3 AZTECS & A CHAIN - DRIN'IN DOUBLES CAUSIN' TROUBLE

Remembering the Aztecs "Follow the Sun" tour in the early 70's Melbourne to Cairns and back... "Drinkin' doubles, causin' troubles"... Guilty as charged! At one stage in Townsville I remember biting bass player Ted Toi on the leg during his solo, while trying to balance a tray of gin and tonics at the same time! Our bulk buy, (three cases of scotch, supposedly to save money!) lasted just three days, instead of the expected three weeks! Then it was gin, then home, then bed, then bankruptcy for the Aztecs. Thanks Thorpie, Teddy and Gil for sharing the organised chaos! I think it was fun? The song has also been performed on and off over 25 years with John Paul Young and the All Star Band. The phrase "I've got them old confused, fair dinkum, cobber, digger blues", originated over a few drinks with former Loved Ones singer Gerry Humphries. We were debating what really constituted 'Australian Blues'.

In the early 70's a 'Chain' trio of myself, Barry 'Little Goose' Harvey and Barry 'Big Goose' Sullivan were providing the warm up music for 'Joseph's Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat', at St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne. We performed this song in the cathedral without taking much notice of the lyrics. In those days we got the words out of the way quickly, so the main solos could start! I broke up when I heard the recorded lyrics - suitable church music??? Not likely!

The idea for this one came from some graffiti at St. Kilda Junction in the late 80's: 'BON LIVES'. In my Perth days, Bon Scott (AC/DC) was singing with the Valentines, and with various members of The Beat'n Tracks, we would all kick on after the gigs into the early hours. He really was a powerhouse personality, and a classic rock performer.

This song remembers my first band in Perth during the 60’s, the Beat’n Tracks, which featured legendary guitarist Dave Hole. We moved to Melbourne in '68 where Wendy Saddington became our new singer, and Phil Manning joined on guitar. At our first rehearsal, Wendy was asked to suggest a new name for the band and her reply was... "call it fuckin' Chain", and an Australian blues legend was born! In the late 70's, I also performed this song during a short stint with Blackfeather.

This track remembers a year touring with the 'Travellin' Country Band' ('95) where the Slim Dusty 'feel' helped me find a way of doing this song. It was a good year. Touring with Slim was a catalyst in me deciding to do something about recording my music.

Another salute. This time to the legendary Aztec guitarist Lobby Lloyd, who would have played this song many times. I mentioned to Phil in the studio that he was sounding like Lobby. He replied... "Yeah, do you mind?"... "No mate, that's fucking great!" At my first rehearsal with the Aztecs in late '69, my new colleagues spent the first hour arguing over what song we should play to start the rehearsal. In desperation they finally asked me if I had any ideas, and I started to play this riff.

This song was written after talking with someone who'd had a stroke. It was explained to me that after a stroke, their audio response to music is considerably heightened. This is for this who have suffered a stroke.

For me, the early days of Rock and Roll were centred around Petra Street, East Freemantle. Closed halls opened their doors to the music of Bill Haley & the Comets, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, and the people jived to the local bands playing this new music.