Everyone knows that AC/DC are the undisputed kings of hard rock. Formed out of the fertile 1970s Australian scene, brothers Angus and Malcolm Young spent years honing their chops in bars and roadhouses stretching from the Gulf of Carpentaria all the way down to the Great Australian Bight. But Australian heavy rock doesn’t begin and end with the Brothers Young. The Aussies actually have a very rich tradition of gut-busting hard rock—a sound that birthed rock royalty, a sound so large not even “Hell’s Bells” can contain it. Here’s a primer of four essential ’70s hard rock bands that loosely circled in the AC/DC orbit. For those about to rock ... dig on these heavy slabs:
Buffalo – Buffalo—Australia’s answer to Black Sabbath—were one of the first and certainly one of the heaviest of the Aussie heavy rock bands. Evolving out of several local garage acts of varying degrees of non-success, the original lineup coalesced around the power combo of vocalist Dave Tice and guitarist Pete Wells. They released several records on the highly collectible Vertigo label, including their 1972 masterpiece Volcanic Rock. There is one legendary gig where they were purported to have blown away a then fledgling headliner, Black Sabbath, much to Ozzy’s chagrin. Not able to crack the charts or garner much radio play, the band was slowly driven apart. Singer Dave Tice expatriated to the U.K. where he fronted Pub Rock outfit the Count Bishops who would release several records on Chiswick. The band rode the crest of punk and new wave straight to the middle. Upon his exit from Buffalo, Pete Wells went on to found Rose Tattoo, further cementing his place in the annals of Aussie hard rock. Sadly, there is very little live footage available, but check out the clip below to hear some of the band’s monster riffage:
Rose Tattoo – After his departure from Buffalo, slide-guitarist extraordinaire Pete Wells teamed up with pint-size singer Angry Anderson to form Rose Tattoo. Part street rock band, part proto-punk, all tough guys, Rose Tattoo’s signature overdriven Les Paul and bottleneck sound would be emulated by a host of bands. Nashville Pussy was known to cover “Rock’n’Roll Outlaw” and discerning fans may recognize Rose Tattoo’s signature “Nice Boys (Don’t Play Rock’n’Roll).” It was included on Guns N’ Roses’ Lies record. Wells sadly succumbed to prostate cancer in 2006 but his licks still live on. Check out this clip of the band performing “Nice Boys” in 1982:
Coloured Balls – Without Coloured Balls the girl may have never got “The Jack.” Lobby Loyde led these bluesy hard rockers with a tough skinhead image hellbent on everything that gave rock and roll a nasty reputation: loud guitars, cheap booze, and fast women. AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd even did time pounding on the kit for Coloured Balls before joining up with Angus and Malcolm. Ball Power, Heavy Metal Kid, and First Supper Last are required listening. Loyde filled in for the late Pete Wells at the Rose Tattoo reunion shows in summer 2006 before his own passing. Check out this clip of Lobby Loyde and the Coloured Balls unleashing fury in 1973:
X – No, this isn’t the John Doe/Exene Cervenka led rootsy punk quartet of the same name (or letter, rather). They existed at the same time in an opposite hemisphere, though Australia’s X had a lot more bark and a helluva lot more bite! Founded by former Band of Light and Rose Tattoo bassist Ian Rilen and produced by Coloured Balls’ Lobby Loyde, X bridged the gap between the rough bar rock of the above mentioned and the wave of punk happening around them. Several albums, including the recently reissued At Home With You, are a testament to where Australian rock music was headed.
The golden era of Aussie hard rock petered out sometime in the mid to late ’70s making way for punk pioneers like Radio Birdman, Razar, and a host of groups from neighboring New Zealand to dominate the underground for a few more decades. But that’s another story all together.
For more info and a deeper look into the wild, untamed world of ’70s Aussie heavies, check out the excellent article on “Australian Grill Fat Rock” in issue 23 of Ugly Things.