Supernaut (Australian band)

Supernaut
Also known as The Nauts
Origin Perth, Australia
Genres Glam rock, glam punk, punk rock, new wave
Years active 1974–1980, 2007
Labels Polydor Records
Wizard Records
Associated acts Illustrated Man
The Saints
Twenty Flight Rockers
Knock-Out Drops
The Honeydippers
Speedtwinn
The International Swingers
Past members Gary Twinn
Chris Burnham
Joe Burnham
Randall Murphy
Philip Foxman
Noel Kennedy

Supernaut were an Australian glam/punk rock band from Perth, Australia.[1] Formed in 1974 by British immigrants Gary Twinn and brothers Chris and Joe Burnham,[2][3] their high points were an Australian No.5 single with an award winning video and a Christmas No.1 album in 1976.[4]

Career

Supernaut were signed to Polydor Records upon a recommendation from Ian "Molly" Meldrum (in turn tipped off by Paul McCartney).[5] They entered the Australian charts at no.16 on July 1976 with the single "I Like It Both Ways".[6][7][8] The song was banned by most commercial radio stations because of its controversial lyrics, but strong TV performances on Countdown and Bandstand forced radio to give in to public pressure and "I Like It Both Ways" hit the Number 5 spot on most Australian charts (and Number 1 on the Bandstand Top Ten).[4] A follow up hit, "Too Hot To Touch",[9][10] came in November 1976, reaching No.14 on the charts.[11] Their self titled debut album was a Christmas hit, achieving double gold sales.[12][13][14]

The group was presented with two TV Week King of Pop awards for best new band and best video performance of 1976.[5][15]

In 1977 the band released two original songs entitled "Young and Innocent"[16][17][18] and "The Kids are Out Tonight,"[19][20][21] and a cover of "Let's Spend the Night Together" originally by The Rolling Stones.[22][23] A year later, they released one more single, "Unemployed",[24][25] before leaving Polydor.

Signing to Robie Porter’s Wizard Records in 1978 they opted back to their original punk influences and became The Nauts.[26] They released "Spies"[27][28] and "Black Market World"[29] as means to promote a new album (produced by Robie Porter) under the new name in 1979.[30][31] They disbanded in early 1980. Two years later Gary Twinn formed Twenty Flight Rockers with former Generation X drummer Mark Laff,[32][33][34] and now plays with rock supergroup The International Swingers.[35] Chris Burnham went on to play in The Saints with Chris Bailey from 1982 and 1989.[36][37] Philip Foxman formed Illustrated Man in 1984 and recorded one album.[38] He currently has a solo career.

Supernaut reformed for the Countdown Spectacular 2 Tour of Australia from late-August to early-September 2007.[39]

Members

Discography

Albums
Year Title AUS Label
1976 Supernaut 1 Polydor
1979 The Nauts - Wizard
Singles
Year Title AUS

Kent

 AUS

Scanes

 Label
1976 "I Like It Both Ways" b/w "Lightning" 16 5 Polydor
1976 "Too Hot To Touch" b/w "Lick My Lolly" 14 19 Polydor
1977 "Let's Spend the Night Together" b/w "Space Angel" - - Polydor
1977 "Young and Innocent" b/w "Goodbye" 40 - Polydor
1977 "The Kids are Out Tonight" b/w "Why?" 44 - Polydor
1978 "Unemployed" b/w "Exile" 80 - Polydor
1979 "Spies" b/w "Misfits" (as The Nauts) - - Wizard
1979 "Black Market World" b/w "I Don't Wanna Be Like You" (as The Nauts) - - Wizard
Others

Chart information from Barnes, Dyer & Scanes - The Book 2nd Edition 1956-1985.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://australianmusichistory.com/supernaut/
  2. ↑ Noel McGrath's Australian encyclopaedia of rock, p. 314
  3. ↑ Supernaut
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Philip Foxman. "Supernaut 1976 - 1980". Retrieved 2015-02-23.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Michael Smith (2007-08-14), The Power of Countdown, Drum Media Magazine, p. 38
  6. ↑ Supernaut - I Like It Both Ways
  7. ↑ http://www.45cat.com/record/2079082
  8. ↑ http://www.australianmusicdatabase.com/recordings/i-like-it-both-ways-by-supernaut
  9. ↑ Supernaut - Too Hot To Touch
  10. ↑ http://www.45cat.com/record/2079091
  11. ↑ http://www.australianmusicdatabase.com/recordings/too-hot-too-touch-by-supernaut
  12. ↑ Noel McGrath's Australian encyclopaedia of rock, p. 315
  13. ↑ Supernaut (album)
  14. ↑ http://www.australianmusicdatabase.com/recordings/supernaut-by-supernaut
  15. ↑ "Supernaut". Nostalgia Central. Retrieved 2015-02-23.
  16. ↑ Supernaut - Young and Innocent
  17. ↑ http://www.45cat.com/record/2079100
  18. ↑ http://www.australianmusicdatabase.com/recordings/young-and-innocent-by-supernaut
  19. ↑ Supernaut - The Kids are Out Tonight
  20. ↑ http://www.45cat.com/record/2079109
  21. ↑ http://www.australianmusicdatabase.com/recordings/the-kids-are-out-tonight-by-supernaut
  22. ↑ Supernaut - Let's Spend the Night Together
  23. ↑ http://www.45cat.com/record/2079112
  24. ↑ Supernaut - Unemployed
  25. ↑ http://www.australianmusicdatabase.com/recordings/unemployed-by-supernaut
  26. ↑ The Nauts
  27. ↑ Supernaut - Misfits
  28. ↑ http://www.45cat.com/record/zs192
  29. ↑ Nauts - The Black Market
  30. ↑ The Nauts Album
  31. ↑ The Nauts
  32. ↑ Twenty Flight Rockers
  33. ↑ In session tonight: the complete Radio 1 recordings - Gary Twinn
  34. ↑ In session tonight: the complete Radio 1 recordings - Mark Laff
  35. ↑ The International Swingers - Gary Twinn
  36. ↑ The Saints
  37. ↑ http://www.australianmusicdatabase.com/bands/the-saints
  38. ↑ Illustrated Man
  39. ↑ Countdown Spectacular 2 (IMDb)
  40. ↑ Australian Pop of the 70s: Get That Jive
  41. ↑ The Countdown Spectacular Live 2

External links