Headlines for Crawley, finally

The 62-year-old photographer and his band The Black Belts performed at the Warrnambool heat at The Loft back in August, and although they didn't win, they certainly etched themselves in people's memories.

The winner at the end of the day was Warrnambool rockabilly/country act Bec & The Big River Trio, who are also expected to feature in the first episode, but it was Crawley's enthusiastic, shirtless, Iggy Pop-esque performance that earned him a spot in the Exhumed promo video.

Missing out on the win didn't worry Crawley. Getting to perform in front of an audience was a reward in itself for him.

For Crawley, music has been a salvation. He is a living, breathing testament to the healing powers of rock 'n' roll, he said.

On September 11, 2009, Crawley's wife died. He was naturally devastated and lost. Plans of growing old together were gone, and Crawley was staring down the barrel of turning 60 without his best friend by his side.

"I had a really rough time," he said. "Myself and Carol were together for 30 years. It's the strangest thing when suddenly someone's not here any more, someone you live and work together with."

Crawley returned to his native England and spent a lot of time overseas.

During that time he "saw a lot of bands", even meeting the American rock band Alabama Shakes.

It triggered memories of his own previous musical experience recording a cover of Iggy Pop's I'm Bored which was played on Triple R, Rage and other radio and TV stations during the '80s.

"I realised this is what I want to do," Crawley said.

"I had a longing to play bass (so) I bought a (Fender) Precision bass but I realised it would be years before I would be able to (play it) properly.

"I used to be a singer, I'd had stuff on television years and years ago, and I thought, I'll do that again, I'll do some singing. That was the point where I realised 100 per cent that's what I want to do."

Crawley turned his two-car garage into a rehearsal studio, called up some local musicians he knew and set about "starting something new" in his life.

"A year ago there was no band, no nothing," he said.

"My motto is onwards and upwards.

"There's a really recuperative thing about music.

"My wife died a few years ago and this has been the best thing that's happened to me in the last five years, the most brilliant thing.

"Music is so good. I really love this stuff."

The Black Belts comprise Warrnambool brothers Barry and Graeme Galbraith on drum and bass respectively, and Port Fairy's David Gibb and Rosebrook's Ben Fennessy on guitars.

It's a talented line-up with impressive CVs the Galbraiths play with Blue Heat and have opened for BB King, Gibb was Unearthed by Triple J in 1998 as part of iconic local band Gramps, while Fennessy supported the likes of Daddy Cool and Spectrum in bands in the '70s.

"The Exhumed job at The Loft was the first gig we'd ever done together," Crawley said.

"It was amazing ... we got a pretty good shout at the end. It was beyond my wildest expectations.

"It was the first time we played in front of anyone.

"It sounds ludicrous to end up on national television after our first gig it's ludicrous. "

Crawley said he hoped to capitalise on their attention-grabbing Exhumed performance and The Black Belts have a few gigs lined up.

They'll be supporting Michelle's Velocity at the Loft on November 23, and return there on December 21.

On December 28, they'll be performing at St Brigid's Hall in Crossley as a fund-raiser for committee.

Exhumed airs on ABC1 at 8pm tonight.