Terrence Michael Walsh

Johnny Dole

Terrence Michael Walsh a.k.a. Johnny Dole
Background information
Birth name Terrence Michael Walsh
Also known as Fox (nick name)
Born (1953-11-06)6 November 1953
Liverpool, England
Died 9 August 1987(1987-08-09) (aged 33)
Darlinghurst, New South Wales
Genres Punk Rock, Rock, Rock 'n' Roll
Instruments Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Bass
Years active 1970-1983
Associated acts Johnny Dole & The Scabs
Website Tribute To Johnny Dole

Terrence Michael Walsh (6 November 1953 – 9 August 1987) was a singer, song writer and musician. Born in Liverpool, England and migrated to Sydney, Australia with his mother and father in early 1962. He is best known as Johnny Dole, lead singer and one of the founding members of the Sydney Punk Rock band Johnny Dole & The Scabs (1977–78).

Early life

Growing up in the Sydney suburb of Marrickville and coming from a family with a background in entertainment including his grandmother, Elsie Brown who was a vaudevillian style banjo player/entertainer and his father who was also a singer and dancer it was inevitable Walsh would follow in their footsteps.

His mother Betty, affectionately known as “Vicki" would take him to many talent quests encouraging him to be as good as he could and his singing was improving all the time. By the age of 14 Walsh had sent away for his first “mail order” guitar from the Melody School of Music. Enlisting the services of guitar teacher Lynton Bridge of Campsie and with lots of hard work he was soon playing like a pro.

The 70s

Eddy Holly and Sirikit - Stagecoach Tavern King Street, Sydney, circa 1974

During the early 70s Walsh sang and performed in many Sydney bands including, Eddy Halley & The Starliters featuring Tony Haley. On Walsh's suggestion they changed their name to Eddy Holly and Sirikit. They were a 50s revival band doing recreations of 50s artists such as Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran, who were some of Walsh's heroes. During his time with Eddy Holly and Sirikit he was using the stage name Mike Walsh, to cash in on the TV host of the same name. In 1975 he formed The Strays who would slowly morph into Johnny Dole & The Scabs by 1977.

With Punk Rock quickly emerging from overseas The Strays realised they were in fact a Punk Rock band. Needing a new name to go along with this new form of music Walsh took on the surname Dole (an Australian government program that is a form of work-based welfare, also known as Work for the Dole) which was something any good Punk Rocker should be on. Johnny is a very typical name from the 50s era, there were many Rockers using the name Johnny, one being Johnny O'Keefe another of his idols so Johnny Dole was born.

Return To England

After the breakup of Johnny Dole & The Scabs in 1978 he returned to England where the Punk scene was in full swing in the hope of forming a new band, The Crooked Hearts with Bob Short ex Filth bass player and Peter Mullany ex Johnny Dole & The Scabs guitarist but his increasing use of drugs was becoming a problem and The Crooked Hearts soon disbanded. Mullany himself would soon return to Australia and form the band Sekret Sekret with friends David Virgin and Dan Rumor who would then go on to form The Cruel Sea with Tex Perkins.

Death

Switchblade, circa 1983

Walsh returned to Australia in 1979 and formed a number of short lived bands, including The Shakers and Switchblade. But by 1983 his drug use was now out of control and he could no longer perform. With a continuing decline in his health he died alone in a rented room in Darlinghurst where his body was not found for five or six days after he had died 9 August 1987, aged 33, official cause of death, accidental overdose.

References

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