Biography
Australia's pioneering guitar hero Lobby Loyde left a lasting imprint on the country's rock landscape through his influential stints with Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs and Rose Tattoo, alongside a parallel path as a solo artist.
He entered the Stilettos in 1963 while still performing under his birth name Barry Lyde, a group modeled on the Shadows, before moving in 1964 to the R&B outfit the Impacts. A subsequent rechristening as the Purple Hearts propelled the ensemble to prominence and secured its standing among Australia's premier R&B acts. Barry Lyde adopted the name Lobby Loyde in 1967 upon entering the Wild Cherries, reshaping them into an experimental psychedelic unit. He departed the Wild Cherries late in 1968 to link up with Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, where his guitar contributions enabled Billy Thorpe to dominate the national rock scene in the early 1970s.
Loyde exited the Aztecs in October 1970, issuing the landmark solo release Plays With George Guitar the following September. He assembled a support group also called the Wild Cherries, featuring bassist Teddy Toi and drummer Johnny Dick, which remained active until February 1972. Next came the formation of Coloured Balls, a project that dissolved at the close of 1974. In December 1975 he unveiled the solo single "Do You Believe in Magic?"/"Love Lost on Dream Tides."
His second solo effort, Obsecration, appeared in May 1976 and delivered another strong showcase of heavy rock guitar. Relocating to the U.K., he attracted Virgin's attention for the album, yet no agreement materialized amid England's punk upheaval. Returning home in 1979, he assembled Southern Electric with drummer Gil Matthews, bassist Gavin Carroll, and Mándu; the group cut Live with Dubs, which surfaced in October 1980.
That same year Loyde supplied the track "John's Song" to the various-artists collection Australian Guitar Album before signing on as Rose Tattoo's bassist. An album recorded in Los Angeles remained unreleased, though he toured with the band from October 1979 through September 1980. He subsequently focused on production work for the Sunnyboys, Machinations, X, and Painters and Dockers. In 1990 he played bass in the short-lived group Dirt, and in 1997 he launched Fish Tree Mother. Following a struggle with lung cancer, Lobby Loyde passed away in Melbourne on April 21, 2007, at the age of 65.
He entered the Stilettos in 1963 while still performing under his birth name Barry Lyde, a group modeled on the Shadows, before moving in 1964 to the R&B outfit the Impacts. A subsequent rechristening as the Purple Hearts propelled the ensemble to prominence and secured its standing among Australia's premier R&B acts. Barry Lyde adopted the name Lobby Loyde in 1967 upon entering the Wild Cherries, reshaping them into an experimental psychedelic unit. He departed the Wild Cherries late in 1968 to link up with Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, where his guitar contributions enabled Billy Thorpe to dominate the national rock scene in the early 1970s.
Loyde exited the Aztecs in October 1970, issuing the landmark solo release Plays With George Guitar the following September. He assembled a support group also called the Wild Cherries, featuring bassist Teddy Toi and drummer Johnny Dick, which remained active until February 1972. Next came the formation of Coloured Balls, a project that dissolved at the close of 1974. In December 1975 he unveiled the solo single "Do You Believe in Magic?"/"Love Lost on Dream Tides."
His second solo effort, Obsecration, appeared in May 1976 and delivered another strong showcase of heavy rock guitar. Relocating to the U.K., he attracted Virgin's attention for the album, yet no agreement materialized amid England's punk upheaval. Returning home in 1979, he assembled Southern Electric with drummer Gil Matthews, bassist Gavin Carroll, and Mándu; the group cut Live with Dubs, which surfaced in October 1980.
That same year Loyde supplied the track "John's Song" to the various-artists collection Australian Guitar Album before signing on as Rose Tattoo's bassist. An album recorded in Los Angeles remained unreleased, though he toured with the band from October 1979 through September 1980. He subsequently focused on production work for the Sunnyboys, Machinations, X, and Painters and Dockers. In 1990 he played bass in the short-lived group Dirt, and in 1997 he launched Fish Tree Mother. Following a struggle with lung cancer, Lobby Loyde passed away in Melbourne on April 21, 2007, at the age of 65.
Albums
