The long-awaited anthology of material by Australia’s legendary Lipstick Killers finally arrives on CD and LP on Grown Up Wrong! Records on June 25.
“Strange Flash – Studio & Live ‘78-‘81” as a double-LP will include the original 1979 “Hindu Gods of Love”/”Shakedown USA” single, the posthumous “Sockman/Pensioner Pie’ 45 plus additional studio masters from the same ’78 session; an unreleased album-length 1980 demo session recorded by Australian guitar god Lobby Loyde; and the near-complete LA show that comprised the original live album “Mesmeriser”.
The “Mesmeriser” tracks will add additional tunes and subtract a couple that one band member wasn’t happy with.The set features liner notes by Ugly Things contributor and Grown Up Wrong! Records’Dave Laing, some killer pix and flyers and repro’s of the stunning Lipstick Killers posters designed by highly collectable Sydney poster artist John Foy, and a piece by Byron Coley.
The LPs will be a run of 500 copies on orange vinyl an 500 on black.
The double-CD includes adds a near complete live show recorded in Adelaide in 1978, some of which was released on a handmade cassette by members of the band in the mid-‘80s, and a couple of the tracks of which appeared on a very limited run 45 also released by the band in later years. But a good chunk of it has never been heard - and it is wild.
The reformedDictators - three founding members Andy Shernoff, Ross The Boss and Top Ten, and Albert Bouchard from Blue Oyster Cult - are back with a fun secxiond single from their recent recording sessions. Top Ten has since stood down from the band due to health reasons but "Let's Get The Band Back Together" was recorded before he made his decision.
What did we say about it being high time for a tribute to New Bomb Turks? Just when you think it’s safe to put your PayPal password away, here’s a second collection from Poland-based Heavy Medication.
Label owner and expatriate American, Derrick Ogrodny, first laid ears on the Turks in 1992 and has been loving them ever since: “Almost 30 years later, we’re still finding traces of the Turks’ flamethrower DNA in hundreds of other bands.
“So it’s in their honor we put together an international tribute of bands interpreting their songs, from garage-punk to motorpunk, from speedrock to action rock — and a few surprises too!”
Pre-orders for vinyl or CD editions are open now and here’s the line-up which includes Aussies Aberration and Howlin’ Threads:
Hell Nation Army – “Point A to Point Blank” Poison Heart – “Snap Decision” Aberration – “Rat Feelings” Doojiman & The Exploders – “Automatic Teller” Red Crap – “If I Only Could” Randy Savages – “Leaving Town” Howlin’ Threads – “Professional Againster” Ville Fantome – “Born Toulouse-Lautrec” Flash House – “I’m Weak” Dog Toffee – “Id Slips In” The Satanic Overlords Of Rock ‘N’ Roll – “Tattooed Apathetic Boys” Smalltown Tigers – “Girl Can Help It” Puffball – “Never Will” Moron’s Morons – “Wine & Depression” Jack Saint – “Grounded Ex-Patriot” Tongue Action – “Telephone Numbrrr” Hell Nation Army – “I Want My Baby… Dead ?!” Jet Boys – “Killer’s Kiss”
Link Wray's birthday is looming and all roads lead to Melbourne for the celebrations.
Fifteen months after their last gig, The Wraylettes, will mark the occasion with two storming sets of drinkin', dancin' and listenin' pleasure at The Gem in Collingwood oin May 1. Plus, their buddy DJ Dusty Stylus will be there to unleash a few musical crackers of his own.
Remember when supergroups were a thing? The remarkable musical talents of Gareth Liddiard, Jim White and Chris Abrahams are to be combined, refined and recorded. Merging elements of free-jazz, lyricism, improvisation, avant-garde and experimental noise from three of Australia’s finest music makers for an album due out towards the end of 2021.
The trio will play an exclusive warm-up show at the Brunswick Ballroom in Melbourne on May 12, before heading into the studio.
Chris Abrahams, known for his masterful keyboard playing for avant-garde free jazz trio The Necks, described by the New York Times in 2017 as “the greatest trio on Earth”, has also played with the Laughing Clowns, The Church, The Triffids and Midnight Oil among others.
Jim White plays drums for legends The Dirty Three, “one of the world’s best living bands” according to The Guardian, and fans across the globe. He has also played with names like PJ Harvey, Marianne Faithfull, Cat Power, Bonnie Prince Billy, Smog, Nick Cave, Xylouris White and many others, and is soon to tour nationally as a duo with Ed Kuepper.
Gareth Liddiard is a solo artist and the founding member, singer-songwriter and guitarist of The Drones and sci-fi experimental mud pop group Tropical Fuck Storm, who Iggy Pop described as “nice band” and “a good fuck”.Tickets are on sale from Moshtix.
Hand-Ons/Nunchukka Superfly guitarist, singer-songwriter and much-loved Australian punk-rock icon Peter "Blackie" Black has dropped the first video from his solo album "If This Is The Hand That I'm Dealt”.
The album was released late last year in tandem with another solo record, "I'm Gonna Cheat As Much As I Can". The two albums, when taken together, reveal the breadth of Blackie's pop smarts, the quirkier and heartbroken ends of which can both be heard in "What The Fuck Should I Be Thinking".
The film clip was co-directed by Jonathan Sequeira (director of the acclaimed Radio Birdman documentary "Descent Into the Maelstrom") and his partner in Cheap Music Videos, Wade Jackson. When asked to comment about the video, Jonathan said:
"‘I thought Blackie was joking when he told me about wanting to do the pec dance. But he got it one take so we knew he’d been practising in front of the mirror’.
“That is actually true, but probably not the quote you want.How about:
"'It was great to work with Peter, one of Australia’s best songwriters, and I love the new albums so was keen to do a video. He had a simple idea and really let me run with it, which wasn’t difficult because he gave such a great performance, and it was a lot of fun shooting it.'"
The ghosts of '80s St Kilda will meet the spirit of '71 when Hugo Race - mainman of St. Kilda icons The Wreckery and foundation Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds guitarist - together with his band The True Spirit performs two special shows in April with special guest Steve Lucas of X.
Lucas, whose legendary X called St Kilda home in the late '80s and early '90s, has joined the bill for Race's upcoming L.A Woman 50th Anniversary shows at Theatre Royal in Castlemaine on Saturday 17 April and the Memo Music Hall in St Kilda on Friday April 23.
Hugo and band will be performing The Doors' apocalyptic “L.A. Woman” in its entirety to mark 50 years since its original release in 1971. Steve will open each night, performing a solo set of his favourite tunes from the same year, including selections from the Rolling Stones' ”Sticky Fingers” and Rod Stewart's “Every Picture Tells A Story”.
The reformed Dictators have announjced the sad news that Scott "Top Ten" Kempner is being forced to retire due to ill-health.
The band made the announcement on Facebook overnight, saying the rhythm guitarist and member of the Del-Lords has early stage dementia:
The Dictators are sad to announce that our brother Scott Kempner will be leaving the band due to health reasons. Scott has been diagnosed with early stage dementia, We spoke to him yesterday and he wants everyone to know he is feeling fine.
Our relationship with Scott goes back 50 years. The band was a shared vision and Scott’s sense of rock and roll history and our place in it along with his arrangement and songwriting skills kept us on the right course over the years. We will be forever grateful.
As many of you know, The Dictators recently reformed, Scott’s enthusiasm played a major role in our decision to make music again. We will miss his contributions in the future.
Tony Pola - drummer for Beasts of Bourbon, The Beasts and Kim Salmon and the Surrealists - passed away over the Easter weekend. His wife Katherine Pola made the announcement via a Facebook post.
The West Australian-based drummer (pictured far right with The Surrealists), with bass player, the late Brian Hooper, and Kim Salmon had a reputation as one of Australian music’s most irascible and eccentric characters. He was a founding member of The Surrealists, as well as drummer on the Beasts of Bourbon’s “breakthrough” classic, “The Low Road”.
Bandmate Kim Salmon has launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover the costs of Tony’s funeral. You can make a contribution here. Kim also posted a tribute online:
The long-awaited anthology of material by Australia’s legendary Lipstick Killers finally arrives on CD and LP on Grown Up Wrong! Records on June 25.
What did we say about it being
Link Wray's birthday is looming and all roads lead to Melbourne for the celebrations. 
Remember when supergroups were a thing? The remarkable musical talents of Gareth Liddiard, Jim White and Chris Abrahams are to be combined, refined and recorded. Merging elements of free-jazz, lyricism, improvisation, avant-garde and experimental noise from three of Australia’s finest music makers for an album due out towards the end of 2021. 
The ghosts of '80s St Kilda will meet the spirit of '71 when Hugo Race - mainman of St. Kilda icons The Wreckery and foundation Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds guitarist - together with his band The True Spirit performs two special shows in April with special guest Steve Lucas of X.
The reformed Dictators have announjced the sad news that Scott "Top Ten" Kempner is being forced to retire due to ill-health.
Tony Pola - drummer for Beasts of Bourbon, The Beasts and Kim Salmon and the Surrealists - passed away over the Easter weekend. His wife Katherine Pola made the announcement via a Facebook post.