1961965 Ford Falcon XP

There had never been much love lost between the Australian press and visiting international artists, and not even established megastars like Frank Sinatra or Judy Garland could escape their wrath. And so it was that P.J. Proby, upon his arrival in Australia, was seen to be the next step down from The Rolling Stones on the road to debauchery. In fact, he made The Rolling Stones look like choir boys when he arrived to a warm reception from Australian fans and an even hotter reception from the Australian press at Sydney's Mascot Airport on 28th August, 1965. At the time, Australians had never seen anyone looking quite like Proby did on his arrival and his fans were kept waiting whilst he was given extra thorough treatment by customs officials. Obviously exhausted after a 36 hour flight from London and looking rather dishevelled, he was depicted on TV and in newspapers as a threat to the moral values of Australia's teenagers. I well remember watching coverage of P.J.'s Sydney arrival on the TV news at the time and recall my grandmother, who was staying with us then, actually gasping when she saw him on the news,.."Ohhhh!! My goodness!!.... Isn't IT disgusting???. How disgraceful...Isn't he dreadful!!"... She was even more shocked when I told her that I thought he was a great singer and that I had tickets to see one of his concerts the following week!

By far Proby's harshest critic in Australia was the late Reverend Roger Bush, who labelled him "The Merchant of Obscenity" in an article in Sydney's Sunday Mirror newspaper  on 29thh August, 1965.

30th August-Palais Royal, ADELAIDE                       1st September-Festival Hall, MELBOURNE                       3rd September-Festival Hall, BRISBANE                       4th September-The Stadium, SYDNEY                       6-8 September-NEW ZEALAND TOUR                       10th September-Festival Hall, MELBOURNE                       11th September-The Stadium, SYDNEY Following the opening concert of the tour in Adelaide the entourage flew to Melbourne the next day in preparation for the first Melbourne concert on 1st September,1965. Below are photos of P.J. Proby and Dinah Lee being met by police, press and fans at Melbourne airport on 31st August, 1965.