Short Biography
The mighty Hoodoo Gurus released their ninth studio album Purity Of Essence in April 2010 and to mark this auspicious occasion they have been doing what they do best: hitting the road and performing like they have done for many a decade, exciting fans across the globe with a live show to rock you to your core and leave you aching for more!
The Gurus kicked off the ‘Purity of Essence' National Tour in WA in April this year and played to massive sold out shows around the country in all capital cities throughout April and May. After the success of a sold out tour, they have decided to head back out on the road for July, August and September to hit regional cities in Tassie, Victoria, QLD, NSW, WA and NT!
The Gurus exist in their own time and space. They have been a part of the Australian music psyche since they brought us classic songs like ‘Tojo', ‘My Girl' and ‘I Want You Back' from the Stoneage Romeos-era and from Mars Needs Guitars' ‘Bittersweet', ‘Death Defying' or ‘Like Wow - Wipeout!'. Throw in ‘1000 Miles Away', ‘Waking Up Tired' and ‘The Right Time', and more than 100 other songs they have written, recorded and played that have meant something to someone some time and there is no denying that on record or live, they ARE Oz rock royalty.
Dave Faulkner and his band mates, guitarist Brad Shepherd, bassist Rick Grossman and drummer Mark Kingsmill, have been going strong, again, since reuniting in late-2003 after almost six years apart.
The Gurus new album is by all accounts, one of the best to date and on the July/August tour they will be showcasing the new tracks from the album and of course, playing the Hoodoo Gurus classics we all know and love....which makes for one hell of a cracking live show!
In-depth Biography
Like most bands, Australia's Hoodoo Gurus were largely the product of their influences; unlike most bands, however, the Hoodoos channeled their inspiration from the vast entirety of the American pop cultural landscape, drawing on such disparate sources as B-movies, bad sitcoms, and junk food -- in tandem with the usual suspects like garage rock, power pop, and surf -- to create a distinctly kitschy and catchy sound. Formed in Sydney in 1981, Le Hoodoo Gurus (as they were originally dubbed) were led by singer/songwriter Dave Faulkner, who along with drummer James Baker previously served as a member of the short-lived Perth punk unit the Victims (best known for the autobiographical single "Television Addict"). Ex-Scientist Rod Radalj and Kimble Rendall rounded out the group's initial lineup, and their unique sound (three guitars, no bass) -- along with Faulkner's infectious songs -- quickly earned them a record deal. After issuing the 1982 debut single "Leilani," both Radalj and Rendall quit, and were replaced by former Super-K guitarist Brad Shepherd and bassist Clyde Bramley.
In 1983, the Hoodoo Gurus (having dropped the French article) recorded their excellent debut record, Stoneage Romeos; dedicated to luminaries like F-Troop's Larry Storch and Green Acres' pig Arnold Ziffel, the album offered such trash-pop treats as the single "I Want You Back," "In the Echo Chamber," and "I Was a Kamikaze Pilot." Mark Kingsmill replaced Baker in 1985, leaving Faulkner the band's sole founding member. He responded by writing an even stronger batch of tunes for 1985's college radio smash Mars Needs Guitars!, an album highlighted by the superb single "Bittersweet" and marked by a widening scope that touched base with demented hillbilly humor ("Hayride to Hell") and crazed surf ("Like Wow -- Wipeout").
With 1987's Blow Your Cool, the Hoodoos appeared poised for the big time; their tourmates, the Bangles, even contributed to the singles "What's My Scene" and "Good Times." However, the album failed to register beyond alternative radio, and Bramley exited, replaced by onetime Divinyl Rick Grossman. Released in 1989, Magnum cum Louder didn't fare much better -- although the singles "Come Anytime," "Another World," and "Baby Can Dance" all garnered significant airplay -- while 1991's Kinky featured "Miss Freelove '69," a smirking look at flower-power romance that was the latest in a long line of near hits. After a three-year hiatus, the Hoodoo Gurus returned with the harder-edged Crank, produced by Ed Stasium; Blue Cave followed in 1996.
In 1998, the Gurus announced they were splitting up, and the career-spanning compilation Ampology was issued in 2000. Two years later, Dave Faulkner, Brad Shepherd, and Mark Kingsmill were working together again as members of the garage-influenced the Persian Rugs, and in 2004, after Faulkner had reworked "What's My Scene" from Blow Your Cool as a theme song for an Australian football team, the band reunited (with Rick Grossman returning on bass), staging a successful tour down under and releasing a new album, Mach Schau. In 2009 the Hoodoo Gurus inked a deal with Sony Music Australia, resulting in their ninth full-length album, 2010's Purity of Essence. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi
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