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Singer, drummer: Mac Silva [1947-1989]
Lead guitarists: Junior Brennan, Andrew (Drew) Donnelly
Bass guitarists: Arnold Williams, Ian Johnson
More: Frank, Cecil Patten, Kevin McGrady ...
It is 20 years since the untimely loss of Mac Silva and the disbanding of Black Lace, the fabulous and much loved band which played for more than 20 years, with four generations of musicians.
Some of the band members are looking for film footage, and recordings.
CAN YOU HELP ??
L to R Mac,Junior, Arnold, Andrew
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Mac was a very talented musician and singer and upon arriving in Sydney he started performing at the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs in George Street in the city. Mac’s band performed at the Foundation’s dances every Saturday and Sunday night. In 1966 he formed the Silva Linings band in which he was singer and drummer. The band won the Gold Coast Battle of the Sounds. After several years the band changed its name to Black Lace. Black Lace became very popular and gained a following throughout the Aboriginal communities in NSW and beyond. Blacks from everywhere would come to see Black Lace play, from Dubbo, Moreee and Northern NSW. Read more
Black Lace at the National Aboriginal Day Ball, 1975
Back row: Arnold Williams, Frank
Front row: Andrew Donnelly, Cecil Patten, Kevin McGrady, Malcolm Silva
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 Rock against racism Vol. 1 1985 2 cassette set Melbourne Aboriginal Radio Association [Koori Radio] Concert held during Koori Week (NADOC '85) at Powerhouse Theatre, Albert Park
Deaths in custody & Don't bogart that joint 1988 EMI Single 45 rpm Maya Records MRC-804
Before you accuse me on ABC documentary 1989
Brisbane blacks on Buried country soundtrack. ABC Music 2000
QUESTION: Why wasn't Black Lace on the Building bridges album made in 1988? [2 LP set, CD available]
Mac Silva also on
Goulburn Jail and Malabar Mansion on a single in 1988 ENS 047 [with Roger Knox]
Aboriginal prison song collection [Koori classic Volume 4]
- Malabar mansion
- Lonesome jailhouse blues
- Midnight special
- Jailhouse rock with Vic Simms & Roger Knox who also had songs on the album.
The best of Koori classics CD 1996 Larrikin: LRF 399
- Malabar mansion
- Lonesome jailhouse blues
1976 dance poster
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 c. 1975 Title No: 281343 Title: BLACK AND WHITE RAG Live performance, Sydney Opera House with Winifred Atwell. Held at the National Film and Sound Archive http://www.nfsa.gov.au/
In 1981, Peter Gray produced several video productions of large rock concerts in Sydney, including Rock Against Racism. He co-produced The whole world is watching and later ‘road showed’ it to remote areas in northern Australia. The films are listed here http://www.petergray.org
Clips at the National Film and Sound Archive http://www.nfsa.gov.au/
Title No: 280528 Title: BAD BAD LEROY BROWN
Title No: 280531 Title: LONG AS I SEE THE LIGHT
Title No: 280521 Title: MELTING POT
Title No: 280529 Title: ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN
Title No: 280532 Title: SULTANS OF SWING
Title No: 280527 Title: WALK THE DOG
Title No: 280526 Title: [UNKNOWN SONG]
88.9 Radio Redfern 1988 Sharon Bell / Film Australia
NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD
SCREEN AUSTRALIA
Sales Office | GPO Box 3984 Sydney NSW 2001 | Australia
T 1800 213 099 or +61 2 8113 1064 F 1800 077 471 or +61 2 9357 1392
Email sales@screenaustralia.gov.au | www.screenaustralia.gov.au
$34.50 for home use [$49.00 $89.00 $139.00 schools etc.] Plus freight: $7.00
TO FIND - Malabar Mansion music clip
TO FIND - ABC Doco produced by Bernard Cannon, researched by Vic Simms 1989? [54 min.]
Building bridges ABC TV 1991 [28 min.] $165 ABC checking copyright
Produced by Lorraine Mafi Williams and David Sandy. Music & voxpops
http://www.afc.gov.au/filmsandawards/filmdbsearch.aspx?view=title&title=BUILDI&keyword=building+bridges&area=all&year=all
ABC Non-Theatric Sales
T 1300 650 587, email progsales@your.abc.net.au or fax 02 8333 3975
Standard: $88 per 1 hour; Individuals/Schools: $55 per 1 hour (include postage and handling)
ABC has footage of the complete Building Bridges concert. TBA
Buried country; The story of Aboriginal country music. Film Australia 2000 [75 min.]
Includes musicians from other fields such as Black Lace, the Warumpi Band, Yothu Yindi and Us Mob.
1978 dance poster
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This book is available at Waterloo Public Library. LOCAL HISTORY 362.849915 MAC
The Mac Silva Centre is an oral history project of the Mac Silva Centre and Outreach, Sydney Institute of Technology, East Sydney. Published in Darlinghurst c1994
‘Sylvia Scott used the Rona Tranby award to tell the story of the Mac Silva Centre, a refuge for homeless Aboriginal men with alcohol related problems, by interviewing residents and staff with the aim of writing a book. By publishing the positive achievements of this Centre, Sylvia feels that others will be encouraged to set up similar places to help people in her community.’ http://www.tranby.edu.au
Mac Silva was a brilliant musician. Like his brothers, Paul and John, he died young of a heart attack in 1989. He founded a band called Black Lace, the cruelly ironic phrase that described the chains that used to be clamped around the necks of Aboriginal people. Not long before he died, he published a disc with the euphemised title for Long Bay Jail, ‘Malabar Mansion’. [Ted Kennedy]
I was in a sad and sorry state
The day they brought me through that gate.
I felt just like a bird in a great big cage.
Then they put me in a wing
Where the lifers think they're king.
If you're weak, you'll never live to see old age.
Long Bay Jail, you're doing bad -
You have made sane men go mad.
Some even took their life at different times.
But you won't do that to me,
I'll still be sane when they set me free,
And I pray to God to help me keep my mind.
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Feedback 1 September 2010
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Redfern / Fitzroy
The relationship between Redfern and Fitzroy during the late 60's, 70's and 80's was of utmost importance. Having the same vision in Aboriginal Health politically bonded a stream of "black activists" up and down the eastern coast of Australia. Soon after this "bond" expanded into Brisbane and hence the beginnings of the black power movement ( Bruce Mac and Bob Mazza invited Carribean activist Roosevelt in 1969 at AAL). Small groups of Redfern people moved to Melbourne and vise versa... Kevin Smith established the first Aboriginal Rugby team in Melbourne and players from the famous Fitzroy Stars Football Club (aussie rules) would give them a hand and play if they were "short". The most powerful National black organisation in the history of this country, NAIHO, would never have been as effective as it was if the the bond between Redfern and Fitzroy hadn't been what it was... Black Lace used to come to Melbourne and play for "special occassions" including Koori Kollij Health Worker Education Program graduation... "Cabaret's" at Collingwood Town Hall and they would pack em to the hilt... Everyone had a personal connection with the band members because they were a part of us and came from the same "black ghetto" as Fitzroy people...
Kelvin Onus-King
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Vol.1. Side 1.
Melbourne blacks.
We keep the ball in motion.
Hey, Joe. S tuck in Lodi.
Johnny too bad.
Dynamite
Side 2.
Need for freedom.
Don't bogart that joint.
Seven seas.
Racial discrimination.
Don't look back.
Wasted days wasted times
Vol.2. Side 1.
Speaking and didgeridoo.
Our future.
Peter Gunne.
Tonight the bottle let me down.
Johnny B. Goode.
One step forward.
Jambaliya.
John Pat.
Speaking and hard times.
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