Rare 1974 insight to Sharpies in Melbourne

[aussiemalaka]

This version of GOD by Lobby Lloyd & the Coloured Balls was recorded from live form the Sunbury festival '73

I have wore out my cassette tape of it, played it so much.....Summer Jam in 73 by Mushroom Records... - The incredible 18 minute guitar blowout instrumental GOD (an acronym of 'Guitar OverDrive'). This version of GOD was trimmed down to 10minutes when released on the 'Best of Ballpower' compilation CD.

[deeder2000]

Amazing footage but I'd really like to know what they were listening to!

[Thebibs]

The dancing kills me

[mikekomalley]

wow football hooligans and skinheads while the rest of the world was rockin Yes and Pink Floyd.

[rightforkoff]

By the time this lot got into it, they had missed it.

[ManFromMelbourne]

This was the type of crowd that AC/DC and Rose Tattoo played to in their early days.

[antropolinchen]

Is this the whole movie? I can't find it anywhere.

[SyriacBoy10]

I remember the THOMASTOWN SHARPS :p

[yammyspeed13]

1:32 is awesomwe!

[cqsteve1]

I remember them being a tough aggro mob who'd kick the shit out of you if you looked at them sideways. And that was just the girls!

[skinhead5]

Aussies have their own thing going. Sharpies eh?

Funny ,in England their counterparts were called smoothies or Boot boys.

It's all part of Skinhead culture really.

[steakswans]

what song it this?

[vietwog]

Springvale Sharpies LoL

[AussieBamBam]

Im the guy with the Mohawk at 2:17, aged 16.A Frankston Sharp at the time, later that year a Melbourne Sharp. It was an amazing concert. It was called Summer Jam because the last band of the night was to be a compilation of various members from all of the concerts bands, on stage together in a massive jam session. Thats what drew over 1000 Sharpies from the suburbs of Melbourne to the one event, to be there when 2 of our Rock Icons Lobby Loyde and Billy Thorpe jammed together on stage.

[AussieBamBam]

For more information on this culture including photos and memorabilia visit skinsnsharps website

Id like to reunite with 2 close friends from back then, Bill Sharp from Reservoir and Carol Dawson(maiden name) from Greensborough. They can contact me thru the above site.

[AussieBamBam]

It was an awesome sight to see so many Sharps together in one place, and all came in good spirits with only one purpose, our common love of rock music. No one wore their gang identification so there wouldnt be any trouble, and a lot of new friendships were forged between Sharps from different suburbs and gangs, much to my benefit in future encounters.

[acealeks]

god bless the thomastown sharps!

[ManFromMelbourne]

According to an interview Lobby Loyde did in a book called "Top Fellas" written by Tadhg Taylor, When Lobby`s band the purple Hearts moved down to Melbourne in the 60s, skinheads/sharpies were going to his gigs at places like the circle ballroom in Preston, so there was definately sharpies in Melbourne in the 60s.

[lisacalford]

wow this brings back so many memories! they were rough bastards but I looked up to them as a child lol

[stipplestar]

can anyone tell us about sharpies from sydney?

most of the focus is on melbourne sharpies on the 'net...

fair enough but i'd like to hear about sydney sharpies!

what gangs, where were they from & did they wear cardigans like melb sharpies e.t.c. ?

[123666555]

The Sharpies were called that because they dressed 'sharp'....The sharpie gangs originated in the early 70s not the 60s. By 73 they went ferral (a cross between skinheads and dickheads). The gang 'copied' a 60s gang called 'The Collingwood Boys' ( from Collingwood/Fitzroy/Richmond ), who were mostly the sons of migrant workers and crims ( painters and dockers ). They were a bad little bunch, who dressed like movie stars and carried guns.

[FanZinGD]

sharpies = S.H.A.R.P. ?

ty

[ManFromMelbourne]

Yes the skinhead/ sharpie movement was huge in Melbourne back in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Many Melbourne suburbs had sharpie gangs like cheltenham sharps, frankston sharps and the main one were Thomastown sharps. And these were the sort of crowds bands like AC/DC had to play to in their early days in Melbourne

[publicenemy32]

they were called sharpies after the gangs leader bill 'sharp'

[russbeagle]

This is interesting footage. The Celibate Rifles (an awesome Aussie band) wrote a song about 5 years ago about the Paddo Sharpies in Sydney (something I know nothing about - I wasnt born). For anyone interested in subculture history, etc it is a great song.

[FrankCleocuz]

the sharpie is a blend of skinhead, punk and bogan.

Australia's the coolest nation on earth, no question.

[BornskiAECC]

I agree with the former

[typicalaussiebloke]

Awesome film. Goes to show Australia was way ahead of time with the punk culture, seeing a mohawk back in 1974 would of been almost unheard of! I LOVE the soundtrack used for this film Lobby Loyde & The Coloured Balls G.O.D. (Guitar Overdose) from the Summer Jam LP recorded live at Sunbury '73, FUCKING AWESOME 16 MINUTE HEAVY ROCK SONG YEAH!!!!!

[pr1ddy]

blackburn south sharpies

[1964lambretta]

BLINDING FOOTAGE....

[pitbullbootboy]

I've been a skinhead here in the U.S. for the past 25 years and I can't believe the similarities between both subcultures. Both started in the mid to late 60's.

[yookaliptus8]

Fantastic to see this short clip finally make it out of the woodwork. This captures Australia's last original subculture, its a shame their wasn't more of this recorded. Mick, ex sharpie from the 70s.

[kazuya910]

culture

[red777photo]

very interesting posting, thanks