Sunnyboys
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 together called Wooden Horse. Richard Burgman completed the original lineup in 1979 when they officially formed Sunnyboys.
They were a high-energy pub rock band that some described as “power pop”. Some see “Pop” as a bad thing but it was meant quite literally. They wrote popular sounding, catchy tunes that really captured the spirit of the Australian music scene in the early eighties. It was rock enough to draw a live crowd and pop enough to be played on the radio. Not a bad combination in my book.
They were the first Sydney band to be signed by Mushroom records and in July 1981 they had their first hit with “Happy Man”.
Members
- Jeremy Oxley – Vocals, Guitar 1980 – 1991
- Peter Oxley – Bass 1980 – 1984
- Richard Burgman – Guitar 1980 – 1984
- Bil Bilson – Drums 1980 – 1984
- Peter Hincenbergs Drums – 1987 – 1989
- Nick Freedman – Guitar 1987 – 1989
- Bill Smith – Bass 1987 – 1989
Recordings
- The Sunnyboys – 1981
- Individuals – 1982
- Get Some Fun – 1984
- Real Live Sunnyboys – 1984
- Days Are Gone – 1985
- Wildcat – 1989
- Play The Best – 1991
- Shakin’ Live 1991 – 1993
- This Is Real – 2004
Known gigs for Sunnyboys
| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 11/09/80 | Kings Cross | Rock garden |
| 27/06/81 | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + The Lonely Hearts | ||
| 27/06/81 | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + The Lonely Hearts | ||
| 14/07/81 | Rydalmere | Family Inn |
| + The Sets | ||
| 03/10/81 | Stroud, NSW | Tanelorn Music Festival 1981 |
| 29/01/84 | Somersby | Narara Music Festival 1984 |
Video’s of the Sunnyboys
Alone with you tonight
Happy Man
Show Me Some Discipline
Had the pleasure of seeing them live but only the once.
I can’t remember the venue but the support band was Sekret Sekret who I actually went to see.
The Sunnyboys were a bonus for me that night, great band!!
have seen the sunny boys a lot. ex husband used to be the sound guy, i always thought they were great.
Who is your husband, and when did he work with The Sunnies?
I heard that the Sunnyboys grew up on the NSW Far North Coast and went to school at Kingscliff High can someone confirm this for me.
I grew up in Sydney and loved their gigs. Now living in NSW FNC.
Yes this is correct
I played guitar with Jeremy and Peter Oxley when they lived at Kingscliff in a band called Foreplay. We used to gig every weekend at the Surfside Hotel in Byron Bay, and at the Port of Call and the Patch, Coolangatta. I mixed the Sunnyboys first gig at Chequers supporting the Lipstick Killers and a few more including the Rock Garden.
Hi Paul,
Are you originally from Narrandera in NSW?
I saw The Sunnyboys live at the St George Sailing Club at Sans Souci in late 1984 (I think the date is close to correct)
Saw the Sunnyboys play at Port Kembla Leagues Club down near Wollongong in mid-80’s. Great concert and even bought one of their printed t-shirts. Still listen to their tracks today. Special moment in time.
That would have been Dec 1, 1984. I was at that show, just turned 18 that day and it was my first time i was (legally) allowed to drink. Awesome show.
[…] Sunnyboys […]
Knew them as young boys at Kingscliff, saw them at Cloudland, supporting, Ian Drury and the Blockheads, fantastic night , early eighties