A rock musician whose music sparked such a frenzy 56 years ago and led to Maitland City Council banning rock ‘n’ roll in the city for two years was back playing to fans in triumph on Thursday.
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And as the music from Lonnie Lee and his band the Leemen filled Maitland Town Hall, some members of the audience blinked back tears as they remembered that fateful night.
“I’ll never forget what happened,” artist Aisne Ballard said as the band struck up.
“I was only a young girl then and people went wild.We were told the band would never be coming back to Maitland again and that rock ‘n’ roll in our city was over.
“But council made a big mistake back then.
“And look at things now: This is the fourth visit Lonnie Lee and the Leemen have made back to Maitland, the city where they helped to make history.”
On hand to greet the singer and his group was the mayor of Maitland, Cr Peter Blackmore.
“Welcome to Maitland – this is a fantastic event,” he said. “I am a very strong fan of Lonnie Lee. By popular request, this concert will continue on.”
Mary Dallow, community planning co-ordinator, said: “This was the first rock ‘n’ roll band ever to play in Maitland Town Hall and it was banned for two years – but it is not banned any more.
“People love Lonnie Lee and they keep coming back.”
Nearly 400 tickets were sold for Thursday’s event, the fourth year it has been staged, partnered by Maitland Neighbourhood Centre and Maitland City Council for Seniors Week.
“When we were here in 1959, the kids went so wild they wrecked seats and council in its wisdom banned rock ‘n’ roll,” Lonnie Lee said.“It all changed when some ladies from a local convent asked us to arrange a concert to raise money for them and we said we would talk to council.
“We did this, council lifted the ban and we raised money for the convent.
“There are nearly 400 people here today and some of them were those wild kids from many years ago.
“It is absolutely wonderful to be back in Maitland. It has become a special city to us.”
The memories live on
“It was a long time ago, but the memories of Lonnie Lee’s first concert in Maitland will stay with me forever,” Bev Twaddell, from Rutherford, said.
Like most people at Maitland City Hall on Thursday, Mrs Twaddell was waiting excitedly for the group to begin playing.
“I was only young back then, but the concert was such a wonderful thing that night,” Mrs Twaddell said. “I remember how good it all was – then they stopped it.
“We couldn’t believe what had happened – that rock ‘n’ roll was banned.
“Everyone was disappointed and angry.
“I was dancing at the time and they said there would be no more music,” Mrs Twaddell recalled.
“That was how it was: we had no rock ‘n’ roll for two years.
“But two years later, it started again – and we are back too. And here with us again is Lonnie Lee.”
Artist Aisne Ballard was also at the original concert in 1959 and she rejoiced to be back there again yesterday.
“It was a long time ago, but I remember we were told the concert had ended and Lonnie Lee would not be coming back. But he has – several times.”
Mary Dallow, community planning coordinator, said: “This was the first rock ‘n roll concert ever held in Maitland Town Hall.
“It was banned for two years, but now Lonnie Lee is back, bigger than ever.”
Judy Wallace said: “His concerts are always better and better.”
