User:Shinela

Black Allan Moarywalla Barker

In 1967 Black Allan arrived at 11 Lower Campbell St, Surry Hills, Sydney. My housemate Nikki (a talented designer) had invited him and soon we were sharing the tiny 3 room house; I had the top floor, Nikki the street level room, and Black Allan set up in the basement where he created a 'gunyah' to sleep in draped in canvas or somekind of sheeting, painted with spraycans of fluorescent paint in designs of his own creation. He brought with him an electric guitar and amp, and a digeridoo.

At that time he described himself as an Aborigine blues singer and his inspiration came from Jimi Hendrix, Howling Wolf, and Dylan since he had 'gone electric'. His guitar playing already developed into a unique style and he played the didg also. He had been in jail before he came to Lower Campbell Street, and before that I don't know what he did, but he said he came from Marble Bar originally, and told with delight of roaming in the bush with his grandfather or uncle and finding bush honey. I never did fill in the gaps of how he got from there to Sydney. He immediately set about finding musicians to form his band. They were: Black Allan - Singer and lead guitar, Twiggy - bass, Peter - Bongos and congo drum, and Janette and Antonia - tambourines and maraccas. Nikki designed and made outfits for the band in true sixties psychedelic style - shiny fabrics, sequins, patchwork,embroidery,satin. Black Allan was very focused and there were regular band practices. Regular appearances at the Wayside Chapel quickly made Black Allan's band acquire a cult following, and led to a regular gig at Whitty's Wine Bar in Taylor Square, as well as the Oxford Hotel. Lindsay Bourke wrote lyrics - 'Facing the Flowers' which were set to music by Black Allan, and a single was recorded by the band with Lindsay on keyboard at Studio 20 Recording studio, and released. Black Allans Band also played in an episode of the Albie Thoms TV series, Contrabandits. By 1968 the band and friends had dispersed to travel. I saw Black Allan in Darwin and later ran into him in Kuala Lumpur. I lost touch after that.