Freddie Portelli, a prominent figure in Maltese music, began his journey in the early 1960s when he attempted to form a band. The original lineup included Mario Perrone, Paul Perrone—two brothers who have since passed away—and Tony Camilleri, known as Bayzo. After Mario emigrated to Australia, he was succeeded by Tony Muscat, referred to as il Maduwi, who played rhythm guitar and occasionally lead guitar. Paul Perrone could not continue with the band, leading to the recruitment of Tony Bartolo, known as Il-Gegu, as the drummer on the recommendation of Freddie's father. This final lineup marked the beginning of what was initially known as the Malta Bums, consisting of Freddie Portelli (19), Tony Muscat (18), Tony Bartolo (17), and Tony Camilleri (Bayzo) (16).

Interestingly, the band initially had no official name. Without jobs, they jokingly dubbed themselves THE BUMS. However, during a tour in Germany, their manager, Herr Otto Alf, renamed them MALTA BUMS, which was interpreted in Germany as Malta’s Explosion.

The band began their journey in West Germany, performing in cities such as Essen, Düsseldorf, Duisburg, and Cologne, where they participated in live TV and radio shows. Their first opportunity to tour abroad arose when a German couple, who had been listening to them rehearse in a garage in St. Paul’s Bay, offered to take them to Germany for their first international experience.

Herr Otto Alf covered all their expenses, and although they were contracted for 20 days, their stay extended to six months. Eventually, Freddie urged Herr Otto Alf to allow them a break, which he reluctantly accepted on the condition that they would return to Germany. Upon their return to Malta, they were inundated with gigs, including a visit from a KOLN TV crew that produced a documentary titled ‘Malta of the Malta Bums,’ showcasing their live performances. However, before they could return to Germany, they received offers from the USA and Tokyo, ultimately choosing to tour the United States, where they performed in California, New York, Detroit, San Francisco, and Canada.

The Malta Bums developed a distinctive sound characterized by their strong vocal harmonies, as all four members were skilled vocalists with a keen musical ear. Freddie Portelli composed "VIVA MALTA" after receiving a unique opportunity to appear on Germany’s top-rated TV show, which featured only international hit makers. The offer followed a performance that impressed a Köln TV producer, who had heard them live on Radio Köln. They were invited to sing in Maltese, leading to the creation of "VIVA MALTA," which, upon its airing, caused a significant surge in their popularity in Germany.

Throughout their career, the band garnered various opportunities in Germany and England. When Apple Corps, The Beatles' record company, expressed interest in releasing a song recorded at Trident Studios, the track titled "OLD OLIVE TREE," written by Freddie, was recorded using The Beatles' equipment. However, complications arose when Mr. Russ Conway, a well-known pianist, sought 50% of the profits from the copyright due to a prior contract Freddie had signed, which ultimately prevented the release.

The Malta Bums released four vinyl singles at 45 RPM, including "Dinja Din" on the A-side with "Yvette" and "Il-Football" on the B-side, along with "Ġej il-Milied," "Do This," "That’s All I Know," and "Nerġa Nsir Ferħan." "Viva Malta" was released under Portelli Productions, but the intended release of "Old Olive Tree" in the UK did not materialize due to the aforementioned disagreements.

Freddie Portelli's journey with the Malta Bums concluded in 1972 as he faced numerous commitments that made it challenging to continue performing nightly, alongside his work as a draughtsman and involvement in water polo. He subsequently formed a new band, The Black Train, which performed only on weekends.

Meanwhile, The Malta Bums continued with new commitments. Alfred Scicluna, a close friend of Freddie and an expert in computers, replaced him as a guitarist. Bayzo took over as the main lead singer, and in 1973, they achieved significant success with the song "L-Ewwel Tfalja li Ħabbejt," written by Alfred C. Sant with music by Ray Agius. This success was a testament to their professionalism and the valuable experience gained during their early tours.

However, within two years, The Malta Bums began to fade from the music scene as The Black Train emerged as Malta’s main attraction. Consequently, the band disbanded, with Bayzo pursuing a solo career and later forming Bayzo u Klikka.

Discography - Singles A & B-Side: - "Dinja Din / Yvette / Football" - "Viva Malta / That's All I Know" - "Ġej il-Milied / That Ain't A Sin" - "Nerġa Nsir Ferħan / Do This" - "L-Ewwel Tfalja Li Ħabbejt / Mister D.J."