Carol Lloyd,a gay icon and trailblazer for female rockers,died on February 13 after a lengthybattle withpulmonary fibrosis. Lloyd is best remembered for her lead vocals with the funk band Railroad Gin, whose hits include the seminal 1974 classic “A Matter of Time”, which hit number 1 on the charts.
Her eponymously named groupThe Carol Lloyd Band also made history by being the first rock band to play at the Sydney Opera House.
With araw voice and a rebellious attitude, Lloyd was oftencomparedwith Janis Joplin.
As a champion of gay and lesbian rights and women’s rights, Lloyd reignedover Australian rock during the conservative era of Joh Bjelke-Petersen Queensland governments in the 1970s and ’80s, becominga counter culture hero. She spoke up for the disenfranchised, and was committedto shepherdingin a new generation of female voices. She helped empower young people to stand up for human and civil rights.
After Lloyd’s passing, Queensland Music Festival, with support from Arts Queensland, APRA AMCOS and Hutchinson Buildersand the Queensland Government throughArts Queensland, announced the Carol Lloyd Award.This award will be presented to an emerging female singer-songwriter. Katie Noonan, among other, sits on the judging panel.
Lloyd was remembered at a public funeral service on February 20, atSt John’s Cathedralin her hometown of Brisbane.
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