Bands – S
Summer Love: Sherbet’s 1975 Pop Hit That Owned the Australian Charts
In 1975, Sherbet released Summer Love, a pop burst that topped Australia’s charts for two weeks. Out on EMI Records, it was penned by Garth Porter and Clive Shakespeare, charting for 23 weeks and landing at No. 8 for the year. It bumped Bob Hudson’s The Newcastle Song and bowed to Pilot’s January. A Sydney-bred…
Read MoreI Got You: Split Enz’s New Wave Rise in 1980
In 1980, Split Enz released I Got You, a song that turned a simple riff into an eight-week No. 1 reign in Australia. Out on Mushroom Records (K 7759), it was Neil Finn’s breakout, written from a Tim Finn title, produced by David Tickle, and paired with Noel Crombie’s oddball video. It ruled charts and…
Read MoreHorror Movie: Skyhooks’ Glam Slam That Defined 1975 Australia
When Skyhooks released Horror Movie in 1974, it wasn’t just a song—it was a glitter-bombed jab at the telly that topped Australia’s charts. Out on Mushroom Records (K-5753), it hit No. 1 on March 31st, ’75, for two weeks, with a 27-week run. Written by bassist Greg Macainsh and produced by Ross Wilson, it launched…
Read MoreSkeleton Crew – Propaganda
Way back in 1986 I was the sound engineer for Bandanna. Their manager was a guy called Steve Rondo who owned the “Rock Depot” rehearsal studio in Liverpool. Steve would keep an eye out for good up and coming bands to use as support acts for Bandanna and that’s how I first met the folks…
Read MoreSwanee (John Swan) Smithfield RSL – Australia Day -26th Jan 2013
I had seen John growing up a few times. I saw John was playing at Smithfield- I had always wanted to go and film/photograph there and also to film all the musicians I grew up seeing, including John Swan. I sent a friends request to John on face book and then asked could I film,…
Read MoreSherbet
Sherbet was a band I didn’t rate very highly for a while until I saw them live. I suppose they were considered a little bit lightweight if you only went on the stuff the radio was playing but when you saw them live, they were the real deal. Great musicians, well-written songs and a brilliant…
Read MoreSunnyboys
Sunnyboys were a Sydney based band which went through a number of active periods from 1980-1984, 1987-1989 & again in 1991. I have to admit that I never actually saw them which is unusual given how popular they were at the time. Jeremy Oxley, Peter Oxley and Bil Bilson had played in a garage band…
Read MoreSkyhooks
Skyhooks smash hit single Horror Movie was one of the first 45’s I ever bought with my own money. I still have it!They were glam rock at it’s best. Well written, catchy songs, performed beautifully by skilled showmen. It had everything a young westie lad like myself loved. Formed in Melbourne in early 1973, they…
Read MoreJohnny Dole & The Scabs
Short and Sweet! – This probably best describes the life of Johnny Dole & The Scabs. Johnny Dole & The Scabs were one of the first Punk Rock bands in Australia, they played live and recorded in Sydney during 1977 – 1979. THE BEGINNING In early January 1977, The Strays were looking for a new…
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