The godfather of heavy rock in Australia, Lobby Loyde has been hailed as an influence by the likes of Nirvana's KURT COBAIN, Pavement's Stephen Malkmus, Henry Rollins and the Cosmic Psychos. "More than anyone else, Lobby helped create the Australian guitar sound. Long before Angus (Young) or Billy Thorpe or the Angels or Rose Tattoo. Lobby inspired Australian bands to step forward and play as loud and aggressively as they could. People are still trying to copy it today" – Angry Anderson told The Age, 2006 In a telling measure of the man's talents, Lobby Loyde – known as Barry Lyde on his birth certificate – has influenced countless performers both here and overseas through his playing, songwriting and production work.

After ground-breaking stints with the Purple Hearts and the Wild Cherries, and a crucial tenure as a member of Billy Thorpe's new Aztecs in 1969 to 1972, Loyde forged a new band, Coloured Balls, in 1972 with the intention to recruit a bunch of young, hungry musicians and create high energy rock'n'roll on his own terms. With an aesthetic push that fused hippie philosophy to explosive rock'n'roll, the band ended up being one of the most misunderstood bands of the early 1970s. The mainstream media branded them as anti-social misfits, due in no small degree to their single-minded performances, the adoption of the (then prevalent) sharpie haircut and the aggressive nature of their skinhead following. From 1972 until their demise in 1974 they released six singles and three LPs, Ball Power, Heavy Metal Kid and First Supper Last as well as performing with Billy Thorpe and others on the Sunbury '73 live album, Summer Jam. Lobby then went solo again releasing the single 'Do You Believe in Magic' (1975) and the acclaimed Obsecration album (1976).

He spent four years in the UK where he embraced punk and upon his return to Australia he joined Rose Tattoo as bass player. That line-up recorded an album in Los Angeles which has never been issued. In the '80s LOBBY LOYDE moved into production and live sound mixing, producing acclaimed recordings for the Sunnyboys, Kevin Borich, Machinations, Flaming Hands, X and Painters and Dockers.