The Coloured Balls formed in Brisbane (Australia) following the breakup of The Purple Hearts, of which Mick Hadley and Rob Dames had both been members.
In 1971, Lobby Loyde (born John Baslington Lyde in Longreach, Queensland) took over on guitar and the group, all sporting skinhead hairstyles, gained a reputation as a loud band after the style of The Aztecs
By August 1972, the line-up had changed totally and included Trevor Young on drums, Lobby on guitar, and John Miglans on bass. Their first single, Liberate Rock was issued that same month.
Loyde had previously played with The Wild Cherries and Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs.
During late 1972 Coloured Balls recorded material for an album, Rock Your Arse Off, but it was not released until May 1976 as The First Supper Last (Or Scenes We Didn’t Get to See) by the independent label, Rainbird.
In January 1973, Coloured Balls teamed with guest vocalists Billy Thorpe and Leo de Castro at the Sunbury Pop Festival, with their performance released in November as the Help Me/Rock Me Baby track on the live album, Summer Jam. The album also included Coloured Balls’ searing 16-minute version of G.O.D. (Guitar Overdose).
Fordham was replaced on guitar by Ian ‘Bobsy’ Millar early in the year and Coloured Balls supported T. Rex on their Australian tour.
Their debut studio album, Ball Power, was released in December 1973, peaking at #13 on the Go-Set national Top 20 albums chart.
Their second album, Heavy Metal Kid spawned the Top 40 hit, Love You Babe in June 1974.
Coloured Balls were heavily influenced by The MC5 and The Flamin’ Groovies, and the band adopted the Melbourne 1970s sharpies‘ culture. As a result, venues who would book the band became rare and media reports accused Lobby Loyde of encouraging the violence of some sharpies.
Coloured Balls disbanded at the end of 1974 and Loyde returned to solo work.
Lobby Loyde died from lung cancer on 21 April 2007, aged 65.
Mick Hadley
Vocals
Lobby Loyde
Guitar, vocals
Robbie Van Delft
Guitar
Rob Dames
Bass
Peter Miles
Drums
Andrew Fordham
Guitar, vocals
Janis (John) Miglans
Bass, vocals
Trevor Young
Drums, vocals
Ian ‘Bobsy’ Millar
Guitar, vocals
