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KEEP ROCKIN'
Our music community is made up of many people. Some are
players. Some are punters. Some are both. Phil Lawrence
played in many bands over the years. He was one of the most
naturally gifted people Howzat! has known. Phil, known as
Lorro to his mates, was also a graphic designer and a photographer.
But most of all, he was a lovely bloke. Imagine your favourite
gig buddy; that was Lorro. Howzat! will treasure every photo
Lorro took and every email he sent - all of which were signed:
"Keep rockin'" Lorro died recently of a lung disease. He
was 53. Howzat!'s best mate, Cory O'Bryan, wrote this tribute:
Lorro was by no means a household name, but I know that
a lot of readers would have rubbed shoulders with him at
a venue over the past few decades. Lorro started his gigging
career playing guitar in Stage Plays in the early '80s,
playing venues like the Seaview Ballroom with his schoolmates
Neil Crocker, Dave Ralph and Craig Murray. The great Australian
record producer Victor Van Vugt got his start doing sound
for Stage Plays, and they did gigs with INXS, Hunters &
Collectors and Real Life. Lorro then moved on to play bass
in The Sometimes with his dear friend Peter "The Buzz" Poumbourios,
releasing a few singles. An accomplished artist, Lorro also
helped many bands with their record covers, and took photos
at live shows, famously still holding a grudge against a
drunken Spencer P. Jones who smashed Lorro's camera at a
Johnnys gig when Lorro was politely snapping away. I have
been playing with Lorro for the last 18 years, in Hedge
and Airhorn. He also managed my band Interstater, and played
drums in Slacquer, with his partner, Mel, and Merry Prain,
releasing a couple of great, sassy records. Lorro was so
talented, he could play anything. His ear for music was
uncanny, and he could also kick beautifully and accurately
on both feet, like his hero Kelvin Templeton.
A memorable night for Airhorn - me, Lorro, John Cain and
Karen Horsley - was playing to a packed room that included
Ron Peno, Hugo Race and Blondie's Clem Burke, who told us
he really liked the band! Our last gig was Anzac Day eve
at the Workers Club, which our number one supporter, Paul
Window, recorded for posterity. It was a wild night, with
crazy girls groping us on stage. I'll always remember Lorro
coming off stage, beaming: "That was the best gig of my
life." Thank you Howzat! for introducing me to one of the
great blokes. To quote you, "Phil Lawrence is the nicest
man in the world."
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