The Radiators

by Mark Gibson on February 18, 2007

in Bands - R, Most Popular

Post image for The Radiators

About The Radiators

Australia’s Hardest Working ROCK Band

Few survive the Rock ‘n Roll road to stardom but THE RADIATORS are Rock’s greatest survivors! They are approaching 30 years of outstanding music, exciting and sometimes controversial lyrics, more than 4,000 electrifying live performances and platinum and gold album sales.

THE RADIATORS debuted late 1978. Their first album “Feel the Heat” was released late 1979 and by March 1980 these Aussie Rock Icons had achieved platinum status.

Little did they then know they would go on to forge a unique sound and influence thousands of music lovers throughout Australia.
Since 1978 THE RADIATORS have achieved many “firsts”

* First Australian Band to have advance/presales on a debut album (6,000 copies of “Feel the Heat” had been sold before it was released);
* First Australian Band to achieve platinum status and a Top Ten position with their first two albums;
* First Australian Band to play more than 320 gigs in their first year of formation;
* One of very few Rock Bands worldwide to have survived so long with their original frontline intact.
from TheRadiators.com

History

Formed in Western Sydney in 1978, The Radiators were originally lumped in with the New Wave scene in Sydney but in reality were a pub rock band with a sense of humour. In their hey-day they were one of the hardest working bands in Australia, touring constantly and racking up over 2,500 gigs by the early 1990s.

Their first single (on WEA) was Comin’ Home which reached number 33 (and probably earned them their New Wave tag). Fess’ Song (“I take drugs, I like sex, I like looking at dirty pictures, I like lying in bed with Fess”) and the album Feel The Heat followed and The Rads’ supported The Police on their Australian Tour.

Hit And Run was the third single lifted from their debut LP which went on to sell 90,000 copies. In 1981 they changed record labels and released Roomful Of Diamonds. 1982 brought the singles Up For Grabs and Nothing’s Changed. A new contract with EMI produced the album Scream Of The Real and the singles No Tragedy and You.

Another LP followed in 1984 (Life’s A Gamble) along with 3 singles; The Beatles’ Revolution, Life’s A Gamble and A Bit Of Pain Never Hurts. Long-serving drummer Chris Tagg left in June 1984 to be replaced by a string of others. The band with more record labels than hot dinners continued recording well into the 90s but by then their brand of boogie-influenced rock had been superseded by more alternative guitar bands. But, being the pub-rock warhorses that they were, The Radiators would not stop.

The Radiators (still one of the hardest working bands in the land) still play live in Australia today (I saw them in January 2003 actually, and despite the absence of as keyboard player these days, these guys still R.O.C.K). Of special note is the bands most (in)famous song (and solid live favourite), a charming little ditty entitled Give Me Head which is about, well . . . you work it out!
from Nostalgia Central

Videos

Members

  • Mick Buckley – Drums
  • Brendan Callinan – Keys
  • Brad Heaney – Drums
  • Mark Lucas – Drums
  • Brian Nichol – Vocals
  • Steven “Fess” Parker – Guitar
  • Marcel Rodeka – Drums
  • Chris Tagg – Drums
  • Geoff Turner – Bass

Recordings


  • Feel the Heat
    – 1980 (platinum)
  • Up For Grabs – 1981 (gold)
  • You Have The Right To Remain Silent – 1982 (platinum)
  • Scream Of The Real – 1983 (gold)
  • Life’s A Gamble – 1984
  • Nasty Habits In Nice Children – 1987
  • Gimme Live – 1988
  • Hard Core – 1991
  • Radiators – 1994
  • In Their Element – 1995
  • Stone – 1995
  • In The Roar – 1997
  • Radiology, The Complete Anthology – 2000
  • Smoke And Mirrors – 2000
  • 25th Anniversary CD – 2004

Other Resources

Known Gigs

Date City Venue
04/08/79 Radiators in Sydney Stagedoor Tavern
+ Jimmy and the Boys, Midnight Oil, The Lonely Hearts
11/08/79 Radiators in Circular Quay Sydney Cove Tavern
+ Outlaw, The Clones
19/10/79 Radiators in Sydney Stagedoor Tavern
+ Matt Finish, The Lonely Hearts
16/12/79 Radiators in Granville (NSW) Granville Showground
21/03/80 Radiators in Moore Park Hordern Pavillion
08/05/80 Radiators in Caringbah Caringbah Inn
+ The Lonely Hearts
09/05/80 Radiators in Fairfield Fairfield Hotel
+ The Lonely Hearts
05/07/80 Radiators in Sydney Chequers
+ Dee Minor, The Lonely Hearts
31/12/80 Radiators in Blacktown Comb And Cutter Hotel
+ The Lonely Hearts
31/01/81 Radiators in Melbourne Bombay Rock
+ The Church, The Lonely Hearts
14/11/81 Radiators in Coogee Selinas – Coogee Bay Hotel
+ The Lonely Hearts
12/01/82 Radiators in Rydalmere Family Inn
+ QV’s, The Lonely Hearts
29/01/83 Radiators in Somersby Narara Music Festival 1983
15/05/83 Radiators in Bankstown Bankstown Paceway
+ The Angels, The Church, The Expression
05/12/85 Radiators in Surfers Paradise Bombay Rock
17/02/90 Radiators in Ermington Ermington Hotel
13/06/99 Radiators in Blacktown, NSW Blacktown RSL Club
The Boys Are Back In Town show.
Choirboys + Matt Finish + Spy Vs Spy + Dee Minor & The Dischords + Outline + The Radiators + Swanee + Zarsoff Bros + Mandrake + Lie Detectors

Subscribe: RSS | iCal

Be Sociable, Share!

{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Attila February 3, 2008 at 12:05 pm

Mark Lucas my drum teacher is AWSOME at the drums i respect him and the Radiators

Radiate on!!

Reply

2 Cate August 7, 2008 at 12:53 am

Brian teaches my daughter in the Choir at the local primary school and he’s playing his songs for the school’s ’80′s night

Brian Rocks!!!

Reply

3 morgan December 22, 2008 at 11:00 pm

my name is morgan and i reckon hit and run is the best song ever made by the radiators its cool

Reply

4 bruce leonard January 27, 2009 at 12:18 pm

Sure came a long way since “The Undecided” @ Bega High School, 1968 !!! Rock on Brian and Fess….

Reply

5 Glenn Morris May 14, 2009 at 2:43 am

I seen them play there first gig together at blacktown civic center,i have since seen them over 300 times ! Even have there name tattooed on my leg.

Reply

6 tracy schipp September 2, 2009 at 9:04 pm

Each time the Radiators came to coffs harbour my friends and I would always go and see them. I missed them this time hopefully they will come back agian.

Reply

7 Kenny Millwood October 22, 2009 at 10:39 am

Keep the rock comin Brian,Fess,Geoff & Marcus see u at Penshurst rsl u will know who I am.

Reply

8 peter February 22, 2010 at 11:18 am

does anyone remember michael stibbard , he used to be a roady for the radiators

Reply

9 Gioia February 22, 2011 at 9:43 am

I remember Michael , no idea where he is now? I remember Gary Maddox too !

Reply

10 SARA March 10, 2010 at 2:03 pm

I LOVE YOU RADIATORS!! COME TO SYDNEY!!!

Reply

11 muzlehoff May 29, 2010 at 6:40 am

followed the Rads up and down the east coast in the early 80′s, pity i dont remember much of it but i’ll never forget it…

Reply

12 briandolly June 28, 2010 at 12:43 pm

second album was called up for grabs, single was roomful of diamonds

Reply

13 Sharon October 29, 2010 at 10:25 pm

I just love this band my kids grow up listening to them and was able to sing the songs way before the understood what the words meant.

Reply

14 Mirella January 27, 2011 at 10:13 pm

Hi does anyone know whatever happened to Chris Tag? I’ve been wondering since 84! Thanks

Reply

15 Ray Esber January 31, 2011 at 10:46 am

Hi Mirella, I see Chris Tag from time to time. He’s a friend of mine. I actually arranged the audition for him with the Rads, he was about 15 at the time.
I was friends with the then manager Grant Hayes who was subsequently replaced by Chris Tag’s brother John.
You can catch Chris jamming at the Prospect hotel on some Sunday afternoons and also @ the Royal Oak hotel @ North Parramatta on the corner of Church & Ross Streets on some Wednesday nights.
Hope this helps.

Reply

16 andy townsend February 1, 2011 at 1:16 pm

hey ray john busst was asking after yopu the other day i have his number to give you etc if ya wamnt it .how you bween?

Reply

17 Ray Esber February 22, 2011 at 3:56 pm

Hi Andy, I been well thanks mate. I was doing sound for the Cockroaches till they disbanded. Now I’m full time carer for mum. I am thinking about putting a 3 piece band together just to break the boredom. What you’ve been up to?

Reply

18 Mirella February 18, 2011 at 9:52 am

Hi Ray, You’re a LEGEND. Thank you so much. =8-)

Reply

19 Ray Esber February 22, 2011 at 3:47 pm

Hi Mirella, Welcome any time :-)

Reply

20 mick kalemusic December 20, 2011 at 9:28 pm

i remember going to see the rads at blacktown rsl managed to get backstage met all the guys and scored a signed live in london tshirt from fess thanx mate your a legend

Reply

21 Suze March 4, 2012 at 10:04 pm

I was fortunate to be at Brian’s birthday gig on Saturday. The boys are stil rock hard, and I am stoked that I was there. Thanks for the memories. Rock on! Suze x x x

Reply

22 Neville April 1, 2012 at 11:30 pm

I have seen the Rads dozens of times and each show was as good as the last going back to 1978. Keep on doing what you guys do the best and what us guys love.

Reply

Leave a Comment

{ 4 trackbacks }

Previous post:

Next post: