Skyhooks | Artist
Skyhooks were an Australian rock band formed 1973 in Melbourne by mainstays Greg Macainsh (bass, backing vocals) and Imants "Freddie" Strauks (drums). They were soon joined by Bob "Bongo" Starkie (guitar, backing vocals), Red Symonds (guitar, vocals, keyboards), and Steve Hill (lead vocals). Graham "Shirley" Strachan, who had previously been in the band Frame with Macainsh and Strauks but left to become a carpenter and avid surfer, replaced Hill as Skyhooks' lead vocalist in March 1974. At a time In the '70s when no self-respecting new Australian band would dare stand in front of an audience in make-up, glitter, and stacked heels and hope to be taken seriously, Skyhooks decided to parody that side of music rather than follow it. They dressed in an assortment of costumes, but what they wore had nothing to do with the music they performed, which was pure sex, drugs, and rock & roll. Skyhooks addressed issues including buying drugs (Lygon Street Limbo), sex and commitment (Balwyn Calling), the gay scene (Toorak Cowboy) and loss of girlfriends (Somewhere in Sydney) by name-checking hip urban Australian locales. Musically, the band's sound falls somewhere between 70's era pop-rock and bouncy new-wave, with a tight rhythm section, good melodic hooks, and clever lyrics for added spice. Skyhooks had No. 1 albums in Australia with their 1974 debut, Living in the 70's (for 16 weeks), and its 1975 follow-up, Ego is Not a Dirty Word (11 weeks), and pop star status through singles such as "Living in the 70's", "Horror Movie", "Million Dollar Riff" and "Women in Uniform". On the back of their huge popularity in Australia, the band took their music to America, where critics took one look at guitarist Red Symons' Japanese make-up and extended tongue and dismissed them as a copy of the just-arrived Kiss - which was far from the truth. Symons left Skyhooks in 1977 and became a radio and television personality; he was replaced by Bob Spencer, formerly of the band Finch. Strachan left in 1978 to become a radio and television presenter and was replaced by Tony Williams. With altered line-ups, Skyhooks continued until mid 1980, after which the core lineup reconvened for one-off gigs in 1983, 1984, 1990 and 1994. Interest in the band was renewed following the tragic death of singer "Shirley" Strachan who perished in a helicopter crash on August 29, 2001. Within two weeks Skyhooks: The Collection was back in the Top 100. Standout Skyhooks albums include Living in the 70's (1974), Ego is Not a Dirty Word (1975), Straight in a Gay Gay World (1976) and Guilty Until Proven Insane (1978). Also recommended is the 1983 reunion album Live in the 80's. The band name "Skyhooks" came from a fictional organisation in the 1956 black & white cult film Earth vs. the Flying Saucers.
Artist Website: skyhooks-music.com
Featured Albums: Skyhooks
Related Artists: Jo Jo Zep, The Angels, Finch
