Today the music community mourns the loss of one of its strongest advocates with the passing of Andy Portokallis this morning from cancer.
Andy was known for his love of music, culture, sport – especially Collingwood FC – but mostly for resurrecting the iconic live music venue the Tote.
“You knew then it was a special place,” Andy told Neos Kosmos in the 2011 interview ‘Long Live the Tote – Never say die’ about his first memories of the Tote when he stepped into the bar in 1985.
“It was rough and ready but it was always about the music, everyone that went there were all about the music.”
As a publican, Andy was involved in Melbourne music institutions such as Bar Open; Pony; Yah Yah’s; Marquis of Lorne; Melbourne Spanish Club; and of course the Tote.
It was his courage and fearless attitude that was admired by all in the music and venue community for in his time he fought greedy landlords, the State Government, lock out laws, zero tolerance policing – he fought to the end to defend his love of rock n roll.
He is survived by his partner Priscilla, daughters Mabel and Dharma and sons Barnaby and Jackson.
