The Tolpuddle Martyrs Live At Bar Open

When the music of the British Invasion hit Australia in 1964/65 it made an immediate impact all over the country. Although an existing network of regional radio and TV stations played its part much of the hype was generated at the grassroots by local fanatics, bands and promoters. Whilst any city based act hoping to make the charts and earn a living was forced to traipse far and wide, the parochial and remote nature of Australian society at this time also gave rise to a number of unique regional scenes. Each of these had their own hierarchy of bands and venues with the local stars usually more than capable of holding their own against the city based touring acts, but unable in turn to crack the Top 40 due to their humble rural origins.

Typical of this trend, but unusual in that they had a sound and feel all of their own Bendigo based band Peter and the Silhouettes/The Tolpuddle Martyrs ruled the regional roost for much of the sixties releasing a series of killer singles and playing packed houses in Northern and Central Victoria before moving to Melbourne in 1969. The original line-up split in the early 1970s, but frontman/keyboardist Peter Rechter continued on with The Secrets during the 1980s before teaming up with guitarist Graeme McCoy to form the current day version of The Tolpuddle Martyrs. To view the band playing their 1966 garage classic "Claudette Jones" live at Bar Open during the Tomorrow Is Today festival click here. New songs "Psych-Out USA" and "Chapel and Vine" can be found here and here. To see them playing their 1967 single "Time Will Come" click here and their 1968 release "Nellie Bligh" click here. For more information on upcoming gigs and releases visit www.myspace.com/tolpuddlemartyrs and for an interview with Peter (as well as lots of other Aussie garage pioneers) visit www.3cr.org.au/way