Obit: Australian Rocker Billy Thorpe RIP Feb 2007

Subject: Obit: Billy Thorpe RIP
From: Bugsy
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 04:58 PM

Just heard the very sad news that Billy Thorpe (Most People I Know Think That I'm Crazy) has died of a massive heart attack.

Billy was one of the great Australian Rockers. He will be sadly missed.

If there's a Rock Band in Heaven, Billy will be leading it.

Vale Billy.


CHeers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: Obit: Billy Thorpe RIP
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 12:12 AM

Sounds as if he was really great and a man of the world, but the looks of his Website. Sad to see that end.

kat

Subject: RE: Obit: Billy Thorpe RIP
From: hilda fish
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 02:30 AM

Great rocker. Sunbury '72 despite the lineup of incredible acts "Thorpie", "Thorpie", "Thorpie" "Thorpie" chanted the crowd. That's all we were waiting for. And he has delivered every since. Sixty years old and gone. Then we thought that sixty was beyond inconceivable. Now it seems so young. Condolences to his wife and two daughters, his 'Three Girls'. Part of Australian music history. Keep on rockin' Billy.

Subject: RE: Obit: Billy Thorpe RIP
From: MBSLynne
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 03:34 AM

Oh no!!! I have an EP of Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs with Poison Ivy on, which I've always loved. So sad.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Obit: Australian Rocker Billy Thorpe RIP Feb 2007
From: Rowan
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 04:30 PM

Pub Rock will never be the same again! Neither will harps.

Subject: RE: Obit: Australian Rocker Billy Thorpe RIP Feb 2007
From: Bugsy
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 08:56 PM

I Just found this article on the Optus Zoo page.

Thorpie taught me how to scream: Barnes

Thursday Mar 1 11:32 AEDT

Billy Thorpe died of a heart attack in hospital hours before friend and fellow rocker Jimmy Barnes left the same Sydney hospital following open heart surgery.

Barnes said he was shattered over the death of his mate and mentor.

"I'm totally shattered and my family and I send our love to Lynne and the girls," the former Cold Chisel frontman said in a statement dedicated to Thorpe's family.

"For once in my life I'm at a loss for words."

Thorpe, 60, died at St Vincent's Hospital early on Wednesday after suffering a massive heart attack at his Sydney home.

Hours later Barnes, 50, left St Vincent's for home following open heart surgery last Thursday to replace a faulty aortic valve.

Thorpe paved the way for Australian rock bands such as Cold Chisel, AC/DC, Rose Tattoo and Midnight Oil, while his vocals inspired Barnes' gravelly trademark sound.

"As a kid I'd go to Thorpie's shows and get there early so I could be in the front row and just study him," Barnes said in a recent interview.

"I learnt to scream from listening to him. Every time I see Billy, I let him know that I pay homage to him."

Rock band INXS also paid tribute to Thorpe.

"Billy was always there for others and will be remembered as one of Australia's greatest music ambassadors," the band said in a statement.

"Our thoughts are with his family, and also with his many fans, of whom we are proud to count ourselves a part."

"We grew up listening to Thorpie," said INXS, comprising Andrew Farriss, Tim Farriss, Jon Farriss, Gary Beers, Kirk Pengilly and JD Fortune.

"The first gigs we ever snuck into were Billy and the Aztecs pinning us to the back wall with their power and extreme volume.

"Kirk and Tim have fond memories of when they hitched their way to Melbourne to see the Aztecs' legendary Sunbury performance where they blew Deep Purple off stage."

After years of idolising Thorpe, the band finally got to meet him in the early 1980s.

"We were more than impressed with his intelligence, graciousness and passion for music," they said.

"He was always pushing the boundaries of the Australian music industry."

©AAP 2007

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I really am going to miss him.

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Obit: Australian Rocker Billy Thorpe RIP Feb 2007
From: rich-joy
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 08:40 AM

hmmmm ... from Teen Idol - to Teen Angel ...

vale, Billy.



Cheers, R-J
(Down Under 60s chick)

Subject: RE: Obit: Australian Rocker Billy Thorpe RIP Feb 2007
From: GUEST,Margret RoadKnight
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 09:11 PM

Apparently Billy Thorpe's latest venture was recording an acoustic album in Morocco - hope it'll be mixed & released, despite his sad demise.

Subject: RE: Obit: Australian Rocker Billy Thorpe RIP Feb 2007
From: DaveA
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 07:09 AM

Hi Margret,

I join you in that hope as he really could sing acoustic brilliantly.

My favourite memory of him is his version of "Over The Rainbow"

It got lost with the loud stuff but was really great.

And let's not forget how he cleaned up the pub rock scene & got musos something resembling a fair share of the take.

There goes another one we can't replace but can at least be thankful we were around when they were.

Adieu Thorpie

Dave

Subject: RE: Obit: Australian Rocker Billy Thorpe RIP Feb 2007
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Mar 07 - 08:36 PM

The Radio National ABC 'Music Show' had Brian Cadd talking about him - the end music was his "Poison Ivy" - the next article was about an acapella classical group singing an old piece about the pagan Sibylline figures in The Sistine Chapel. Lots of Variety... :-)

Subject: RE: Obit: Australian Rocker Billy Thorpe RIP Feb 2007
From: GUEST,Annie Jeffs (singer)
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 06:01 PM

Standing in the front row and checking out your tight black leather pants,Billy Thorpe, you rocked my soul at Byron Bay Blues Festivval in 1999.

May your songs live on forever.

Annie Jeffs(professional singer on the sunshine coast)