Hoodoo Gurus just come up with the best way to keep Australian music fans entertained. Hoodoo Gurus will unveil an untitled “homemade” mini-documentary on the band’s YouTube channel. The 37-minute documentary will be available to view . According to the band, December 31st marks the 40th anniversary of Hoodoo Gurus‘ genesis (originally known as Le Hoodoo Gurus). It was at a Sydney New Year’s Eve party in 1980 where Dave Faulkner, Kimble Rendall and Rod Radalj decided to form a band (drummer James Baker became part of that plan months later when he moved to Sydney).
Faulkner announced the documentary, writing: “It’s really just a couple of Zoom conversations I had with Kimble and Rod, firstly, and then James a week later (James was unable to join us all for the first one). I intercut those two Zoom chats together and tried to piece together the story of the band during those heady days of 1981 and ’82.”
He also warned, “It’s a bit long-winded in places but, hell, it’s free and it’s the unvarnished truth – or as best as we can remember it.” Faulkner was a recent arrival in Sydney in 1980. He’d spent time in the US catching the Cramps, Fleshtones, Johnny Thunders and others following the demise of the now-legendary Perth-based punk band the Victims, the band he and James Baker had formed in 1977, and a short stint in the Manikins. Radalj had also already been in a band with Baker – the also-legendary Scientists whose split in the early months of ’81 precipitated Baker’s move to Sydney. Kimble Rendall had recently played with Sydney pop-culture punks XL Capris, best known for their version of Channel 7’s nightly sign-off song ‘My City of Sydney’.
Faulkner explained that he will make it available for 36 hours so that “wherever you are in the world, you can relive that New Year’s Eve with us from 40 years ago as we all get ready for the arrival of 2021.”
The Gurus’ ended the last year of the third decade of existence with the recent Double A-side 7″ vinyl release of their latest two singles, ‘Get Out of Dodge’/’Hung Out To Dry’, and are gearing up for a massive 2021. Power pop is back! The Hoodoo Gurus new single featuring Vicki Peterson (The Bangles) and John Cowsill (The Cowsills / The Beach Boys) on backing vocals.
