The Sunnyboys

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The Sunnyboys

Background information
Origin Flag of Australia Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genre(s) Alternative Rock
Post Punk
Years active 1979 - 1984
1987 - 1989
1991
Label(s) Phantom Records
Mushroom Records
Closer Records (France)
RCA Records
Members
Jeremy Oxley - Guitar, Vocals
Peter Oxley - Bass
Richard Burgman - Guitar
Bill Bilson - Drums

Sydney band The Sunnyboys remain one of the most highly regarded and best-loved bands of the Australian 'post-punk' era. Fronted by the enigmatic and youthful singer/songwriter cum guitarist Jeremy Oxley, the band breathed some freshness and vitality into the Sydney music scene in the early 80s.

Essentially The Sunnyboys wore their influences on their sleeve; The Remains, The Flamin' Groovies, The Kinks and The Beatles with a dash of Detroit muscle thrown in for good measure. They produced melodic power pop classics and were rewarded with an immediate positive response.

Contents

[edit] History

Things happened very quickly for The Sunnyboys, who went from playing inner-city venues to scoring hit singles for the prestigious Mushroom label all within a year of formation. What set the band apart in many ways was Oxley's song writing ability. The chemistry between the four members was perfect too.

The Oxley brothers and Bill Bilson hailed from the northern New South Wales town of Kingscliff where they played in a garage band called Wooden Horse. The band gained early experience when the students of Tweed River High School were obliged to attend a compulsory concert in school hours arranged by the Oxley's father, who was an Art teacher at the school. Anyone who failed to applaud or was in any way unsupportive was awarded detention. Richard Burgman came from Wagga Wagga, and they all met in Sydney in 1979, forming The Sunnyboys. On August 15th 1979, they played their first gig, supporting inner-city faves The Lipstick Killers.

In October of that year the band recorded four songs with Lobby Loyde. The tracks, "Love To Rule", "The Seeker", "What You Need" and "Alone With You", all appeared on the band's self-titled and independently released 4-track 7" EP on Phantom Records. The initial pressing of 1,000 copies sold out in two weeks.

The Sunnyboys signed to Mushroom Records early in 1981, becoming the first Sydney-based band on the label, and by July that year had cracked the mainstream charts with the single "Happy Man". The same month they released their own independent EP which was given away at gigs, entitled Happy Birthday containing the tracks "What You Need", "Why Do I Cry?", "I Want To Be Alone" and "Let You Go". Their eponymous debut LP, was recorded at Alberts Studio during May, June and July 1981 with producer/mentor Lobby Loyde. The album had an initial print run of 2,000 on yellow vinyl, reached number 13 on the national album charts in October 1981 and remains an Australian classic. The album produced a second hit single, a new version of "Alone With You", which reached number 15 on the national singles chart, establishing The Sunnyboys as a bona fide headline attraction.

In the midst of their heavy touring schedule the band recorded their second album, Individuals (issued May 1982). The album peaked at number 19 and two singles from the record charted briefly: "You Need A Friend" and "This Is Real".

Their fifth single, "Show Me Some Discipline" charted in Sydney only. The band meanwhile travelled to the United Kingdom where they played two sold out shows at the famous Marquee Club before recording their 3rd album at Ridgefarm Studios, Surrey. The resultant album, Get Some Fun displayed a greater diversity and more confident musicianship. To coincide with the album's release, the band embarked on their first national Australian tour since May 1983. Unfortunately, neither the LP or the singles from the album ("Love In A Box" and "Comes As No Surprise") charted strongly enough.

Internal dissent also plagued the band (mainly due to the increasingly erratic behaviour of Jeremy Oxley, who was finally diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia) and The Sunnyboys announced their break-up in June 1984. Their farewell tour produced the album Real Live which was recorded over two nights in Sydney (29th and 30th June).

In 1985, the French label Closer combined The Sunnyboys' first two albums as a double set entitled Days Are Gone for the European market. Following the demise of The Sunnyboys, Jeremy Oxley launched a new band called Chinless Elite. Shortly thereafter he formed another (and more successful) group, called The Fishermen. This band released one brilliant pop single entitled "Can't You Stop?" on the Waterfront label before calling it a day.

Richard Burgman meanwhile joined The Saints and ultimately Weddings Parties Anything. He later emigrated to Canada. Peter Oxley and Bill Bilson formed the soul band The Sparklers with another Oxley sibling, Melanie.

In late 1987, Jeremy Oxley attempted to revive The Sunnyboys with a new line-up. The new band signed a deal with RCA and released an album entitled Wildcat (produced by ex-Sherbert keyboard player, Garth Porter). The album failed to convince old Sunnyboys fans and the band broke up again in 1990.

In July 1991, Mushroom released the compilation album Plays The Best and the original line-up reunited for a national tour.

[edit] Members (1980-1984, 1991)

[edit] Members (1987-1989)

  • Jeremy Oxley - guitar, vocals
  • Nick Freedman - guitar
  • Peter Hincenbergs - drums
  • Bill Smith - bass

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

The Sunnyboys
Mushroom Records
(1981)
Individuals
Mushroom Records
(May 1982)
Get Some Fun
Mushroom Records
(1984)
Real Live Sunnyboys
Mushroom Records
(1984)
Days Are Gone
Closer Records
(1984)
Wildcat
RCA Records
(1989)
Plays The Best
Mushroom Records
(July 1991)
Shakin: Live August 1991
Phantom Records
(1992)
This Is Real: Singles/Live/Rare
Feel Presents/Shock Records
(20 September 2004)

[edit] EPs

The Sunnyboys
Independent/Phantom Records
Happy Birthday
Independent

[edit] Singles

  • Happy Man/Tomorrow Will Be Fine - Mushroom K8335 (June 1981)
  • Alone With You/Stop And Think; To The Bone - Mushroom K8476 (Oct 1981)
  • You Need A Friend/No Love Around - Mushroom K8683 (May 1982)
  • This Is Real/Pain - Mushroom K8832 (Aug 1982)
  • Show Me Some Discipline/Guts Of Iron - Mushroom K9142 (June 1983)
  • Love In A Box/Physical Jerk - Mushroom K9363 (Feb 1984)
  • Comes As No Surprise/Bottom Of My Heart - Mushroom K9422 (May 1984)
  • Too Young To Despair/Changing - RCA 104988 (Dec 1988)
  • Sinful Me/Baby Did Leave - RCA 105058 (June 1989)
  • Sad Girl/Sad Girl (live) - RCA 105090 (Aug 1989)
  • Sorrow Is Mine/New Confusions - RCA 105122 (Oct 1989)

[edit] Trivia

In 2007 Tich Lange released a hip-hop version on the Hardrush label of the classic "Alone With You" as "I'm Alone Wid U" mentioning Bruce McAvaney's favourite term "special" in one of the first verse as the best amongst others.

[edit] External links