Hoodoo Gurus In Shock Football Group Sex Media Furore

This should make no sense at all to overseas readers but here's the link to the transcript of Australia's national broadcaster's flagship news radio program and what went to air this morning. Like Wow, Wipeout.

The Midwife of Australian rock and roll

That's Roddy Raydalj, ex-Scientists, Le Hoodoo Gurus, Johnnys, Dubrovniks and anything else that was worthwhile in the Australian musical underworld of the '70s and '80s. Patrick Emery has a superb interview with the man here.

Now, this is clever...

How do you put together a flimclip for Hoodoo Guru Dave Faulkner playing with The Master Plan (whose pedigree is the Fleshtones via the Dictators) when the principals are spread around the world? Like this:

Thanks to Lindsay Hutton of The Next Big Thing for being ahead of the pack with the heads-up, as usual.

Do Some More Pop

More news from the Shock Records camp (the desk of Dave Laing, actually) and you know you're going to need this:

DO THE POP! REDUX CONFIRMED FOR DECEMBER!
Acclaimed collection of '70s/80s Australian Punk & Garage Rock to return in new 3-part series, while classic '81 & '82 albums from the great post-Radio Birdman/pre-Hoodoo Gurus band get the deluxe treatment.

2002's acclaimed collection 'Do The Pop! The Australian Garage Rock Sound 1976-67' returns in October on Savage Beat! Records though Shock under the name 'DO THE POP! REDUX'. Like the original collection - which received substantial acclaim internationally, including a full page feature review in 'Mojo' and a rave review from David Fricke in American Rolling Stone - the new set differentiates itself from other Australian punk and post-punk collections by following the unique high energy rock'n'roll sound that spewed forth here in the late '70s and '80s, following the lead of Radio Birdman and The Saints. The new project will be spread over 3 new double discs each released two/three months apart, and is set to feature over 150 tracks, none of which appeared on the original set in 2002 .

'DO THE POP! REDUX Part One' will kick off with the first ever CD release of a rare track from Deniz Tek's pre-Radio Birdman outfit TV JONES before showcasing THE SAINTS and BIRDMAN themselves (Birdman are profiled with the album's title track as well as a rare live track from one of their legendary Paddington Town Hall shows). Punk era acolytes including THE PSYCHO SURGEONS, THE SURVIVORS, THE VICTIMS, JOHNNY DOLE & THE SCABS and RAZAR follow, as do X, perhaps the only Australian band of the original punk era whose reputation rivals that of Birdman and the Saints in some quarters.

Part One then proceeds to revel in the rock'n'roll spirit that took hold in Australia at the turn of the decade, at the very time the rest of post-punk world was proclaiming rock dead. THE SCIENTISTS, THE FUN THINGS, THE SUNNYBOYS, THE LIPSTICK KILLERS are amongst the bands of this period, as are Birdman offshoots including THE HITMEN, THE VISITORS and NEW RACE. Rare tracks from Brisbane's THE 31st (fronted by Ron Peno) and Perth's ROCKETS will also be featured. Melbourne fans will be happy to note that their hometown, which wasn't represented on the original set because of its narrower focus, is represented by a number of punk era bands, including BABEEZ, THE CHOSEN FEW and even the legendary REALS, featuring Garry Gray, Chris Walsh and Ollie Olsen, recordings of whom have never previously seen the light of day.

Volumes 2 & 3 will follow, covering the multi-faceted garage rock scene of the 80s as it explodes out of Sydney and takes hold around the country, and ultimately around the world. Expect killer tracks from a range of bands big and small - from THE HOODOO GURUS, GAS BABIES and WET TAXIS to THE JOHNNYS, CELIBATE RIFLES and SPIKES -all of whom drew heavily on the influence of 60's and 70's garage and punk rock.

Teenage Head in San Fran

The Hoodoo Gurus are joined for the last date of their US tour on "Teenage Head" in San Francisco on July 31 by none other than ex-Flamin' Groovies member Cyril Jordan. No sign of Roy Loney but this is enjoyable all the same.