The frontman of one of Australia's biggest 60s/70s hard rock groups, The Aztecs, has died following a heart attack, aged 60. British born Billy Thorpe was a founder member of The Aztecs, who first enjoyed success in 1964 with their cover of The Coaster's 'Poison Ivy', and enjoyed much acclaim, especially in Australia, through various incarnations of the band in the sixties and seventies. Thorpe's fame waned in the eighties, and he left Australia, becoming a session musician in California. But he later returned to Australia, and maintained a fanbase for his live shows right to the end - playing a gig in San Remo, Victoria the day before his death. He died at Sydney's St Vincent Hospital after suffering a heart attack at his home. As tributes poured in for Thorpe from across the Australian music business, his manager confirmed a public memorial service would be held in Sydney this Sunday.
Feb 28, 2007
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Billy Thorpe, frontman of The Aztecs, dies aged 60
Billy Thorpe, founder member and frontman of Australian hard rock band The Aztecs, has died of a heart attack aged 60, the day after playing a gig in Victoria.