Tomorrow marks two years since the death of Australian music legend Billy Thorpe. When we lost this music icon he was working on his most ambitious project to date, an album called Tangier. Close friends Michael Chugg and Amanda Pelman took over the project on Billy’s death, and soon they’ll deliver this important work.
“We have lived with Billy’s gestation of this remarkable work for so many years now, upon his passing it just seemed ‘normal’ to proceed with its completion,” they said in a statement.
“More than simply a duty of care, it became an imperative that his fans should hear this extraordinary tapestry of song. We were lucky to find in producer Daniel Denholm someone as ‘in tune’ with Billy, without ever having known him, that the project is about to have its realisation. Stay tuned.”
Billy’s wife Lynn is also excited that fans will soon hear the final chapter of Billy’s legacy.
“Billy’s magnificent Tangier reflects the many aspects of ‘Thorpie’ that not many knew – the deep thinker, the marveller at the wonders of the universe and the nature of love and the fleetingness of life, and the ever curious and enthusiastic musical traveller and adventurer,” she said.
“He never stopped trying to break the boundaries. Come on the journey that has been our life since the turn of the century. It will blow you away.”
Shortly before he died, Billy said, “From my experiences in a 40-year international music and recording career, I know instinctively when something really special comes along. I feel it in my joints and it won’t let go. I wake and sleep in its rhythm and cadence. It consumes me and simply demands to be brought to life. And that’s Tangier.”
Tomorrow will be a sad day for Australian music fans as we all pause to remember what a talent we lost. But it’s wonderful to know that there’s a little more to come.
Image source: Australian Paralympic Committee @ Wikimedia Commons
It’s been a long time coming, but the legendary tribute shows for Lobby Loyde and Pete Wells will finally be released on CD. The album also acts as a way to remember Billy Thorpe, who hosted both gigs in late 2006 and early 2007.