Wendy Saddington with Teardrop (not singing)

In the early 1970s David Porter was a contributing photographer for some of the most influential Australian Rock music and underground publications (Go-Set, Daily/Planet, Rolling Stone (Australian Edition), The Digger. Porter was based in Melbourne, his subject the zeitgeist of its Rock/Pop music, underground theatre, and Counterculture scenes, sometimes working as ‘David Porter’, sometimes ‘Jacques L’Affrique’, sometimes ‘Jack Africa’. In 1973 he left Melbourne, stopped working in commercial photography, and pursued a teaching career.

WENDY SADDINGTON (b.1949 d. 2013)
One of Australia’s greatest Rock/Blues artists. Brilliant live performer. Recorded one live album and one single only. Influenced by Odetta, Bessie Smith, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin. Sang with Chain (1968-69), Copperwine (1970-71), Wendy Saddington and Teardrop (1972). An artist of uncompromising integrity who stood toe-to-toe with the male vocalists of her day. In the mid 70s, disenchanted with Melbourne, Saddington moved to Sydney where she performed with drag provocateurs Sylvia and The Synthetics. Devoted to Krishna Consciousness, known as Gandharvika she rarely performed thereafter.

Wendy Saddington and Teardrop (1972). After staying in New York with Jeff Crozier, Wendy Saddington began working in a more performative style with Teardrop: Saddington, Morris Spinetti (the mime a.k.a. Teardrop), Ross East (guitar), Pete Figures (drums), Harry Brus (bass). The change perplexed and disappointed some fans and critics. A ‘tour de force’ performance at the Much More Ballroom was captured in Peter Weir’s 3 Directions in Australian Pop Music. Colour Diary 43 (1972).

Published: Exterminating Angels Visit the Ballroom. Rolling Stone (Australian Notes), 14 September 1972 (p.22)