There are not many Australian connections to the ABB but here is perhaps the strongest one. In the late 70's Australian rock icon Billy Thorpe , who had become about as big as is possible in Australia over two decades went to the US to try to break there . (which no other Australian rock act had done at this point- this was before AC/DC , INXS , Men at Work. )
By chance he met a producer named Spencer Proffer and after meeting at a party and going to a late night screening of the sci-fi movie "Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind " they recorded the album "Children of the Sun ".
After another chance meeting with Phil Walden they played him the tape of the album. He loved it and put it out on Capricorn . ( See how wild and spontaneous the music business was then . )
It became a breakout hit across several southern US states and could have been no. 1 nationally except at that point Capricorn went bust and the record dropped from the charts for lack of distribution. Polygram picked it up 12 months later but the momentum was lost.
Billy put 2 more albums out after "Children" which were critically praised but did not break through.

Next comes the second ABB connection; Billy then formed a friendship and a band with Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac on drums and Bekka Bramlett ( Daughter of Bonnie and Delaney ) on vocals. The band was called the Zoo and they made one excellent album called "Shakin the Cage . " with I believe, Kenney Gradney of Little Feat on bass ) Again fate stepped in and after an auspicious start , Fleetwood Mac got a huge offer to reform with Becka taking Stevie Nicks' place. Hence the end of the Zoo project.
Billy returned to Australia and wrote 2 bestselling books in his life ( his career spanned 5 decades ) and while still performing live at festivals and clubs he died suddenly and unexpectadly of a heart attack 10 years ago on 28th Feb. 2007.
I wrote an obit. on this site at the time and several members replied with memories of seeing him in concert promoting Children of the Sun back in the day. Or even buying the record at the time. I believe it is still played on US radio today.
Anybody currently out there remember Billy =on the 10th anniversary of his passing ?