Editing Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs (section)

{{Short description|Australian rock band}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Refimprove|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs
| image             = 
| caption           = 
| image_size        = 
| alias             = 
| origin            = [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], Australia
| genre             = 
| years_active      = 1963–1973; 2002
| label             = [[Albert Records|Albert]]
| associated_acts   = 
| website           = 
| current_members   = 
| past_members      = [[Billy Thorpe]]<br/>Col Baigent<br/>John "Bluey" Watson<br/>Valentine Jones<br/>[[Vince Melouney]]<br/>[[Tony Barber (musician)|Tony Barber]]<br/>Dennis Cuthel<br/>Gil "Rathead" Matthews<br/>[[Lobby Loyde]]<br/>Brian Bakewell
}}

'''Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs''' were an Australian rock band formed in [[Sydney]] in 1963. They were active in two incarnations, the first as a [[Beat music|beat]] band from 1963–1967, and as a hard rock band from 1968–1973. They emerged in 1964 with their cover of "[[Poison Ivy (song)|Poison Ivy]]", which kept [[The Beatles]] from the top spot of the Sydney charts during the latter's Australian tour. They enjoyed further success through 1965 when the original members quit after a financial dispute.

After a brief solo career, Thorpe resurrected the Aztecs name in 1968 with a new line-up and a heavier rock direction influenced by guitarist [[Lobby Loyde]]. By the 1970s, the new Aztecs had become one of the most popular hard rock bands in the country with appearances at the [[Sunbury Pop Festival]] and hit songs such as "Most People I Know (Think That I'm Crazy)", before disbanding in 1973. Thorpe died from a heart attack in Sydney on 28 February 2007.