In 1967 WA surfers Greg Wynne, Mike Byrom and Mike ‘Gruff’ Reynolds travelled to the East Coast of Oz chasing waves and adventure.
After the East Coast surf trip, Greg Wynne, Mike Byrom & Gruff returned to WA and became members of the popular The Young Blaydes band in Perth’s fledgling music industry. Greg – bass guitar/lead vocalist, Mike – drummer & Gruff – roadie.
1967 Crescent Heads NSW. Photo Darryl McGowan.
L-R Nev Gangel, Darryl McGowan, Greg Wynne & Mike Byrom with Greg’s Kombi.
They were joined in the Band by Cottesloe surfer Dave Aylett – vocalist/songwriter/guitar, Terry Malone – guitar and Cottesloe surfer Victor Kailis was the Manager.
1960s Davo Aylett (right) surfing Isolated reef near Cottesloe. Davo pic.
1971 Victor James Entertainment advertisement featuring Victor Kailis. Image courtesy of West Country Surf Magazine.
The Wynne Brothers
In the 60’s North Beach brothers Greg & Michael ‘Spike’ Wynne were talented young surfers on the northern beaches. They attended Scarborough High School.
Older brother Greg was not a member of a board club, but Michael (formerly Scarborough Board Club) was an inaugural member of the North Coast Board Club formed in 1969.
In 1968 the brothers turned to stringer-less surfboards. These boards were 9’0” mals, not short boards and had very large 11” flexible fins which Mike had Rex Cordingley make especially for their boards. Mike designed the boards which are very similar to what Mike now rides except for weight. They had a slight concave at the nose, flattening out in the centre and a slight “V” bottom at the back.
Greg was featured riding his stringer-less board at Trigg’s 3rd car park in a 1968 Surfing International Magazine article on WA surfboard design by surf photographer and journalist Greg Woodward. See image below.
1968 Greg surfing Trigg on his stringer-less Cordingley surfboard. Image courtesy of Greg Woodward & Surf International Magazine.
Mike Wynne. “One day Dave Aylett, Victor Kailis, Greg and I went to Avalon for a surf. Dave was a super surfer. I had never surfed there before. The whole bay had sand in it and the lefts were breaking off the point and going all the way to the beach. I thought it was sensational. I have never seen it like that since, and I surf it a lot!”
The Young Blaydes Band
Formed in the mid-60s in Western Australia, The Young Blaydes were one of Perth’s most popular bands at that time. They were in the era of The Times and Johnny Young and the Strangers. Their manager Victor Kallis dressed them in suits and ties like the Beatles with hair to match. Guitarist Dave Aylett wrote “Can’t Fathom Fate'” recorded at Clarion Records and released by HMV– the group’s first single. Keith McGowan on 6PR gave them plenty of airplay. Source THE YOUNG BLAYDES
Members. Mike Byrom (drums), Dave Aylett (guitar vocals), Greg Wynne (vocals bass), Terry Malone (guitar), Manager Victor Kailis.
1960s Young Blaydes performing at the Top of the Town night club in Perth. Source THE YOUNG BLAYDES
Guitarist Dave Aylett wrote “Can’t Fathom Fate'” recorded at Clarion Records and released by HMV– the group’s first single. Source THE YOUNG BLAYDES
1960s The Young Blaydes Band memorabilia courtesy of Dave Aylett.
‘The Young Blaydes’ Band members overview by Mike Wynne
Dave Aylett. Played rhythm guitar and was a vocalist. Dave wrote all the songs. He wrote Sunday Afternoon recorded by Clarion Records – the group’s first single. They had other singles, all had airplay with Keith McGowan on 6PR back in those days. Dave was a Cottesloe boy and surfer. In the 1960s Dave ‘Davo’ Aylett was a Cottesloe surfer and a talented singer/songwriter in Perth’s fledgling music industry.
Greg Wynne. Played bass guitar and was the lead vocalist. Greg started out singing at the Snake Pit at Scarborough when he was 15. He met Geoff Gibson at Scarborough, and they formed a band when they were about 17. They played a lot of stomps back then and all the surfers had a ball. Greg lived with the Gibson’s for over 2 years when he was young, he had parental issues.
Greg played in all the top bands. Ray Hoff and The Offbeats in Melbourne, Russ Kennedy and the Littlewheels, The Clan, The Profile (John Eddy, Greg Wynne, Cliff Toll and Peter Anderson from The Troupadores) and many others.
From 67-68 he played in a local band called The Young Blaydes managed by Victor Kailis. Everyone said they were amazing. Everywhere they played, it was a full house. Sometimes the liquor squad would come in and make the night club owners tell people to leave, as the number of patrons outnumbered the allowable attendees for their liquor license. It was Perth’s most popular band at that time. They were in the era of The Times and Johnny Young and the Strangers. I remember one night at the Top of the Town night club, it was a sell-out and teenagers were out of control; girls crying, guys drinking excess etc. the atmosphere was electric. The Blaydes’ had the night of their lives.
Terry Malone. Played lead guitar. Renowned classical guitarist Jose Feliciano, saw Terry play a 12-string classical guitar at a muso’s “jam session” one night in Perth at a Night Club after hours and told all present he was the best guitarist in the world bar none – big compliment! He went on to be Professor in Law at UWA. Smart, brilliant guy! I used to watch him play the “Kinks” lead guitar breaks with his eyes closed. He was wild or sick as the kids say today! Terry wrote most of the music for Dave’s songs.
Michael Byrom. Played drums. He also surfed and was a North Beach boy like Greg.
He hooked up with Karen Pini. She won a beauty contest, and they lived in Qld for a while.
Victor Kailis. Victor was a great manager. He dressed them in suits and ties like the Beatles. They had hair to match, with exception of Greg, he grew an afro…..Curley hair can’t be a Beatle!.”
‘The Young Blaydes’ Band memories by Errol Considine
Errol Considine – My brother Jeff was the first President of the North Coast Board Club (NCBC)… and he designed the first club logo & cut the silk screen at home for the t-shirts – which were chocolate brown with an orange logo….both very cool colours then. I think Jeff & Gooselegs came up with the ‘69’ thing – naughty boyz!
Jeff had the brain wave of a ‘Bonnie & Clyde’ stomp/dance (the movie was huge then with title song big on the hit parade world-wide) ….he designed and made the posters and we plastered Perth beaches with them….hired an old hall under the Perry Lakes stadium & got a liquor licence….HUGE mob dressed up and turned up, it was great fun and the Club made THOU$AND$. Greg’s band “The Young Blaydes” played at the Bonnie & Clyde stomp/dance.
‘The Young Blaydes’ Band break-up by Mike Wynne
The group broke up as everyone had their own personal agendas and it became too hard for Victor to manage them. Had they held it together, they really could have been a very successful band internationally.
Greg Wynne passed away on Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 5.20pm after a 6-month battle with Leukaemia. It was Father’s Day. (Michael was born on Father’s Day 1949). Greg left behind his wife of 39 years, Nancy and three children, Jamie, Simone and Adam.
Adam and Simone are both talented musicians. Adam is a prolific songwriter and record producer and plays guitar(s) and drums and mixes all the music and sings on all his records. Simone is a bass guitarist, the same as her father. So the legacy continues…
Victor Kailis now runs the new restaurant at Trigg’s Point and is a good friend of the late John Balgarnie.
Music video
Click on link the Band’s single ”Can’t Fathom Fate / Alone” 1966 HMV.
Thanks to the contributors for sharing their The Young Blaydes memories.
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