Lobby Loyde: 1941-2007

Legendary Australian guitarist and songwriter Lobby Loyde passed away in a Melbourne hospital late on Saturday night after a long battle with lung cancer. Loyde – born John Baslington Lyde in Queensland in 1941 – was one of the most influential figures in the evolution of Australian rock music, with his list of outfits including Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, Coloured Balls, Wild Cherries, Purple Hearts, as well as an extensive solo career and subsequent stint as a producer.

Loyde, who’d been close to death a year ago when he was too ill to speak but nonetheless strapped on a guitar when he was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, was with his family when his time came. Musicians he helped pioneer an industry and audience for were quick to remember him. At Sydney airport last night, waiting to fly home after the Rockin’ For Rights concert at the SCG, Loyde’s life and work was toasted by members of You Am I and Dallas Crane.

In a 2006 interview with Mess+Noise Loyde (pictured above left in 2006, with friend and former bandmate Billy Thorpe, who passed away in February) was accepting of his mortality, maintaining the attitude that had previously inspired his infamously loud guitar sound.

"A lot of people live till they’re 93 and they’re dribbling on themselves, and they’re full of tubes and everyone’s pating ‘em on the head and the Alzheimer’s is so profoundly into them they don’t even know who’s talking to them," he explained. "I don’t want to be there. It’s just not me. I’d rather know that just around the corner’s the brick wall and I’m going to slam into it, I’d rather know that, because it’s kinda intensely interesting."

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