In this episode of Vinyl Vibes, Jack is joined by Gil Matthews, drummer of  Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs. Gil could read drum music even before he could read English. By the time he was 11, his drumming took him on a six-month tour of the US. After being in various bands in the '60s, in early 1970 Gil became the in-house producer and engineer at Havoc Records. In 1971, the recently signed Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs came into Havoc Studios to record The Dawn Song. Gil played drums, produced and engineered the track for the group. He would become the group's full-time drummer soon after. 

In late January 1972 the band with Gil on drums would perform to an audience of 35,000 people at the Sunbury Pop Festival. The festival has gone down as Australia's Woodstock. The band's setlist was recorded and released as a double album called Aztecs Live! At Sunbury. The group's next single would be Most People I Know Think I'm Crazy. Gil produced the single experimenting with many innovative studio techniques. His work on the song paid off reaching number two on the charts in 1972 and is now an Australian rock classic. The band came to an end originally in 1974 after the release of their album More Arse Then Class. 

Since then Gil has remained in music and more recently has founded his label Aztec Records. With his fully analogue studio, his label specialises in reissuing Australian music from the '60s and '70s.  

Jack talked to Gil via phone about his early beginnings, his early drumming work along side Buddy Rich, his early work with Havoc Records, the recording process of The Dawn Song, his production work on Most People I Know, analog tape recording techniques he used with the band, the band's performance at the Sunbury Pop Festival in 1972, the band's 1974 album More Arse Than Class, and his work today with his label Aztec Records.

 "It is Australia's Woodstock . . . Sunbury was like the top of the tree, people came all over Australia . . . kids and dogs and people, smoking dope all over the place - you know diving in the creek out of the tree, girls topless - some naked - the younger generation just let their hair down and wanted to go and hear music." - Gil Matthews on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about the 1972 Sunbury Festival

Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins

To hear the full on-demand version of this program, go to https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes

The website for Vinyl Vibes. 

If you like this content, we'd love to hear from you. 

In this episode of <a href="https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes">Vinyl Vibes</a>, Jack is joined by Gil Matthews, drummer of &nbsp;Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs. Gil could read drum music even before he could read English. By the time he was 11, his drumming took him on a six-month tour of the US. After being in various bands in the '60s, in early 1970 Gil became the in-house producer and engineer at Havoc Records. In 1971, the recently signed Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs came into Havoc Studios to record The Dawn Song. Gil played drums, produced and engineered the track for the group. He would become the group's full-time drummer soon after.&nbsp;
In late January 1972 the band with Gil on drums would perform to an audience of 35,000 people at the Sunbury Pop Festival. The festival has gone down as Australia's Woodstock. The band's setlist was recorded and released as a double album called Aztecs Live! At Sunbury. The group's next single would be Most People I Know Think I'm Crazy. Gil produced the single experimenting with many innovative studio techniques. His work on the song paid off reaching number two on the charts in 1972 and is now an Australian rock classic. The band came to an end originally in 1974 after the release of their album&nbsp;More Arse Then Class.&nbsp;
Since then Gil has remained in music and more recently has founded his label <a href="https://www.google.com/url?esrc=s&amp;q=&amp;rct=j&amp;sa=U&amp;url=https://www.aztecrecords.com.au/&amp;ved=2ahUKEwif1paU_J2DAxXI_GEKHTCrDPIQFnoECAUQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw3lzZAa8uD1J6cgjtWl1HMS">Aztec Records</a>. With his fully analogue studio, his label specialises in reissuing Australian music from the '60s and '70s. &nbsp;
Jack talked to Gil via phone about his early beginnings, his early drumming work along side Buddy Rich, his early work with Havoc Records, the recording process of The Dawn Song, his production work on Most People I Know, analog tape recording techniques he used with the band, the band's performance at the Sunbury Pop Festival in 1972, the band's 1974 album&nbsp;More Arse Than Class, and his work today with his label Aztec Records.
&nbsp;"It is Australia's Woodstock . . . Sunbury was like the top of the tree, people came all over Australia . . . kids and dogs and people, smoking dope all over the place - you know diving in the creek out of the tree, girls topless - some naked - the younger generation just let their hair down and wanted to go and hear music." - Gil Matthews on this episode of Vinyl Vibes talking about the 1972 Sunbury Festival
Episode Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins
To hear the full on-demand version of this program, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes/">https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes</a>
The <a href="https://www.2nurfm.com.au/shows/vinyl-vibes">website for Vinyl Vibes</a>.&nbsp;
If you like this content, we'd love to hear from you.&nbsp;

Jack Hodgins speaks with the people behind the music you love.

Jack Hodgins speaks with the people behind the music you love.

Vinyl Vibes

Jack Hodgens talks to the people who created the music that is the foundation of today's music.

Jack Hodgens talks to the people who created the music that is the foundation of today's music.