Here’s an Australian Tour photo with eery historic overtones, exactly a year before "The Day The Music Died".
From 2,000 miles flown between Australia’s 3 largest cities, Holly/Anka/Lewis are on the tarmac at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith airport, on February 3, 1958. (Probably snapped by Jerry Lee’s cousin/Pa-in-law/manager/Fender bassist, Jay Brown). Set to board a Butler Air Transport (Brit-made 4-turboprop Vickers Viscount-700) bound 600-miles north for Queensland’s Brisbane Eagle Farm airfield.
Buddy in light tropical suit totes a favoured Pan Am longhaul-bag; 16 year old Paul Anka; Jerry Lee Lewis; also turning to wave, in The Killer’s striped-shirt like a U.S. sport referee, is Lewis' drummer Russ Smith. Among others from the troupe in view include Jody Sands, while atop the steps Jerry Allison & Joe B. Mauldin have their tickets checked by a steward.
(previous information corrected, and courtesy of Doug Pattton)