Radio Birdman | Artist
Radio Birdman is an Australian band formed 1974 in Darlinghurst, Sydney by guitarist Deniz Tek and singer Rob Younger. Also in the original lineup were Pip Hoyle (keyboards), Ron Keeley (drums) and Carl Rorke (bass). Rorke left after a year and was replaced by bassist Warwick Gilbert, and second guitarist Chris Masurak joined in '76. The band came out of the fertile '70s Darlinghurst underground music scene and were one of the first Australian bands to carry the punk label, although their sound was more akin to Detroit garage/proto-punk rockers MC5 and The Stooges. Burn my Eye (EP) came out in '76 and the following year saw the release of their debut album Radio's Appear, recorded at Trafagar Studios and released on the Trafalgar label. The recordings were hailed by many music critics but remained underground classics with no real commercial success. The band was briefly signed to Sire Records who released a new remixed version of Radios Appear in '78. In May 1978, they recorded their second album Living Eyes at Rockfield Studio in Wales. Passed over by Sire, the tapes eventually were released in 1981, after the band's 1978 break-up. The band reformed In 2006, releasing their third studio album Zeno Beach and undertook tours of Aust/NZ, UK and the USA. Outstanding releases include the three studio albums Radios Appear (1977), Living Eyes (1981), and Zeno Beach (2006), plus the live sets Live at Paddington Town Hall 1977 (2014), and Ritualism (1997), and the EPs Burn My Eye (1977) and More Fun! (1989). The 19988 compilation Under the Ashes and 2014's box-set Radio Birdman (1974-1978) are also superb releases. Two different versions of Radio Birdman's classic debut 'Radios Appear' were ussued. The original release (black sleeve) was recorded at Trafalgar studio Sydney, produced by Charles Fisher and John Sayers, and released on the Trafalgar label in 1977 with a pressing of 3,000 copies. After Sire Records signed the band, the original Australian album was 'updated' for overseas release with new versions of some songs, remixing of others and the addition of new songs. The resulting album released in May 1978, which was remastered at Masterdisk in NYC by Joe Gastwirt, is over 50% different from the original Australian version and has a completely different white and black cover leading it to be commonly known as the "White Version." Both versions are essential. Radio Birdman is considered one of the most influential and crucial bands in Australian music history and in 2007 were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
Artist Website: wikipedia/Radio_Birdman
Featured Albums: Radio Birdman
Related Artists: New Race, New Christs, Hitmen, The Visitors, Donovan's Brain, Deniz Tek
