Charlie Watts, Bill Lockrey, Mort Fist, Terry Wilkins, Swannee, John A Bird, Bob McGowan, Keith, Marilyn and Derek Robinson .. and more .. any comments on 'who is who' would be most welcome
'Hi Lynne ...you don't know me, but I was just looking at your blog with my jaw almost dropping to the floor --- I was THERE: Taylor Square, Whitty's, The Oxford Hotel -- 1967-68!!! I was a goofy 15/16 year-old Yank who was big for his age, so I got to booze it up with the older folks. As I saw the pictures of Wally and the rest, I almost thought I was looking at a world that, 40 plus years later, only existed in my faded memories. I remember Wally and others playing the joints in the square (remember the names 'German John' and 'Swanee'?)...my brother was/is a fellow they called 'Dirty Big Dingo'. Who knows, we probably crossed paths some Friday and Saturday nights from Whitty's to the 'chew & spew' then across the street to The Oxford . , Thank you, Lynne ... what a blast to see and read about a community I got to be a part of...WOW! My family returned to the States in August of '68, but I still dream of the day when my feet will again walk on the streets of Sydney (my late mother was born in Paddington, so I'm bona-fide 1/2 Aussie).Thank you again, Lynne...I'd love to stay in touch with you from here in Central California. Blessings .. Ken Adams"
'Sometime in 67-68 I compiled a list of bands I knew about ... Ken Adams'
REDO
1967 Whitty's Wine Bar
Wally Mudd-harp/Tony 'Mort Fist' Fitzgerald-jug/Terry Wilkins-bass (foreground)
This was Terry's first 'gig', what an historical photo!
Starving Wild Dogs Piano Band @ Whitty's June 3, 1967
Wally Mudd, Mort Fist and Terry Wilkins
June 3, 1967 The Sons of Agamemnon
The Oxford Hotel with Swannee-12 string/Rod Jamieson-bass
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June 3, 1967 Swannee and Jill at Whitty's Wine Bar
L to R Sue Lockrey, Bill Lockrey and Keith
Outside the Chew and Spew
June 3, 1967 Bill Lockrey at Whitty's Wine Bar
June 3, 1967 Bill Lockrey at Whitty's Wine Bar
June 3, 1967 Bill Lockrey at Whittys Wine Bar
Sat. June 3, '67 Derek and Marilyn Robinson's Wedding Reception at Whitty's
NATIONAL PARK
In 1968 Cec and Joan Whitty chartered a bus to the Royal National Park
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1968 Charlie Watts (far left) |
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1968 'Nasho; Michelle, Mick Scotland, Hamburger Joe's brother Joan Whitty's Southern Exposure |
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1968 Swannee and John A Bird |
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1968 Swannee at National Park |
Terry Wilkins 'Hi Lynne, Great job on bringing this whole scene to life. The photos from Whitty's of Mort and Wally have me as the guitarist in the foreground. It was my first 'gig' of my career. I have not stopped playing since that day. T......'
Allannah 'Hi Lynne, Fantastic to see those 'Nasho' photos - as I recall that event was a 'psychedelic' picnic, I'm surprised anyone was left standing. There were bands playing under the Sun etc. Thanks for posting the photos - I don't recognise anyone else though Red might. Bye for now from Allannah Wooloughan'
Ross J Waters wrote: 'I didn't quite recognise Terry from the early photos, but was thinking the face looked familiar.Your blog & sites have been a fantastic trip down memory lane. And Red's song about Wally & Paul almost brings tears to my eyes. It so sums up what the Taylor Square days were all about. I've played a lot of gigs in many different bands on both sides of the world, but those days & venues were the best.I well remember the bus trip down to the National Park in 1968. I think I was still on crutches after my bike prang, & I took along a girl I'd met in the hospital. She was pretty "straight" & came from the upper North Shore. The next day the Sunday Mirror did a front page story on the drug-addicted crazies & their psychedelic love-in in the Nat. Park!! My breakfast was interrupted by an irate phone call from the girl's distraught mother...I had a lot of explaining to do! Hope all is well with you, Regards, Ross [J Waters]'
David McDermott 'Hi, My name is David McDermott and I came across your blog whilst doing a search for Terry Wilkins, I went to the same school as Terry in western Sydney and also knew him when he played with Quill in Darlinghurst, cannot for the life of me think of the name of the joint! Is Phil Jones of the Unknown Blues fame on your page? I have "If I had a Ticket" MP3 as well as the Python Lee Jackson song that Rod Stewart sang the lead. Oh what memories .. David McDermott."
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