The South African Rock Encyclopedia > Rock Legends > 1970s > Baxtop
Legends Of South African Rock
Biography
Formed in Johannesburg in 1976 (confirmed by Tim Parr in July 2025) by Larry Amos (guitars, vocals), Tim Parr (guitar, vocals), Robbie Whitelaw (bass) and Pierre de Vos (drums), Baxtop became one of South Africa’s most significant blues-rock bands during the apartheid era. After early lineup changes that saw Fuzzy Marcus replace Robbie Whitelaw and Bruce Williams replace Pierre de Vos, the band established themselves as “the best blues-rock-boogie band that never came out of the American South”. In 1979 they won the SABC’s Battle of the Bands competition and signed a recording contract with WEA records, quickly rising to become South Africa’s premier original blues-rock act.
The band’s commercial breakthrough came with their song “Jo Bangles,” featured on their album “Work It Out” released in late 1979. Despite their brief career ending with their disbandment in 1982, Baxtop left an indelible mark on South African rock music. Even amid cultural isolation, they developed a blues-rock sound that stood alongside international standards, securing Baxtop’s legacy as true pioneers of South African blues-rock.
~ Brian Currin, July 2025
Discography
Singles
- Jo Bangles / It Depends (1979)
- Take Me Into Your Heart (1980)
Albums
- Work It Out (LP 1979)
- Baxtop (CD 1993, reissue of Work It Out with 3 bonus tracks)
Various Artists Compilations (selected)
- Sharp Cuts – South African Pop 1976-1990 Discogs
- Hot And Nasty 2 Discogs
- SA Rock Gold
- Rocktober Vol. 1 Discogs
- Saturday Night At The Chelsea Spotify
Musicians
- Larry Amos: Vocals, lead, acoustic & slide guitars (born 6 April 1952, died 19 July 2024)
- Tim Parr: Guitars, backing vocals (see Ella Mental) (born 28 November 1957)
- Bernard “Fuzzy” Marcus: Bass, vocals, harmonica (see Tribe After Tribe)
- Bruce Williams: Drums, percussion, piano, keyboards, vocals (see Tribe After Tribe)
Review
Baxtop Live!!!
The one thing about Baxtop that really upsets me is that I was too young to appreciate them when they won that Battle of the Bands in the late 70s. All I can remember is Larry Amos’s over-the-top afro and him singing “There’s a mama, Jo Bangles”.
Nevertheless this memory had a lasting effect on me. Every now and then Rafe Levine would play a track from their album – and it always floored me. I vowed that if the album ever came out on CD I would not hesitate – I would buy. The album itself is just totally brilliant. Larry and Tim were a combination of Lynyrd Skynyrd (I would say that they out-Skynyrd, Skynyrd) and Thin Lizzy, a guitar power house that never competed with one another. In my humble opinion Baxtop was one of the finest bands ever.
In the early Nineties they had a couple of re-union concerts at the Tandoor in Rockey Street. The first gig was amazing – the band was as tight as ever and Tim and Larry shone. I vowed at that point that I would learn that beatiful intro solo to Foxey (I’ve got about 50% of it down). Tim declined the offer to play Dr Watson because he said they couldn’t remember it (I would have lent them my CD if they wanted to learn it).
But the second gig!!! Outrageous!!!! Once again the band performed at the Tandoor and the house was packed. The opening band played a couple of Peter Green covers – I think Tim played in this band. For those who are interested Peter Green is very alive and very well and available at www.petergreen.com (is anybody interested in trying to get him out here – I certainly am).
And then Baxtop came on – they were as tight as ever playing all the old numbers off the album as well as a couple of blues standards – with Larry’s pseudo-American humour punctuating each tune. I don’t remember them playing Dr Watson (although they did do this song on the 94.7 broadcast – a very disappointing gig), but Foxey once again stood out. And then Shawn Phillips arrives and picks up Tim’s “Stratelecaster” and did a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Too much monkey business”. The crowd went wild.
I got all that for about R15!!! I would have paid ten times that.
I think we have the finest musicians in the world here – and I still think that Baxtop is the best band I have ever seen live. Perhaps we will see them perform again – I certainly hope so.
~ Paul Janisch, June 1999
Comments
Reunion 2016
In 1976 I started a band with my friend and Comrade Larry Amos and we called it Baxtop. Today we have this awesome cult following but due to us living in different cities we hardly ever get to play those tunes with the four guys who recorded our one and only record in 1979 called “Baxtop Work it Out”. I’m so excited that Larry and Fuzzy Marcus are flying in for a few days rehearsal and a number of shows in and around Cape Town in September.
Tim Parr, 9 August 2016, Facebook
I remember seeing Baxtop play at the Chelsea Arms in Wynberg, when I was in the army at Youngsfield, late ’70s to early ’80s.
Brian Currin, July 2025
Interview
8 January 2026