"I've attracted a load of flack for not being Eric Burdon": Danny Handley on being an Animal

 _{Danny Handley with drummer John Steel. Mandy Tzaras photo.}

WORDS: Robert Brokenmouth
IMAGES: Mandy Tzaras

By now you'll have got over your Blue vs. Red US mid-term election hangover and are looking for a decent band to go and see. Try The Animals.

Despite announcing their 60th anniversary farewell tour two years back, it seems the band - particularly, original Animals member John Steel - seems reluctant to quit, and they're back in Australia for another long string of gigs. You may find this cynical, but the best rock bands are built to play live. Engage with their audience. People tell me how much the Stones love to play live: I call bullshit, they've hardly been a touring band for decades.

For those who still hold out for Eric Burdon, it's worth recalling that in 1960 Steel was a founder member of The Alan Price Combo (with Price, Hilton Valentine and Chas Chandler) who  morphed into The Animals two years later, when Burdon joined from The Pagans. While the band split in 1966, since 1977, on and off, Steel has been playing with or as The Animals/ The Animals and Friends, and since 1993 has rarely been off the road. Seems the man - and his band - are addicted to playing live. 

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• john steel
• australian tour
• danny handley
• the animals and friends

Posthumous "Action Breed" collection shows Italy's Loose were The Real Deal

Action Breed. The Early Stuff Remastered – Loose (self released)

“The best band you’ve never heard of” is an over-used term that needs to be stopped. But not before it’s been applied to Loose. If you’re here for the typical I-94 Bar fare, this long-defunct Italian band will sate your appetite. I shit you not.

It’s obvious that Loose (or sometimes The Loose) were strongly influenced by the Stooges, Radio Birdman and the Visitors. Their logo is a cop from Detroit’s forgotten boys. Just like the Darlinghurst darlings, their high-energy music weds overdriven guitars to keys and aggressive vocals. Throw in generous lashings of New Christs belligerence and you’ll be on the mark.

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• stooges
• new christs
• radio birdman
• actio breed
• loose

Thg Bawdies are back and are ready to party

Japanese beat-soul exponents The Bawdies return to Australia for the second time in two years playing venues much smaller than the stadiums they fill at home.

Formed in Tokyo in 2004 by four lifelong friends, The Bawdies have spent 20 years delivering their explosive take on rock ’n’ roll, rhythm & blues and soul. They’re inspired by legends like Little Richard, the Beatles, The Sonics and Ray Charles, and driven by Roy Watanabe’s unmistakably powerful voice.

From Fuji Rock to Budokan, The Bawdies have a reputation as one of Japan’s most exciting live bands and are touring on the back on a new album, “This Is The Party”. Tickets at toshimaeda.com

• australian tour
• the bawdies

NY Loose's Brijitte West is back with a killer album

Brijitte West and the Greenowskis  - Brijitte West and the Greenowskis (Rum Bar Records)

The Big Apple, in the mid 90's. Four New York City bands — not one, but four — released landmark albums, They were records that seemed destined to propel their respective bands straight over the precipice and into the big time.

Road Vultures were legitimate Thunders swagger and endorsed by Sylvain and Jerry Nolan of The Dolls. Pillbox were equal parts punk, glam and trashy street rock with big hooks, attitude to burn and an originality that saw them burn out way too soon

D-Generation has Jesse Malin out front who was considered by many to be the definitive post punk NYC gutter-glam outfit, with sneering attitude, sharp guitars, huge choruses and the kind of decadence that was all too common 15 years prior… 

And then there was NY Loose, whose 1996 album, “Year of the Rat”, was nothing short of compelling and deserved far more attention than it ever received.

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• rum bar records
• Brijitte West
• NY Loose
• Brijitte West and the Greenowskis

Lost sounds of Waxworks get a second spin

Archives 1987-92 – Waxworks (Vi-Nil Records)

A collection of songs from the long defunct Sydney band Waxworks. If you're unfamiliar with them (as I was, although I'm well acquainted with singer-guitarist Ed Garland) it's probably worth delving into a bit of background about the inner city Sydney scene at the cusp of the 1980s

Much of Sydney still had a post-Birdman hangover with many bands still chasing that sound. There was a smattering of post-punk and of course heavier punk/hardcore bubbling away in the underground, and the emergence of power pop was gaining the attention of critics and punters alike. There were even a number of Paisley-clad ‘60s garage/psych revivalist bands that were quite popular. And of course pub rock was everywhere. 

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• edwn garland
• waxworks
• vi-nil records
• archives 1987-92

Remembering Rilen

Friday marks the 20th anniversary of the passing of Australian musical legend Ian Rilen and the "Raw Tales & True" podcast is marking the occasion with a 90-minute episode about the former X, Rose Tattoo, Hell To Pay, Sardine v and Love Addicts member. 

Host Mat Rawnsley speaks to journalist Clinton Walker, musicians Lucy Desoto and Kim Volkman, and many others about the life of one of Australian music's most colourful characters. Find it here.

• podcast
• ian rilen
• rose tattoo

The Clouds bring the rain but Sunnyboys send us home smiling

Sunnyboys
+ The Clouds
+ vSpy vSpy
+ Mick Medew & The Ursula 4
Roma Street Parkland, Brisbane
Friday October 23, 2026

Words & Pictures: ANGELA EVOL

The Clouds brought the rain, but the Sunnyboys dried things up. And while Brisbane's weather couldn't quite make up its mind on Friday night, there was no uncertainty about the affection this crowd still has for one of Australia's most loved bands.

It was a special one-off show celebrating 45 years since Sunnyboys released their debut album, part of 4ZZZ's ZED51 celebrations, with a line-up that brought together some familiar names from Australian rock.

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• brisbane
• sunnyboys
• jeremy oxley
• the clouds
• 4zzz
• vspy vspy
• mick medew and the ursula 4

Pete Ross and Susy Sapphire deliver a gem

Pete Ross and the Sapphire - Pete Ross and the Sapphire (I-94 Bar Records)

By John Ventoura

“Pete Ross and the Sapphire” is a beautifully produced compilation album released in Sept 2026 by I-94 Bar Records. Just looking at the album cover (artwork by the Propella Agency) provides so much imagery and layers of texture to match the music found within.

It certainly is an eye-catching, simple and cool cover design that opens the door to 10 diverse tracks from the very talented Pete Ross in partnership with life partner Susy Sapphire. The album is a reflection of their punchy, alternative music style on record and live, and mirrors a stage presence honed over 14 years of playing, mainly in Europe.

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• i-94 bar records
• pete ross and the sapphire
• pete ross
• susy sapphire

Tek's own story takes a different flight path

Full Throttle
By Deniz Tek
Picador-Pan Macmillan Australia

Deniz Tek’s autobiographical “Full Throttle” hits the bookshelves at a time when “Retaliate First”, the newest and most detailed story of his most storied band, Radio Birdman, hasn’t yet made it to the remainder bins at Big W.  It joins photographer George Munoz’s lavish coffee table effort, “When The Birdmen Flew”, and Chris Masuak’s “Faith and Practice in Bedlam” which are still available in stores. 

Vivien Johnston's thesis in a biography's dust jacket, "Radio Birdman", was long regarded as the defintive history but is years out-of-print and fetches big bucks on eBay. And while Your ABC still won’t screen “Descent Into The Maelstrom” - still the best rock documentary made in this country despite being disowned by two former band members -  it can be streamed on Apple TV or Prime.

So it’s a crowded dancefloor on which to do The Moving Change.

Tek has taken a different tack to most of those that have gone before. Rather than fixate on Birdman, “Full Throttle” tracks through its author’s time in military aviation and emergency medicine and casts a light on his solo bands and side projects. Appearances by the Birdmen are pre-flight or involve the final line-up and are fleeting. There’s no aggro and any contestable turf or uncomfortable issues are avoided.

The first review of this book to appear online had an issue with "Full Throttle" lacking a coherent narrative. That critque was written by a Nick Cave fan who once described bands that sprang up in Birdman's wake as "oafish".

On balance it probably does help if you know the Radio Birdman back story, but there’s enough meat on this book’s bones to maintain a casual fan's interest. The comment that there isn't enough self-reflection might carry weight, but there's also some surprisingly generous commentary about a former guitar partner who was integral to the Tek comeback album, "Take It To The Vertical".   

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• radio birdman
• deniz tek
• full throttle
• picador-pan macmillan australia