Coloured Balls - Working Man's Boogie (1972)
A product of the working-class area of the western suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, the Coloured Balls had a ready-made, predominantly male audience. This comprised fans of the cult movie A Clockwork Orange, who also adopted the aggressive 'skinhead' style of closely-shaven heads and thick boots and braces. The band reflected this in their music and image. Led by Lobby Loyde (b. John Baslington Lyde, 18 May 1941, Longreach, Queensland, Australia, d. 21 April 2007, Box Hill, Melbourne, Victoria, USA), a product of the R&B/rock scene of the 60s (the Wild Cherries, Purple Hearts, the Aztecs), the Coloured Balls originally comprised Andrew Fordham (guitar/vocals), Trevor Young (drums), and Janis Miglans (bass).
They covered Chuck Berry songs and wrote others around this rock 'n' roll rhythm complete with Loyde's lead guitar work, all played at an eardrum-shattering volume. The Coloured Balls was 'a revenge band' against the musical establishment. The result was a visceral rock, loosely akin to The Groundhogs or Jeff Beck Group, with songs, vocals and attitude that can only be described as a remarkable forerunner to the British punk/pop of the Buzzcocks, Clash and Pistols.
Indeed, the Balls were crushed within three years by self-fulfilling press outrage over supposed skinhead violence at their gigs. The band had success mainly in Melbourne; it was short-lived (1972-74) and waned as fashions invariably do.
Our nugget is Working Man Boogie, but here are some other selections.
GOD (Guitar Over Drive)
Ball Power(Full Album)
Working Man's Boogie
A product of the working-class area of the western suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, the Coloured Balls had a ready-made, predominantly male audience. This comprised fans of the cult movie A Clockwork Orange, who also adopted the aggressive 'skinhead' style of closely-shaven heads and thick boots and braces. The band reflected this in their music and image. Led by Lobby Loyde (b. John Baslington Lyde, 18 May 1941, Longreach, Queensland, Australia, d. 21 April 2007, Box Hill, Melbourne, Victoria, USA), a product of the R&B/rock scene of the 60s (the Wild Cherries, Purple Hearts, the Aztecs), the Coloured Balls originally comprised Andrew Fordham (guitar/vocals), Trevor Young (drums), and Janis Miglans (bass).
They covered Chuck Berry songs and wrote others around this rock 'n' roll rhythm complete with Loyde's lead guitar work, all played at an eardrum-shattering volume. The Coloured Balls was 'a revenge band' against the musical establishment. The result was a visceral rock, loosely akin to The Groundhogs or Jeff Beck Group, with songs, vocals and attitude that can only be described as a remarkable forerunner to the British punk/pop of the Buzzcocks, Clash and Pistols.
Indeed, the Balls were crushed within three years by self-fulfilling press outrage over supposed skinhead violence at their gigs. The band had success mainly in Melbourne; it was short-lived (1972-74) and waned as fashions invariably do.
Our nugget is Working Man Boogie, but here are some other selections.
GOD (Guitar Over Drive)
Ball Power(Full Album)
Working Man's Boogie
