Most people I know

by Billy Thorpe

What does a man in a New York City hospital, with no idea how he got there, have in common with two homicide detectives, murder, an American hit record, rock festivals, the Toorak library, six air hostesses, a Las Vegas wedding, James Bond's Aston Martin, and Gracelands?Who is this man? The answer is Australian rock legend Billy Thorpe.As Billy lies in his hospital bed, trying vainly to work out how even he managed to get himself into this mess, he wanders through the corridors of his the music, mayhem and mind-altering substances; the Sunbury Aztecs, the girls, the characters, the '70s...It doesn't get any better than this. Take the trip.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Australia, Autobiography

426 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

William Richard "Billy" Thorpe, was a renowned Australian pop/rock singer-songwriter and musician. As lead singer of his band, Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs, he had success in the 1960s and in the 1970s with "Most People I Know Think That I'm Crazy". Featuring in concerts at Sunbury Pop Festivals and Myer Music Bowl in the early 1970s, the Aztecs also developed the pub rock scene and were one of the loudest groups in Australia.

Thorpe also performed as a solo artist, he relocated to the United States from 1976 to 1996 where he released the space opera, Children of the Sun, which peaked in the top 40 of the Billboard Pop Album chart in 1979. He worked with ex-Aztec, Tony Barber to form a soft toy company in 1987 and co-wrote stories for The Puggle Tales and Tales from the Lost Forests. Thorpe also worked as a producer and composed music scores for TV series including, War of the Worlds, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Columbo, Eight Is Enough and Hard Time on Planet Earth.

Thorpe returned to Australia in 1996 and continued as a performer and producer, additionally he authored two autobiographies, Sex and Thugs and Rock 'n' Roll (1996) and Most People I Know (Think That I'm Crazy) (1998).

He died of a myocardial infarction in February 2007 and was posthumously appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in June for his contribution to music as a musician, songwriter and producer.

Reviews

[Nocheevo · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a supposedly exciting time and location (early 60s Kings Cross Sydney, the rise of Australian rock n roll), I found this a lack lustre read. Ol' Billy didn't come across as some knock about lad but an arrogant tosser, perhaps that is an indication it was a truthful 'autobiography'. Always rated the Easybeats and Loved Ones higher above that of Mr Thorpe and the (various) Aztecs.

[zed · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had forgotten I had read this until trawling through 2nd hand music books in my eternal quest to find John Cale's autobiography.

Billy and his Aztecs made some good music and were in some parts of the world famous. With that fame came this memoir by the good Billy, a memoir about Billy's sex life.

[Bryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bombastic, a lot of fun and an insight into a rock and roll extrovert hedonist who really paid his dues.

[Velvetink · Rating 1 out of 5]

You will not learn much of musical interest here - unless you like stories of farting, drunken brawls and dope smoking.

First saw Billy Thorpe Play at a school dance at Sydney Boys high school with Lobby Loyd. Gee saying that really dates me, ;(

Just found the soft cover version.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is (in my opinion) one of THE best books I have EVER
read by a musician - I loved it !!!!

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good if a bit self congratulatory...

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billy Thorpe writes with a lot of wit!! A very funny look at sex and drugs and rock and roll. A life certainly well lived and is typical of the time. The 60s and the 70s were a different age. A great book for fans of Billy and the Aztecs.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Billy's guide to a successful marriage.

[Jenni Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Billy's descriptions of situations. Loved it and laughed all the way through his recollections of his crazy life. Definitely a great read.

[Marco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not just one of the greatest books on a musician I've read, this is one of the greatest books i have ever picked up, PERIOD! Absolutely awesome. Everything in this book has to be true, because the wildest imaginations in the world could not have come up with the things that Billy experienced. Some of the stories in this book about Billy (and his dog Buster for that matter) will live with me forever.

This is an absolute MUST READ! No music lover's book collection is complete without it. It's the only book I ever stopped reading because it was that good that I wanted to drag the story out.

[Peter Gleeson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Billy comes across as a hedonistic wanker, which is why I couldn't finish it. Love his music though

[Barry Simiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

see review for Sex and thugs and rock and roll

[Jon Eggins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad - has some great stories. But, overall this one didn't grab me like other rock n roller bios.

[Peter Metcalfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read by the one and only Hard rockin Billy Thorpe

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good writing, at times too descriptive,
great stories .