THE ELOIS

The Elois were from Maryborough in Victoria. The short-haired, well dressed lads called themselves The Elois after the "tranquil sunshine people" from H.G. Wells' book The Time Machine. The Elois had won the Ballarat heat of the 1965 Battle Of The Sounds where they caught the attention of DJ Graham Lever who suggested they move to Melbourne. Sometime in 1967 they cut their one and only record at Bill Armstrong's studios. The A-side is a Who inspired cover of Bo Diddley's oft-covered ''I'm A Man''. But the real gem was to be found on the flip side. ''By My Side'' was a self-penned explosion of garage rock detailing a young man's uncontrollable hormonal yearnings for the satisfaction of a young woman. The Elois managed to make an appearance on TV show Kommotion with Mike Furber and The Loved Ones. While the single wasn’t a hit, it did make the lower echelons of the Melbourne charts, helped along no doubt by the band’s growing reputation as a killer live act. Playing venues such as Pinocchio’s, 5-4-3-2-1 and the Thumpin’ Tum, they blew audiences’ minds (and ear drums) with their fast, loud and feedback-heavy shows. This single is now worth thoudands of dollars and a rare collectors item.

The band would soon return to the small town of Maryborough and try to sell their record. Truth be told, most people didn't hear either side of the record and the group soon disbanded to go about their normal daily lives. Their recording didn't get a breath of attention until 1980 when a Melbourne record collector compiled a bunch of his favourite forgotten singles from unheralded local bands dating between 1964-1967 and released them on an album called 'Ugly Things'. Vocalist Alan Rowe and bassist Greg Heenan have since died.

Members

Dennis Fiorini (guitar), Mike Dzuriek (bass), Ian Chettle (drums), Dougie Blair (guitar), Bill van Berkel (drums), Alan Rowe (vocals), Greg Heenan (bass)

SINGLES
''I'm A Man / By My Side'' 1967 In

References

http://ontheflip-side.blogspot.com/2009/02/song-of-week-by-my-side-elois.html