Rock bands touring Newcastle in the1970s

Posted on October 16, 2012 by geoffcrow

Cold Chisel first came up to Newcastle in the late
1970’s and played at the local southern pubs and clubs the
Orana, Belmont Sporties, Mawson, Swansea Workers and went on to bigger
things quick. They always played their guts out and got a big Newcastle
following. great guys too. Ian Moss wowed us with guitar, Jimmy Barnes
revved the crowds, Don Walker’s songs made us listen and the beat was
held by Phil and Steve.

Ian Moss at the Mawson Hotel 1976

Ian Moss Mawson 1976

Jimmy Barnes at Cardiff Workers early 80’s

Jimmy Barnes Newcastle 1976

Here is a rare view of Don Walker as he was always behind the keyboards.

Don Walker loosens up at Belmont Sporties 1980

Cold Chisel Don Walker 1977

In the late 70’s and early 80’s Cold Chisel regularly visited
around Newcastle and we always had a good night when they
played. Cold Chisel Group Shot Belmont Sporties 1980

Cold Chisel 1976

Another hard working band, The Angels always kept the crowd on
their feet hooting, with Doc bouncing around and the guitars riffing.

Doc Neeson from The Angels at the Mawson

The Angels Doc Neesan 1977

Midnight Oil played at the Mawson in the late 70’s and were awsome. Peter Garret had the audience hooting.

Midnight Oil Peter Garrett

Jimmy and the boys were outrageous and played great
stuff. Ignatious was a showman and always up to mischief to say the
least. Rumours were he left a lot of gigs in the roadies gear boxes.
Here at he Belmont Sporties I had no idea what he was going to do
next. Jimmy and the Boys – Ignatious Jones spitting blood (capsules I hope)

Ignatious Jones 1977

Surfing in New Zealand 1979

Posted on October 16, 2012 by geoffcrow

New Zealand’s North Island in January 1978 had excellent surf and good weather as the following photos show. The NZ people were friendly and helpful and made my
short stay there a memorable one. Locals picked me up if I was
hitching, took me surfing, to the pub and put me up. The beaches
were unspoilt and beautiful.

Driving down the road to this point you are welcomed by a view of one of the best set ups you could imagine.New Zealand 1978 Whale Bay

New Zealand Whale Bay

And it just seemed to get better and better…

New Zealand 1978 Raglan Indicators

NZ Raglan Indicators

Manu Bay had most of the crowd on it but this view was hard to pass. New Zealand 1978 Manu Bay

NZ Manu Bay 1977

NZ Manu Bay

The mid week afternoon sessions were popular with the locals but crowds were thin during the day then. New Zealand 1978 Evening Surf Raglan

NZ Raglan Indicators

A beautiful summers day 1978 at Manu Bay with a local surfer enjoying the conditions.

Surfer Paul Bates at New Zealand Manu Bay 1978.

NZ Paul Bates at Manu Bay

And another scenic point break photo with only 3 guys in the water…

New Zealand Raglan 1978

NZ Raglan 1977Indicators

Body Boarders Redhead August 2010

Posted on October 16, 2012 by geoffcrow

August 2010 – The sand banks have not been good for surfers – except for the hardy bodyboarders geting some gnarly closeout barrels. Unknown bodyboarder Rehead Little Beach August 2010

Bodyboarder Redhead Aug-2010

A week later a little smaller, but good shape for the bodyboards. August 2010. Is that Bob the barber walking down for a session on the right? Yep. Redhead Bodyboarder September 2010

Redhead Body Boarder 5-9-11

Simon Anderson wins Bells 1977. Simon surfed powerfully in
a solid swell to win and he enjoys the moment after a close final.

Simon Anderson 1977 Bells Beach Winner.

imon Anderson Bells Winner 1977

Ian Moss – Cold Chisel … sings Georgia Belmont Sportsmans Club 1976.

Ian Moss- sings Georgia

A Hunter Valley Coal Mine around 1986.

Hunter Valley Coal Mine

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles show at Speers Point Park in 1999.
Surfers liked the Ninja Turtles, as the movie characters acted and spoke like Corky Caroll, the 1960’s legendary 5 times US surfing Champion who created surf speak and lives the carfree fun surfing life we all dream of.

Ninja Turtles show

The BIG Right hander in the Sky. Storm coming over Redhead about 1984

Storm Cloud Wave Redhead 1984

Cloud Wave Redhead 1984

Peter Garrett and Rob Hirst Midnight Oils at the Mawson Hotel about 1978 getting serious.

Midnight Oil Garret-Hirst

Redhead Surf Club 70th Reunion around 1977. A bunch of old mates meet up over a few frosty glasses.

Redhead SLSC 70th reunion

Redhead’s Col Smith in his shaping bay with a new batch of channel boards around 1978.

Col Smith shaping Channels

Angus Young and Surfing in the 1970s Redhead Beach

Posted on October 16, 2012 by geoffcrow

The recent AC/DC Tour reminded me of a photo my wife Sandy has of her
younger sister Vanda and Angus Young taken at the Hard Rock Cafe around
1974. Both very young and VERY Rock ‘ N Roll. Angus and Vanda 1974 Hard Rock Cafe Melbourne

Angus and Vanda

I did’nt take the next two surfing photos – When Redhead’s Graham
Harkin developed his first roll of film from his new underwater camera I
got a copy of some of these because they were great photos. Taken
around 1977 at Birdie Beach.

Phillip Woodward surfing Birdie by Graham Harkin 1977

Phillip Woodward surfing

Chas Woodward at Birdie Beach by Graham Harkin 1977

Chas Woodward at Birdie

Water shot of Peter Pitt surfing Redhead Little Beach around 1976

Peter Pitt Redhead 1977

One of the good things happening in surfing is the variety of
surfing equipment people are now making – old ideas, mixed with the new.
You would’nt look out of place walking down the beach now with this
1976 5’6″ Martin Littlewood Delta Fish. Bob Scarr & Delta Knee Board 1976

Bob Scarr with Delta Knee Board

Eddo – William Harrison. We wern’t sure what he was doing when he
surfed but it was always interesting. Shown here at Newcastle Mattara
Surfing contest around 1977, close to the foam and close to the nose.

Eddo Mattarra Contest 1976

Grant Brooks showing his cool casual style surfing at Redhead around 1977 .

Grant Brookes Redhead

Cold and windy and big and no one out. Redhead Little Beach around 1977.

Redhead big no one out 1977

Redhead Shark Tower and other stuff

Posted on May 23, 2011 by geoffcrow

The Redhead Shark Tower Rocks have always meant a lot to most Redhead locals, it has the best ring side seat to an awsome view of the bluff and the surf.

My daughter Lia in 1976 playing in the storm blown foam in front of the Redhead Shark Tower. This photo also appears on the ABC Website – You know you grew up in Newcastle when…see http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2010/02/22/2826363.htm

Lia Redhead Shark Tower 1976

Lia Redhead Shark Tower

After a storm around 1975 the Shark Tower Rocks showed themselves for the first time since I was a kid (bloody long time aye) Shark Tower Rocks exposed 1975.

Shark Tower Rocks exposed 1975

I remember surfing this day still – Redhead Little Beach about 1985.

Redhead Little Beach going off 1985

Eddo again around 1977 – William Harrison defines the re-entry – goes right over to the dry side and glides back down again right in front of the Shark Tower Rocks.

Eddo’s Re-entry behind the Redhead Shark Tower 1977

Edo Redhead reentry

Local Newcastle band Pamdemonia take a break from practice around 1977.

Pamdemonia 1977

Pamdemodia 1977

It’s my daughter Ellen’s 25th birthday tomorrow – happy birthday Darl.

1985 – After 42 hours labour, a cesearian and 8 days in hospital, Sandy and Ellen finally got home.

Sandy & Ellen 1985

Ellen relaxing in the water at Fingal Bay around 1989

Ellen at Fingal Bay 1989

Simon Anderson is announced the winner at Bells Beach in 1977, all the finalists ripped so it would have been a close call.

Simon Anderson Bells Beach Winner 1977

Simon Anderson Bells Beach 1977

Awsome Byron Bay Line up around 1980. Byron Bay surf 1980

Byron Bay good 1983

Belmont South Sunset 1985 – or any arvo there is a few clouds.

Belmont South Sunset

Surfing Photos by Graeme Harkin 1979

Posted on May 23, 2011 by geoffcrow

Graeme Harkin took great nice water shots of the Redhead surf crew around 1979, here are some of them.

Col Smith, Redhead, close up and having way too much fun, what a grin!

Col Smith close up Redhead 1979

Col Smith close up

Col Smith again getting tubed at Redhead in 1979

Col Smith tubed

Mick Carr on a hollow Redhead Little Beach right in 1979

Mick Carr Apr 87

Paul Smith Redhead Little Beach 1979

Paul Smith

Philip Woodward Redhead 1979

Phillip Woodward

Peter Kuba on a Redhead Shark Tower left 1979.

Peter Kuba

Chas Woodward at Redhead1979

Chas Woodward

Kenny Stanton well covered up Redhead 1979

Kenny Stanton Redhead

Col Smith again Redhead 1979.

Col Smith Redhead

More Redhead Beach

Posted on May 23, 2011 by geoffcrow

Redhead Little Beach in 1983 on a cold winters afternoon. A surfer on a nice wave, framed by the cliff and the shark tower rocks. Redhead Beach 1983

Redhead Beach surfing 1983

Redhead Shark Tower, this time covered in foam during the June 2007 storm. Lots of people were out and about as the ship Pascha Bulka had grounded at Nobbys and also the power was out for 3 days so there was nothing to do at home.

Redhead Shark Tower storm june 2007

Redhead Beach Ghost 1983 . I took the photo of my wife Sandy with the cameras flash and left the button down and she walked out of the photo.

Sandy the ghost 1983 Redhead Beach

Sandy Redhead Beach Time Exposure

Redhead Surf Club March Past Team around 1978. A great bunch of blokes who put a lot of time and training into what they do. Redhead March Past team around 1978

Redhead March Past Team

Redhead Swamp before the drought and the digging out of the Third Creek. We used to paddle tin canoes made from roofing sheets and wooden boxes with road tar to seal them, from the second creek up into the swamp when we were kids.

Redhead Swamp 1975

Redhead Swamp 1976

Mick Carr surfing on a nice left from behind the Redhead Shark Tower 1977

Michael Carr at Redhead 1977

Surfing at Redhead over the years

Posted on May 23, 2011 by geoffcrow

Ronnie Rudder drops around to show off another new board, but this one has a history. A shaped blank has been stored in the rafters of Forster Board maker Bobby Brown’s shed for 10 years. This 9?6? Noserider was shaped by the then 72 year old Floyd Smith from American Gordon & Smith Surfboards fame. Given to Ronnie by Bobby, faithfully cleaned and glassed at Pacific Dreams by Roy and the boys, this old classic beauty eventually has come to life. Ron & Crow & Floyd Smith Noserider.

Ron & Crow with Floyd

Redhead 1984, Martin Littlewood the Margaret River board builder of Delta Designs, comes back over to Redhead with a new batch of space age boards way ahead of their time. All lightweight epoxy/styrene hand shaped and hand glassed beauty’s. Included here are some Antman Paul Patterson UFO fish models featuring step decks and drop rails. Martin Littlewood with new Delta Designs 2004

Martin new Deltas 2004

Col Smith surfing a local Redhead Board Club event around 1975. Col as usual tearing it up, showing lots of style. Col Smith Redhead Boardriders Comp 1975

Col Smith Redhead Comp

Around 1964 Skateboards made their way into the surfing culture. They looked like a good idea so we grabbed some skates from the Op shop and some packing case boards for decks and made our own and off we went down the back of then Kotara Fair (now Westfield) car park on a Saturday arvo when the shops closed. Yes they closed at 12pm then. Crow Skateboarding Garden City Carpark 1964

Crow Skateboarding 1964

Redhead Little Beach has not been as good as it was. Just to show what I mean check this 1977 empty line up with a perfect left tube coming off Pinny Reef next to the cliff.

Redhead Little Beach left 1977

Redhead perfect

Another ground breaking surf board design from around 1976 shown off here by the proud owner Peter Murnaine. The Ben Apai Stinger just looked awsome. Ben Apai’s boards were available at Mark Richards Surf Shop Newcastle.

Peter Murnaine and Ben Aipa Stinger 1976

eter Murnaine and Ben Aipa Twin

Eddo (William Harrison) on another of his left-go-right foam hits at Redhead surfing in the same heat as Col Smith in a local boardriders comp around 1976.

Eddo Redhead local comp 1976

Eddo Redhead comp 1977

Music and Surfing

Posted on May 23, 2011 by geoffcrow

Some of Crows favourite records

Crows favourite Records

Surfers have been into music since the start of surfing, in the beginning surf music was a bit corny but always fun.

1968, a typical surf on a summer Saturday morning at Redhead, the flags were up already but no one was in the water yet (hard to imagine these days). Two young long haired surfers sneak into the surf club (it’s ok they were members but they were sneaking). They set up a portable tape player in front of the PA mike, switch on the PA and the tape player and then grab their boards and paddle out fast.

The lag on the tape leader allows them to get out and then we hear the crackling and over the air waves comes Jimi Hendrix – Third Stone from the Sun. The music sort of rumbles and growls then squeals and sets into an awsome rythm. We take off and surf a wave to the new sound. Hendrix growls, You will never hear surf music again. Soon enough the funbusters discover what’s happened and the music is switched off.

When we return to shore and its…. ””Crow …..you cant play that kinda shit over the PA!!!”

Well I guess I like shit music.

Anyway, we all like different music and I would like to list some of my favourites in the hope someone else likes it.

Jimi Hendrix – Are you experienced – the first record that hit me, the times were changing and this was a big change, no soppy verses and structured choruses – just whatever Jimi felt like. Other Hendrix favoutites are Axis Bold as Love and Band of Gypsys.

A couple of years later a work mate loans me the 3 first Mothers of Invention albums, I listen, hear some weird stuff but some good stuff. In 1970 I go and buy the album Frank Zappa – Hot Rats and now have another favourite guitar player. Captain Beefeart’s growling vocals and Zappa’s Wah-Wah together on Willie the Pimp, awsome. Zappa has some 60 albums out and there is something incredible in all of them. My favourite now is Joe’s Garage, the song Watermelon in Easter Hay is Joe’s last imaginery guitar solo before music is made illegal. However Zappa’s a little bizzare for most people and I am sure I couldn’t paddle out with him playing on the PA, so I have to imagine it too.

Captain Beefheart was Zappa’s school mate and then formed his own band Captain Beefheart & the Magic band, his first album Safe As Milk has a young Ry Cooder on slide guitar, favourite song Sure’Nuff and Yes I Do. Other notable Beefheart albums are Trout Mask Replica, Clear Spot and Doc at The Radar Station. Growling blues boogie and meshing electric guitars. Not for the faint hearted.

Dr John, The Night Tripper – New Orleans Voodoo Swamp Funk, the album Gris-Gris is scarily awsome. The good doctor has appeared on most big names albums as a session pianist and has many fine albums.

After a re-listen I am back into the Gratefull Dead, the hippy tie-die head band. Listen to American Beauty the song Ripple is beautiful.

After James Brown (try – its too funky in here) came Funkadelic/Parliament – the same band but just add more players. For fun, some great funky rythm’s and guitar and Zappaesque humour leader George Clinton (Brother Bill) is the new hip hop guys hero. Try Parliament Tear the Roof off – which inspired Talking heads Burning down the House after watching them. Also try Funkadelic Music for your Mother and Standing on the Verge of Getting it on.

Took me a long time but I did it and never looked back.- Listen to Miles Davis best intro is the album In a Silent Way.

Carlos Santana’s Greatest hits and Carlos with John Mclaughlin – Love Devotion Surrender is music at its sweetest.

Jimi Hendrix and Frank Zappa had the same guitar hero – Johnny Guitar Watson, try Funk beyond the call of Duty or his 1959 song – 3 hours past midnight.

More good music.

More Crow’s Records

Redhead’s best Surfer – Col Smith

Posted on May 23, 2011 by geoffcrow

Redhead’s Col Smith

Around the mid seventies there was 2 great surfing Col Smith’s, the other from Narabeen, both powerfull goofy footers and both shaped surfboards and won contests.

Redhead’s Col Smith was an Australian Champion and also placed in 3 contests in Hawaii.

These photos around 1976 shows the boards he took to Hawaii and shows the distinctive channel bottom, Col riding Pipeline on the board shown here is in the surf movie Fantasea. These boards were made by Shane and were shaped by Jim Pollard who invented the channel bottom.

Col Smith with Hawaii Boards 1976

Col Smith 1976 Hawaii Boards

Col Smith Channel Boards for Hawaii

Col was 8 years younger than me and I saw him grow up into a powerful surfer with his own smooth style. I first saw Col in the surf when he was 8 on a coolite and was free falling into a tube as I was scraping over the top of it.

He started borrowing his brothers 9 foot 6 big red South Pacific at Seal Rocks and then was soon winnning junior contests on a plastic machine around 1969. Boards then started getting shorter and Col mostly rode “Bee” tailed channel boards.

Here Col gets into his trademark in the tube positon at Redhead around 1975.

Col Smith Redhead tubed

Col Smith was the secret weapon for Redhead Boardriders club in the early 70’s, put in the last heat and only around 13 years old, the other clubs would put their older more experienced riders in and get a shock.

Col would cheer you into any wave you may have had second thoughts about and off you’d go. When you emerged either having made it or near drowed, he would be there still chearing you on. Same thing when fishing, he was just as stoked to see you get a good one as himself.

Col and family at Christmas 1983, his son Rique is an excellent surfer.