Billy Thorpe

William Richard Thorpe AM (29 March 1946 – 28 February 2007) was an English-born Australian singer-songwriter, and record producer. As lead singer of his band Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs, he had success in the 1960s with "Blue Day", "Poison Ivy", "Over the Rainbow", "Sick and Tired", "Baby, Hold Me Close" and "Mashed Potato"; and in the 1970s with "Most People I Know Think That I'm Crazy". Featuring in concerts at Sunbury Pop Festivals and Myer Music Bowl in the early 1970s, the Aztecs also developed the pub rock scene and were one of the loudest groups in Australia.

Thorpe also performed as a solo artist. He relocated to America from 1976 to 1996; after moving, he released the space opera Children of the Sun, He worked with ex-Aztec Tony Barber to form a soft toy company in 1987 and co-wrote stories for The Puggle Tales and Tales from the Lost Forests. Thorpe also worked as a producer and composed music scores for TV series including War of the Worlds, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Columbo, Eight Is Enough and Hard Time on Planet Earth.

Thorpe returned to Australia in 1996 and continued as a performer and producer, additionally writing two autobiographies, Sex and Thugs and Rock 'n' Roll (1996) and Most People I Know (Think That I'm Crazy) (1998). He died of a heart attack in February 2007 and was posthumously appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in June for his contribution to music as a musician, songwriter and producer.

Unlike many other Australian artists, Thorpe gained musical fame internationally in countries such as Canada and the United States. His cult following, particularly after the aforementioned sci-fi themed album Children of the Sun came out, notably involved dramatic live performances outside of Australia such as with laser light shows playing inside multiple planetariums. That release alone sold approximately half a million copies worldwide.

In 2009, Thorpe was announced as one of the Q150 Icons selected for historical commemoration by the government of Queensland, his influence being recognized during the Q150 celebrations. His musical legacy continues after his death, particularly around local areas that he frequently played within live.

Career 1946–1962: Early life Billy Thorpe was born in Manchester, England, in 1946, to Bill and Mabel Thorpe. He emigrated with his parents to Australia in 1955, arriving in Melbourne and then settling in Brisbane, Queensland. Before Thorpe joined, The Aztecs had released "Smoke and Stack", a surf instrumental. which contains the first known recording of Thorpe. It became their breakthrough hit when it peaked at No. 1 on the local Sydney charts. Thorpe undertook a brief solo career, he released "Dream Baby" (Roy Orbison cover), in October 1967 but it had no chart success. The two Aztecs combined for Downunda which was released in 1973 under the names, Thump'n Pig (Morgan) and Puff'n Billy (Thorpe); Other Australian artists were Daryl Braithwaite (as Tommy), Wendy Saddington, Doug Parkinson, Broderick Smith, Jim Keays, Colleen Hewett, Linda George, Ross Wilson, Bobby Bright, and Ian Meldrum (as Uncle Ernie in Sydney). although he returned to Australia periodically to tour with varied line-ups of the Aztecs. He released three more studio albums while living in the US, with 21st Century Man (1980) peaking on the Billboard Pop Album chart top 200. Barber and Thorpe had formed a soft toy company in 1987, Sunshine Friends, and also released children's songs on cassettes and video. The Zoo toured Australia during 1991 and while in the country Thorpe was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame on 25 March alongside Glenn Shorrock, Don Burrows and Peter Dawson. Fleetwood performed at the ARIA Awards ceremony held at the Darling Harbour Convention Centre in Sydney. The Lock Up Your Mothers tour included media appearances on Hey Hey It's Saturday, Denton and 60 Minutes.

Long Way to the Top was a 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) six-part documentary on the history of Australian rock and roll from 1956 to the modern era. Episode 3: Billy Killed the Fish, broadcast on 29 August, featured interviews with Loyde, Michael Chugg (Thorpe's manager/promoter) and Thorpe. In December 2006, Thorpe had recorded an acoustic live performance which was released posthumously in April 2007 on Liberation Records as Solo: The Last Recordings, which peaked at No. 19 on the ARIA albums chart. Tangier was awarded the first-ever posthumous ARIA for Best Contemporary Adult Album in 2011.

2007: Death Thorpe suffered from chest pains at his home on 28 February 2007 and was taken by an ambulance to St. Vincent's Hospital in Sydney around 2:00 am AEDT after having a massive heart attack. He remained in the emergency ward in a serious condition and went into cardiac arrest around half an hour later; hospital staff unsuccessfully attempted to resuscitate him. His family was by his side when he died at 60 years of age.

Discography

Albums + List of albums, with selected details and chart positions Title Album details Peak chartpositions AUS Downunda (as Thump'n Pig & Puff'n Billy) Released: July 1973 Label: Atlantic (SD 1014) 40 More Arse Than Class Released: May 1974 Label: Atlantic (SD 1017) 14 The Billy Thorpe Rock Classics Released: 1974 Label: M7. (MLX-064) — Million Dollar Bill Released: November 1975 Label: Infinity / Mushroom (L 35767) — Children of the Sun Released: August 1979 Label: Interfusion (C36980) 44 21st Century Man Released: February 1981 Label: Mushroom (C 37494) — Stimulation Released: 1981 Label: Mushroom (C 37700) — East of Eden's Gate Released: 1982 Label: Pasha (FZ 38179) — Children of the Sun...Revisited Released: 1987 Label: Pasha (ZK 40682) — Solo – The Last Recordings Released: 2007 Label: Liberation Blue (BLUE147.2) 19 Tangier Released: October 2010 Label: Sony Music Australia (88697738362) 14

EPs Title Details Love Letters Released: 1966 Label: Parlophone (GEPO-70039)

Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions

Awards and nominations ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987. Thorpe was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991. 1991 himself ARIA Hall of Fame

Tangier Best Adult Contemporary Album David Homer, Aaron Hayward, Debaser for Tangier Best Cover Art Daniel Denholm for Tangier Producer of the Year Greg Clarke for Tangier Engineer of the Year

Go-Set Pop Poll The Go-Set Pop Poll was coordinated by teen-oriented pop music newspaper, Go-Set and was established in February 1966 and conducted an annual poll during 1966 to 1972 of its readers to determine the most popular personalities. 1966 himself Australian Acts: Male Vocal 5th 1971 The Hoax Is Over (as Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs) Best Album 4th

Aztecs Live at Sunbury (as Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs) Best Album

"Most People I Know" (as Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs) Best Single

Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs Best Group

himself Best Male Singer

King of Pop Awards The King of Pop Awards were voted by the readers of TV Week. The King of Pop award started in 1967 and ran through to 1978. (wins only) 2006 Billy Thorpe Rock Performer (Posthumous Award)