The Coloured Balls - 1972 - '74

Lobby Lloyd (born as John Baslitngon Lye (b10, 1941 d.April 27, 2007) also known as John Berry Lyde or Barry Lyde ,an Australian guitarist, songwriter and producer, cut his teeth as a member of two 60's bands with time in Purple Hearts which had a top 40 single "Early in the Morning" in 1966, and Wild Cherries with "That's Life" in 1967. He became a major figure in the Australian pub scene, particularly with Billy Thorp and the Aztecs on their 1971 no. 8 album ''The Hoax is Over", and in Colored Balls, their top 10 album "Ball Power" (1971). He was briefly a member of Rose Tattoo from 1979-'80.
Inducted in the AIRA Hall Of Fame in 2006, where his former bandmate Angry Anderson acknowledged his prowess: "More than anyone else he helped create the Australian guitar sound, Long before Angus (Young), Billy Thorpe & The Angels or Rose Tatto,o Lobby inspired bands to step up and play as  loud and aggressively as they could. People are still trying to copy it today."

Lloyd died of lung cancer in 2007.

Colored Balls (formed March, 1972) consisted of Andrew Fordham on guitar and vocals, Janis Miglans on bass, and Trevor Young on drums.Their first single "Liberate Rock" had been recorded by Lloyd with Aztecs members as studio musicians. The single was released in August. During 1972, the original Colored Balls recorded material for an album "Rock Your Ass Off", but the material wasn't released 'till 1976 as " The First Supper Last" (or, Scenes we Din't Get to See") by independent label Rainbird.

In 1973, Colored Balls teamed with Guest vocalist Thorpe and  and Leo De Castro at the Sundbury Pop Festival. Their performance was released in November as the "Help Me" b/w "Rock Me Baby" on the album Summer Jam. The album included Colored Balls' 16 minute version of  ''G.O.D." (Guitar Over Dose). The same year Fordham had been replaced by Ian Millar on guitar, Colored Balls released 3 singles, including "Mess of the Blues" which ended up in the top 40. They supported Marc Bolan& T-Rex on an Australian tour. They then released their debut album "Ball Power" on EMI which peaked at No.13 on the Go - Set National albums chart in February 1974.

Their second album "Heavy Metal Kid" hit the top 40 with "Love You Babe" in June '74. Along with Thorpe, Madder Like, Buster Brown, and Chain they were supported by the suburban sharpie gangs.  (a Gang from the 60's & 70's known for their violence but strict code of honor. They got their name from looking "Sharp") Colored Balls had adopted the Melbourne sharpie style of wearing chisel-toe boots, tight fitting Cardigans, and  crew-cut hair styles with "rat-tails". Most sported tattoos on their necks of a spider web.  Their musical tastes were influenced by American bands like MC5 and Flamin' Grovies. The pubs became battlegrounds for rival sharpie gangs. Venues became rare for bands, and news reports were saying Lloyd was responsible for inciting the violence. A member of the Melbourne sharpies said "he (Lloyd) was permanently fixed with a cigarette hanging from his lips, and usually seemed drunk or stoned. He would play half a song, go behind an mp, throw up and return without missing a beat!"

Colored Balls broke up in the end of '74 and Lloyd went on to pursue solo work.