The Black Diamonds
The Black Diamonds were an Australian garage rock band from Lithgow, New South Wales, which were active under different names from 1959 to 1971. By 1965 the line-up consisted of Glenn Bland on vocals and harmonica, Allen Keogh on bass guitar, Colin McAuley on drums, Alan "Olly" Oloman on lead guitar and vocals, and his younger brother Neil Oloman on rhythm guitar. They signed with Festival Records, where they released two singles. The better-known B-side track, "I Want, Need, Love You", appeared on their first single in 1966 and became a regional hit. It features an pleading vocal over a driving rhythm section and fast guitar breaks. The band toured in support of the Easybeats. In 1967 their second single, "Outside Looking In", was a hit in the Sydney area. In 1968 the group changed their name to Tymepiece and evolved into a more eclectic and progressive style. Briefly changing their name to Love Machine they released a cover version of the Tokens' single, "Lion Sleeps Tonight" (1968). They reverted to Tymepiece and issued an album, Sweet Release, in February 1971 but broke up soon after. According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, "[they] will be remembered as one of the most ferocious garage/punk outfits Australia ever produced in the 1960s." Origins: Johnny Kett's Black Diamonds 1959–1965 The Black Diamonds were founded in Lithgow, New South Wales, a coal-mining town in New South Wales, as Johnny Kett's Black Diamonds in 1959. Allen Michael Keogh and Alan Stewart Oloman, both twelve years old, learned guitar from an older friend, Brandt Newton. The three started playing regularly, mostly rockabilly instrumentals. Johnny Kett joined on drums, but initially they had no bass guitarist. Oloman's father, Bill Oloman (c.1911–2006), became their manager and allowed them to rehearse at the family home. He also provided their name, Johnny Kett's Black Diamonds, after their then-leader and a local term for coal. The group gained a residency at Scottish Reunion Dance, a local dance hall. In 1963 Newton departed and Oloman's younger brother, Neil Oloman joined on rhythm guitar, while Keogh switched to bass guitar. They largely performed surf instrumentals. With the advent of the Beatles and the British Invasion in 1964, they found a lead vocalist, Glenn Christopher Bland. Bland initially also provided rhythm guitar, allowing Alan to concentrate on lead guitar. The group's leadership shifted from Kett to Alan, whose increasingly virtuoso lead guitar was emerging as a key feature in their sound. Bland dropped rhythm guitar but continued on lead vocals and added harmonica. Recording and touring 1965–1968 In 1965 Kett departed and their name was shortened to the Black Diamonds with the line-up of Bland on vocals and harmonica, Keogh on bass guitar, Alan on lead guitar and vocals, and Neil on rhythm guitar – they were joined by Colin McAuley on drums. They became a popular band in the Blue Mountains area. Alan was a part-time radio announcer at the local station 2LT – its programming director Bob Jolly recorded their demos in