GUIDE TO THE RADIO BIRDMAN ARCHIVE IN THE POWERHOUSE MUSEUM Prepared by JESSICA McLEAN 2009 CONTENTS Administrative history Series List Series Descriptions COLLECTED ARCHIVES ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY Registration Number: 2006/157/13 Creator: Radio Birdman Radio Birdman formed in Sydney in late 1974. The original band line-up consisted of former members of the bands TV Jones and The Rats. Former members of TV Jones were Deniz Tek (guitar, vocals), and Pip Hoyle (keyboards). Former Rats were Rob Younger (vocals); Ron Keeley (drums); and Carl Rourke (bass) (Rourke was soon replaced by Warwick Gilbert, also formally of The Rats). Radio Birdman's main influences were bands from the United States of America such as the MC5, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, the New York Dolls, Blue Oyster Cult and the Velvet Underground. The band's early live performances reflected these influences, with set lists including covers of songs by these bands, as well as original compositions by Tek, such as 'Man with a Golden Helmet' (which had originally been performed by TV Jones). By the end of 1975 Radio Birdman had established a solid fan base, winning the 'RAM' ('Rock Australia Magazine')/Levi's Punk Band Thriller contest, and securing a residency at the Oxford Tavern, Taylor Square, Darlinghurst. This residency eventually led to the band and their manager George Kringas effectively taking over the venue, organising gigs (booking bands such as the Saints and the Hellcats), and renaming it the Oxford Funhouse. This same year saw a change in the band's line-up, with Hoyle leaving the band (although he would later return in mid 1977), and the addition of a third guitarist, with Chris Masuak joining the band. In October 1976 Radio Birdman released their debut recording, the EP 'Burn My Eye', which was recorded at Trafalgar Studios, Annandale. The record was a limited private pressing which originally could be purchased only by mail order from the Radio Birdman Fan Club, through an advertisement in 'RAM'. Along with The Saints' '(I'm) Stranded', 'Burn My Eye' is credited as one of the first independently released records in Australia. In the same months, the band toured extensively throughout Sydney and New South Wales on their 'Blitzkrieg' tour, having to fit their shows around the schedules of Tek and Hoyle, who were both studying medicine at university. In July 1977 Radio Birdman released their first LP, 'Radios Appear', which included the single 'New Race' (with Hoyle re-joining the band soon after the release). Before the release Radio Birdman toured Melbourne in March for their 'Radios Appear' tour. Tours after the release of the LP included the 'Rock and Roll Soldiers' tour in August, shows in Adelaide during September and November, and a 'Goodbye' tour in December. Also in 1977, Radio Birdman signed to Sire Records (Seymour Stein, then the head of Sire, decided to sign Radio Birdman after witnessing them perform at the Oxford Funhouse). In February 1978 Radio Birdman relocated to the United Kingdom. Soon after this, Sire put out an international release of 'Radios Appear', which included remixed and rerecorded versions of songs from the original release of the album, as well as some new material. While in the United Kingdom, Radio Birdman played regularly in London throughout March and April of 1978 on their 'Anglo Strike' tour. The band then recorded their second album, 'Livings Eyes', at Rockfield Studios in Monmoth, Wales (a record which was belatedly released by WEA in 1981). During the recording of the album Radio Birdman were dropped by Sire, but despite this setback the band toured Europe and the United Kingdom in May and June, ending the tour with a show at Oxford University on 10 June 1978. After this, due to factors such as fatigue, financial stress and tensions between band members , the band parted ways. After Radio Birdman's initial break up, the members of the band remained active in the Australian music scene, often still performing together in bands such as the Comrades of War (a one-off performance in August 1979, when band members performed without Younger), The Visitors (Tek, Hoyle, Keeley), The Hitmen (Masuak, Gilbert), and New Race (a one-off band featuring Tek, Younger and Gilbert with Dennis Thompson of the MC5 and Ron Asheton of the Stooges). Other notable post-Radio Birdman acts include the Other Side (Younger), the New Christs (Younger), and Deniz Tek's solo work (including the Deniz Tek group). Registration Number: 2006/157/13 Creator: Radio Birdman Radio Birdman reformed in 1996 - the first time since their initial break up - touring Australia and performing as part of the line-up of the Big Day Out music festival. They also released a live album titled 'Ritualism' in the same year. Since then they have remained active on and off again, touring occasionally (both nationally and internationally). 2002 saw the release of the 'Essential Birdman' compilation, released through Sub Pop records, as well as a national tour (with Jim Dickson replacing Warwick Gilbert on bass). In 2006 Radio Birdman released 'Zeno Beach' (with Russell Hopkinson, of You Am I, replacing Ron Keely, who had left the band in 2004, on drums), a self-financed album produced by Tek. In January 2007 the band was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame and toured nationally with the Hoodoo Gurus later in the same year. Sources: Vivien Johnson, 'Radio Birdman', Sheldon Booth, 1992 Ian McFarlane, 'The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop', Allen & Unwin, 1999 NKVD Records, 'Radio Birdman part 1', http://www.nkvdrecords.com/radiobirdman2001.htm, and 'Radio Birdman part 2', http://www.nkvdrecords.com/radiobirdman2002.htm, (both accessed 10 September 2008) Jessica McLean, Project Archivist 4 May 2009 COLLECTED ARCHIVES SERIES LIST Creator: Radio Birdman Reg. Number Series Title Date 2006/157/13-1 Audio Records 1976 - 1982 2006/157/13-2 Photographs 1972 - 1993 2006/157/13-3 Fan Mail 1976 - 1978 2006/157/13-4 Fan Club Ephemera 1976 - 1978 2006/157/13-5 Miscellaneous Material 1974 - 2004 COLLECTED ARCHIVES SERIES DESCRIPTION Registration Number: 2006/157/13-1 Creators: Radio Birdman Series Title: Audio Records Date Range: 1976 - 1982 Physical Characteristics: Vinyl records in cardboard slip covers (two with inner-sleeves) Description: Audio records (3), Radio Birdman and various artists, Trafalgar Records Pty Ltd / Davro / WEA Records Pty Limited, Australia, 1976 - 1982 This series consists of three Radio Birdman recordings: 'Burn My Eye' (EP, Radio Birdman's first release, 1976); 'Eureka! Birdman' (LP, live bootleg, 1977); and 'Soldiers of Rock 'n' Roll: an audio documentary of Radio Birdman' (LP, 1982). Arrangement: Chronological Dimensions: Shelf Length 0.015 m Box Number: F1 COLLECTED ARCHIVES ITEM LIST Series Title: Audio Records Item Number Item Title Box 2006/157/13-1/1 Audio record, EP, 45rpm, with cover, 'Burn My Eye', Radio F1 Birdman, vinyl/paper, Trafalgar Records Pty Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1976 'Burn My Eye' was Radio Birdman's first release and was a limited private pressing which could only be purchased by mail order through music street press such as 'RAM' ('Rock Australia Magazine'). Along with The Saints' '(I'm) Stranded', 'Burn My Eye' is credited as one of the first independently released records in Australia. The record cover art was designed by Radio Birdman bass player Warwick Gilbert. It features a black and white image of the band playing at the Bondi Lifesavers club (taken by Brian Bolton), and the Radio Birdman symbol (which was designed by Deniz Tek). The track listing for side one is: 1. 'Smith and Wesson Blues'; 2. 'Snake'. The track listing for side two is: 1. '1-94'; 2. 'Burned my eye'. 2006/157/13-1/1/1 Audio record, EP, 45rpm, 'Burn My Eye', Radio Birdman, F1 vinyl, Trafalgar Records Pty Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1976 Black vinyl record with song titles printed on sticker in centre of record. 2006/157/13-1/1/2 Record cover, 'Burn My Eye', Radio Birdman, paper, Trafalgar F1 Records, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1976 Cardboard slip cover with production and content details printed on reverse. 2006/157/13-1/2 Audio record, LP, with cover and inner sleeve, 'Eureka! F1 Birdman', Radio Birdman, vinyl/paper, Davro, Australia, 1977 'Eureka! Birdman' is a live bootleg LP which was recorded at the Eureka Hotel in Geelong on 3 November 1977 and is credited as the first live bootleg of an Australian band. The album cover art is taken from a Radio Birdman tour poster which was designed by the band's bass player Warwick Gilbert for their 'Rock and Roll Soldiers' tour of Victoria in 1977. The track listing for side one is: 1. 'Your gonna miss me'; 2. 'Burned my eye'; 3. 'Death by the gun'; 4. 'Let the kids dance'; 5. 'L.A. Woman'; 6. 'T.V. Eye'. The track listing for side two is: 1. 'Aloha Steve & Danno'; 2. 'More fun'; 3. 'California sun'; 4. 'King of the surf'; 5. 'Kick out the jams'; 6. '1970'; 7. 'New race'. 2006/157/13-1/2/1 Audio record, LP, 'Eureka! Birdman', Radio Birdman, vinyl, F1 Davro, Australia, 1977 Black vinyl record with blank maroon paper label in centre. Item Number Item Title Box 2006/157/13-1/2/2 Record cover, 'Eureka! Birdman', Radio Birdman, paper, F1 Davro, Australia, 1977 Cardboard slip cover with production and content details printed on reverse. 2006/157/13-1/2/3 Inner sleeve, 'Eureka! Birdman', Radio Birdman, paper, Davro, F1 Australia, 1977 2006/157/13-1/3 Audio record, LP, with cover and inner sleeve, 'Soldiers of Rock F1 'n' roll: an audio documentary of Radio Birdman', Radio Birdman and various artists, vinyl/paper/plastic, WEA Records Pty Limited, Australia, 1982 'Soldiers of Rock 'n' Roll' is an audio documentary about Radio Birdman, narrated by M.A.