Veteran rock guitarist Lobby Loyde has died from cancer at 65.
Loyde, whose loud, plectrum-bending guitar style blasted from rock pubs and concert venues throughout the 60s and 70s, was acknowledged as a father figure of Australian rock music.
He died in Box Hill Hospital last night after a long battle with lung cancer that eventually spread throughout his body.
He was a driving force behind the Aztecs, whose founder and singer, Billy Thorpe, died of a heart attack in February.
Loyde was born John Baslington Lyde in Longreach, Queensland, in 1941. His mother was a classically trained pianist and his father a jazz trumpeter and as a teenager he joined them in country town performances in outback Queensland.
Rock documentary producer Paul Murphy said Loyde inspired countless musicians including Thorpe whom he encouraged to adopt a similar loud, rocking guitar sound.
"And ACDC were influenced by his wild guitar playing,'' Murphy said.
Loyde first came to rock prominence in the 60s under the name Barry Lyde with Brisbane rhythm and blues band the Purple Hearts
In 1967 he moved to Melbourne to join another rhythm and blues outfit, the Wild Cherries, writing most of that band's hits.
In the 70s Loyde joined Thorpe and the Aztecs who were the big local sensations at the legendary Sunbury rock festivals.
He then formed the Coloured Balls, who became the rock and roll heroes of Melbourne skinhead gangs.
Loyde issued his second solo album, Obsecration, in 1976, a showcase collection of heavy rock guitar work.
He moved to the UK.where there was some interest in releasing the album, but with England in the throes of punk music, a deal was never sealed.
He returned to Australia in 1979 and formed a new lineup with Gil Matthews (drums), Gavin Carroll (bass), and Mándu, known as Southern Electric. They recorded the album Live with Dubs which was released in October 1980.
Loyde then turned his attention to producing other bands including the Sunnyboys, and Painters and Dockers.
In 2005 he was diagnosed with cancer and in 2006 he was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
Murphy said Loyd's represented the end of an era.
"It's sad day for Oz roc. But Lobby woudn't anyone crying. He'd want us to go out and party."
