Little Pattie and the reunion of Australia’s rock ‘n’ roll legends

AUSTRALIAN rock and roll pioneers are reuniting for an all-star show, performing their era’s biggest hits for the first time in 60 years at Twin Towns on December 8.

The Good Old Days of Rock and Roll stars Dinah Lee, Jade Hurley, Digger Revell, Lucky Starr, and Little Pattie (Patricia Amphlett), each performing their greatest hits from the era.

In 1963, as Little Pattie, her debut single at the age of 14, He’s My Blonde Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy, used the surf music style and a dance style craze known as ‘The Stomp’ and reached No. 2 on the charts.

Following her early music success, she was voted the Australian Female Singer of the Year in 1965 and appeared frequently on television variety programs, including Bandstand, Saturday Date, and Sing, Sing, Sing.

Amphlett’s early life was an idyllic Sydney beachside lifestyle to the soundtrack of the music of the times.

“I lived in the east at Mascot and Eastlakes, which was not very posh at all, but I was allowed to go to Maroubra Beach from about 13 with my brother. You couldn’t go anywhere in those days without someone looking after you,” she said.

“I wasn’t a surfer girl; I just loved being in the water. We listened to the Beach Boys and loved their music. But we believed, and I still do, that Australia had the first actual stomp dance at Bronte. The stomp lasted for quite a while until the winter of 1964 and it was a great success.

“And that’s when I went into a talent quest. I was shy, and only my best friend knew that I had music lessons, so that’s how it all started.”

At the age of 17, Amphlett entertained troops during the Vietnam War with Col Joye & the Joy Boys and was evacuated from the area before completing her scheduled performances during the Battle of Long Tan.

In the 1972 Australian Federal election campaign, Amphlett sang with other entertainers, including Col Joye and Judy Stone, in the Australian Labor Party’s It’s Time campaign for the aspirant Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam.

Amid many prestigious accolades over the years, including a Medal of the Order of Australia, she was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2009 by her cousin, Christina Amphlett of the Divinyls.

The singer has mixed feelings about the Good Old Days tour coming to an end.

“It’s been exhausting, but in the best way possible. We’ve loved every minute of it,” Amphlett said.

“The camaraderie has been strong as we’ve known each other forever. It’s just terrific. I’ll miss it.

“Diana Lee and I have also known each other forever. We’ve had so much dressing room laughter. It’s been great – just what the doctor ordered.

“I love what I’m doing on this show. You really have to immerse yourself in ’60s music and put your heart and soul into it to do it well.

“As a professional performer, every gig is a challenge to make it even better than the night before. It sounds corny, but it’s true.”

If the old adage of only being as good as your last gig, the Good Old Days has it in spades.

For tickets, visit twintowns.com.au/events/the-good-old-days-of-rock-n-roll