The Urban Guerillas
Encyclopedia
The Urban Guerillas are an Australian pub rock band. Originally formed in Adelaide, the band is currently based in Sydney.
to record and released the song 1984 on their own label, The single sold in enough quantities to attract the attention of George Wayne from Triple J
who invited the band into the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
studios to play live to air. In 1984 they recorded a more pop-oriented single, She's Probably, produced by Adelaide guitarist Mal Eastick from Stars (Australian band)
and producer of the Andy Durant Memorial Concert. This single won numerous favourable reviews around the country and gave the band a boost around Sydney before a membership reshuffle took some time to consolidate the new four-piece line up.The band resurfaced nationally in 1986 with their Borrowed Time EP and an appearance on a nationally televised talent quest Star Search (Australia). During this time the Urban Guerillas played regularly at the Sandringham (Sando) and until Roaring Jack
entered the scene, had held the over-the-bar record of takings at the famous inner west hotel. (The Roaring Jack crowd consistently managed to out-drink the Urban Guerillas punters). The band toured nationally in 1986 mostly headlining but also playing some notable supports with The Saints (band)
, The Hitmen
, the New Christs
and Spy vs Spy (Australian band). In 1987 the band released their signature tune Here Come the Americans. An anthem against the Americanisation of Australian culture. Using a war analogy for the cultural invasion gave the song a literal interpretation that resonated with the peace movement. The song gave the Urban Guerillas a provocative edge and the renewed attention from the media delivered access to the suburban venues. Through various lineup changes the band experimented and consistently fronted up as an energetic and formidable live performance unit until the end of 1987, when after much touring and having all their gear stolen, the Guerillas had imploded.
whilst putting together another three piece. This outfit toured to Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide frequently and the suburban bars in Sydney but their regular work became to an abrupt end when Stewart fell off the drum-kit while playing guitar during a gig in Oatley, breaking his wrist.
However, before the accident the Urban Guerillas had managed to record their first album, Another View, in 1989 with Phil Punch at Electric Avenue studio and released it in 1990 to critical acclaim.
Theatre in 1992. It was immediately recognised and booked for a week of shows at Tumbalong park, Darling Harbour, for the Festival of Sydney 1993. After 30 live shows the Funky Zoo song was nominated for the Australasian Performing Right Association
Children's Song of the Year in 1993.
In 2001 the Urban Guerillas released their Big Brothersingle and began touring interstate. Through 2002 the band extensively toured the outback including regional Northern Territory and South Australia, twice touring the remote outback and desert townships of central Australia including Alice Springs.
to study Antipodean social structure and culture. Over the years, apart from their appearances in hotels and venues throughout Australia, the Urban Guerillas have played at Sydney Airport to 6,000 workers stranded when Ansett Australia
collapsed, Peace Rallies in Sydney and Brisbane, No Racism, No War Rally to 50,000 people in the Domain, Corroboree Sovereignty for indigenous rights at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy
in Canberra, Woomera Immigration Reception and Processing Centre
2002 Festival of Freedoms, May Day
celebrations of workers rights, NAIDOC
celebrations and the Hiroshima Never Again Rally commemorating those who died as a result of the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
. The Urban Guerillas have also played for the M1 Alliance, S11 (protest)
in Melbourne, Greenpeace
, the Australian Conservation Foundation
and the The Wilderness Society (Australia)
and Labor Council of New South Wales
and Rock for Rights to 40,000 at the Sydney Cricket Ground
in 2007. The Urban Guerillas historically played on Cockatoo Island (New South Wales) with Roaring Jack
in 1989 and played on the pickets at Port Botany for the Maritime Union of Australia
in 1998 to support workers at threat of losing their jobs.
waterfront dispute MUA Here to Stay concert. In 2010 the Urban Guerillas performed at the Alistair Hulett
Memorial concert along with a collection of bands and artists that had worked closely with him and Roaring Jack
.
Singles 7”
Albums 12"
CD Singles
CD albums
Beginnings 1981
A tough, punk-influenced band with a fiercely independent streak, The Urban Guerillas was formed in Adelaide in 1980 as a trio with Ken Stewart (guitar/vocals), Terry Burgan (bass/vocals) and John Martin (drums). Terry and John had recently moved to Adelaide from Whyalla. After playing their relentless, driving brand of original pop / punk rock music around Adelaide for a little over two years and releasing two independent cassettes, the band moved to Sydney and seamlessly slotted into the live pub circuit.Sydney 1983-1987
In 1983 they went into Studios 301Studios 301
Studios 301 is an Australian recording studio. Established in 1926, Studios 301 is the longest running professional recording studio in the southern hemisphere. It is also Australia’s largest Studio complex featuring state of the art 72 channel Neve 88R console and 72 channel SSL K Series console...
to record and released the song 1984 on their own label, The single sold in enough quantities to attract the attention of George Wayne from Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
who invited the band into the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
studios to play live to air. In 1984 they recorded a more pop-oriented single, She's Probably, produced by Adelaide guitarist Mal Eastick from Stars (Australian band)
Stars (Australian band)
-Other appearances:-Members:*Glyn Dowding – drums *Malcolm Eastick – guitar, vocals *Mick Pealing – vocals *Graham Thompson – bass guitar *Andrew Durant – guitar...
and producer of the Andy Durant Memorial Concert. This single won numerous favourable reviews around the country and gave the band a boost around Sydney before a membership reshuffle took some time to consolidate the new four-piece line up.The band resurfaced nationally in 1986 with their Borrowed Time EP and an appearance on a nationally televised talent quest Star Search (Australia). During this time the Urban Guerillas played regularly at the Sandringham (Sando) and until Roaring Jack
Roaring Jack
Roaring Jack is an Australian Celtic punk/Folk punk band of the 1980s and 1990s. The band formed in 1985 and played their first shows in Sydney in 1986...
entered the scene, had held the over-the-bar record of takings at the famous inner west hotel. (The Roaring Jack crowd consistently managed to out-drink the Urban Guerillas punters). The band toured nationally in 1986 mostly headlining but also playing some notable supports with The Saints (band)
The Saints (band)
The Saints are an Australian rock band, which formed in Brisbane in 1974 as punk rockers. Founders were Chris Bailey , Ivor Hay , and Ed Kuepper . Alongside mainstay Bailey, the group has had numerous line-ups...
, The Hitmen
The Hitmen
Hitmen are an Australian Hard rock band. The group went through a large number of lineup changes in its short late 1970s and early 1980s run, then regrouped under a new name, Hitmen DTK, between 1989 and 1992. They reformed in 2007 and continue to play....
, the New Christs
New Christs
The New Christs are an Australian rock and roll band, led by Rob Younger, with various lineups through the 80s, 90s, Noughties. Younger was the singer in the influential Australian band Radio Birdman....
and Spy vs Spy (Australian band). In 1987 the band released their signature tune Here Come the Americans. An anthem against the Americanisation of Australian culture. Using a war analogy for the cultural invasion gave the song a literal interpretation that resonated with the peace movement. The song gave the Urban Guerillas a provocative edge and the renewed attention from the media delivered access to the suburban venues. Through various lineup changes the band experimented and consistently fronted up as an energetic and formidable live performance unit until the end of 1987, when after much touring and having all their gear stolen, the Guerillas had imploded.
Another View 1988-1990
In 1988 Stewart played solo in addition to supporting Roaring JackRoaring Jack
Roaring Jack is an Australian Celtic punk/Folk punk band of the 1980s and 1990s. The band formed in 1985 and played their first shows in Sydney in 1986...
whilst putting together another three piece. This outfit toured to Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide frequently and the suburban bars in Sydney but their regular work became to an abrupt end when Stewart fell off the drum-kit while playing guitar during a gig in Oatley, breaking his wrist.
However, before the accident the Urban Guerillas had managed to record their first album, Another View, in 1989 with Phil Punch at Electric Avenue studio and released it in 1990 to critical acclaim.
Funky Zoo
Ken worked with new bass player Phil Paviour to write a children's musical around a song, The Funky Zoo, that Ken had written. Enlisting musicians from other bands that they had played with. Ken assembled a cast and put the Funky Zoo on in Bondi PavilionBondi Pavilion
The Bondi Surf Pavilion in Sydney, Australia, constructed in 1928, is a building of historic significance and has been listed by the Heritage Council. According to the National Trust it "has come to represent the Australian culture of beach bathing and outdoors living"...
Theatre in 1992. It was immediately recognised and booked for a week of shows at Tumbalong park, Darling Harbour, for the Festival of Sydney 1993. After 30 live shows the Funky Zoo song was nominated for the Australasian Performing Right Association
Australasian Performing Right Association
The Australasian Performing Right Association is a copyright collective representing New Zealand and Australian composers, lyricists and music publishers. The association's head offices located in Sydney Australia, and it has branch offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth...
Children's Song of the Year in 1993.
Recording and touring 1995-2002
In 1995 with Just a Lifetime getting airplay, the band again played regularly around Sydney in various line-ups while releasing the Mad in Australia EP CD in 1997 and Carols by Blowtorch and Cloud Above my Head albums in 1999.In 2001 the Urban Guerillas released their Big Brothersingle and began touring interstate. Through 2002 the band extensively toured the outback including regional Northern Territory and South Australia, twice touring the remote outback and desert townships of central Australia including Alice Springs.
Political activism
The Urban Guerillas were chosen to perform at Euro-region Camp 2000 for young Europeans visiting Australia during the 2000 Summer Olympics2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
to study Antipodean social structure and culture. Over the years, apart from their appearances in hotels and venues throughout Australia, the Urban Guerillas have played at Sydney Airport to 6,000 workers stranded when Ansett Australia
Ansett Australia
Ansett Australia, Ansett, Ansett Airlines of Australia, or ANSETT-ANA as it was commonly known in earlier years, was a major Australian airline group, based in Melbourne. The airlines flew domestically within Australia and to destinations in Asia during its operation in 1996...
collapsed, Peace Rallies in Sydney and Brisbane, No Racism, No War Rally to 50,000 people in the Domain, Corroboree Sovereignty for indigenous rights at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy
Aboriginal Tent Embassy
The Aboriginal Tent Embassy is a controversial semi-permanent assemblage claiming to represent the political rights of Australian Aborigines. It is made of a large group of activists, signs, and tents that reside on the lawn of Old Parliament House in Canberra, the Australian capital...
in Canberra, Woomera Immigration Reception and Processing Centre
Woomera Immigration Reception and Processing Centre
The Woomera Immigration Reception and Processing Centre was an Australian immigration detention facility near the village of Woomera in South Australia. It was opened in November 1999 in response to an increase in unauthorised arrivals, which had exceeded the capacity of other detention facilities...
2002 Festival of Freedoms, May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
celebrations of workers rights, NAIDOC
NAIDOC
NAIDOC is an awareness committee and the name of an Australian week of observance lasting from the first Sunday in July until the following Sunday....
celebrations and the Hiroshima Never Again Rally commemorating those who died as a result of the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
During the final stages of World War II in 1945, the United States conducted two atomic bombings against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, the first on August 6, 1945, and the second on August 9, 1945. These two events are the only use of nuclear weapons in war to date.For six months...
. The Urban Guerillas have also played for the M1 Alliance, S11 (protest)
S11 (protest)
S11 refers to a series of protests against meetings of the World Economic Forum on 11, 12 and 13 September 2000 in Melbourne, Australia, where approximately 10,000 people of many ages and a wide cross section of the community were involved. One of the groups involved in the protests called itself...
in Melbourne, Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
, the Australian Conservation Foundation
Australian Conservation Foundation
The Australian Conservation Foundation is an Australian non-profit, community-based environmental organisation focused on advocacy, policy research and community outreach.-History:...
and the The Wilderness Society (Australia)
The Wilderness Society (Australia)
The Wilderness Society is an Australian, community-based, not-for-profit non-governmental environmental advocacy organisation. Its purpose is to protect, promote and restore wilderness and natural processes across Australia for the survival and ongoing evolution of life on Earth.It is a...
and Labor Council of New South Wales
Labor Council of New South Wales
The Labor Council of New South Wales is a representative body of Trade union organisations in the State of New South Wales, Australia. As of 2005 there are 67 unions and 8 Rural and Regional Trades & Labor Councils affiliated to the Labor Council, representing 800,000 workers in NSW...
and Rock for Rights to 40,000 at the Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...
in 2007. The Urban Guerillas historically played on Cockatoo Island (New South Wales) with Roaring Jack
Roaring Jack
Roaring Jack is an Australian Celtic punk/Folk punk band of the 1980s and 1990s. The band formed in 1985 and played their first shows in Sydney in 1986...
in 1989 and played on the pickets at Port Botany for the Maritime Union of Australia
Maritime Union of Australia
The Maritime Union of Australia covers waterside workers, seafarers, port workers, professional divers, and office workers associated with Australian ports. As of 2011 the union has about 13,000 members. It is an affiliate of the International Transport Workers' Federation and represents the...
in 1998 to support workers at threat of losing their jobs.
Outback and regional Australia tour 2006
In October 2006 the Urban Guerillas returned to outback and regional Australia starting from Adelaide and touring to Pimba, Roxby Downs, Coober Pedy, Alice Springs,Oodnadatta, Pt Augusta, Streaky Bay, Iron Knob, Pt Pirie, Leigh Creek, Broken Hill, Cobar and Nyngan, this time aided by funding through a grant from the Federal Government and Music NSW to introduce their Every Generation single.Recent works
The 2007 album ...and the wind brought change was released and in 2008 they played at the 10 years on from the Maritime Union of AustraliaMaritime Union of Australia
The Maritime Union of Australia covers waterside workers, seafarers, port workers, professional divers, and office workers associated with Australian ports. As of 2011 the union has about 13,000 members. It is an affiliate of the International Transport Workers' Federation and represents the...
waterfront dispute MUA Here to Stay concert. In 2010 the Urban Guerillas performed at the Alistair Hulett
Alistair Hulett
Alistair Hulett, was a Scottish acoustic folk singer and revolutionary socialist, best known as the singer of the folk punk band, Roaring Jack.-Early life:...
Memorial concert along with a collection of bands and artists that had worked closely with him and Roaring Jack
Roaring Jack
Roaring Jack is an Australian Celtic punk/Folk punk band of the 1980s and 1990s. The band formed in 1985 and played their first shows in Sydney in 1986...
.
Discography
Cassettes| Year | Album title |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 8 Exploded Hits |
| 1983 | Urban Guerillas |
| 1984 | Take No Prisoners |
Singles 7”
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1983 | 1984 |
| 1984 | Shes Probably |
| 1987 | Here Come the Americans |
| 1989 | Better Than This |
Albums 12"
| Year | Album title |
|---|---|
| 1986 | Borrowed Time |
| 1990 | Another View |
CD Singles
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2001 | Big Brother |
| 2005 | Here Come the Americans Just a Lifetime |
| 2006 | Every Generation |
CD albums
| Year | Album title |
|---|---|
| 1995 | Just a Lifetime |
| 1997 | Mad in Australia |
| 1999 | Cloud Above My Head Carols by Blowtorch |
| 2003 | Soundtrack to the Revolution |
| 2005 | Nukalyptus Surreptitious |
| 2007 | ...and the wind brought change |