Skyhooks

Skyhooks were an Australian rock band formed in Melbourne in March 1973 by mainstays Greg Macainsh on bass guitar and backing vocals, and Imants "Freddie" Strauks on drums. They were soon joined by Bob "Bongo" Starkie on guitar and backing vocals, and Red Symons on guitar, vocals and keyboards; Graeme "Shirley" Strachan became lead vocalist in March 1974. Described as a glam rock band, because of flamboyant costumes and make-up,[4] Skyhooks addressed teenage issues including buying drugs in "Carlton (Lygon Street Limbo)", suburban sex in "Balwyn Calling", the gay scene in "Toorak Cowboy" and loss of girlfriends in "Somewhere in Sydney" by namechecking Australian locales. According to music historian, Ian McFarlane "[Skyhooks] made an enormous impact on Australian social life".

Skyhooks had #1 albums on the Australian Kent Music Report with their 1974 debut, Living in the 70's (for 16 weeks), and its 1975 follow-up, Ego Is Not a Dirty Word (11 weeks). Their #1 singles were "Horror Movie" (January 1975) and "Jukebox in Siberia" (November 1990).

Symons left Skyhooks in 1977 and became a radio and television personality. Strachan had solo releases since 1976 and finally left the band in 1978 and was also a radio and television presenter. With altered line-ups, Skyhooks continued until they disbanded on 8 June 1980; they briefly reformed in 1983, 1984, 1990 and 1994. In 1992, Skyhooks were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame. Lead singer, Strachan died on 29 August 2001, aged 49, in a helicopter crash while solo piloting. Their original lead singer, Steve Hill, died in October 2005, aged 52, of liver cancer.

In 2011, the Skyhooks album Living in the 70s was added to the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia's Sounds of Australia registry.

Live albums

 * Live! Be in It (1978)
 * Live in the 80's (1983)

Box sets

 * The Skyhooks Box (1982) - 9 record box set: Eight LPs and one 12" single ("Hooked on 'Hooks") plus Skyhooks booklet.
 * Bonus Album No. 1, Singles And B Sides (1982) - Compilation of non-album tracks included in the Skyhooks box set issued in 1982.
 * Bonus Album No. 2, Demos And Dialogue (1982) - Compilation of demo tracks included in the Skyhooks box set issued in 1982
 * Skyhooks Roadcase (1994) - 6-CD box set with booklet included.
 * Don't You Believe What You've Seen or You've Heard (2015) - a 3-disc set, celebrating 40 years of Skyhooks.