Music from Australia and New Zealand in the year 1979:

The old guard began to crack! Skyhooks was no longer fronted by 'Shirley' and Sherbet were now sporting themselves as 'Highway'. Even the very popular Dragon, were forced to boot its front man Marc Hunter, after a disastrous American visit. Dragon, without Marc Hunter, became something of a lesser reptile and the result album 'Powerplay' was a flop.

In the meantime, zanny-Kiwi-cult-imports Split Enz turned to convention and began hitting the charts, nicely fitting in the a rise of New Wave talents coming across from all over the nation: The Reels from Dubbo (NSW), who had previously played as cover band Native Sons, were now playing a set of bouncy electronic New Wave pop.

But whilst Dragon, Skyhooks and Sherbet ('Highway') wrestled with new identities, other long standing pub groups were to finally achieve commercial success that had eluded them earlier on. Melbourne pub rockers The Sports scored a US hit with 'Who Listens To The Radio', whilst their contemporaries Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons began scoring local chart hits, as well as receiving airplay in the US. A switch from pure unadulterated pub rock R'n'B, to commercial New Wave rock, was to see both groups itching for wider success. Sports front man Stephen Cummings and Falcons' front man Joe Camilleri, had been long time associates - first playing together in the mid '70's in Melbourne pub favourites The Pelaco Brothers - were now beginning to resemble something similar to England's Joe Jackson and Graham Parker.

Other longstanding pub rockers Cold Chisel and The Angels began to prosper on their growing popularity, with a growing live following and albums sales. However, in spite of nearly every Aussie band (of some significance) doing an appearance on Countdown, one 'newish' live Aussie band turned their back on the show and earned themselves another tick of street-cred approval. Midnight Oil, a strictly independent Sydney band, playing fast driven surf-punk rock 'n' roll, were quickly becoming the most popular live band in Australia - although the group still hadn't toured the entirety of the country. Midnight Oil, thus far, had built a live following since their beginnings as prog-rock band The Farm in 1973, with two albums to their name and a close association with national television station Channel 7 (which released Oils product through subsidiary label 'Powderworks'). It was a big deal that Midnight Oil refused Countdown - who had just began to open its doors lesser known indie-bands. For what it's worth, Countdown refused Melbourne post-punk band The Boys Next Door to perform their youthful melodrama classic 'Shivers' on the show due to lyrical content. Another Melbourne band, the mainstream friendly Australian Crawl were to suffer the same setback with their single 'Boys Light Up' the following year.

The stench of pub rock was still in the air (waves) in 1979. Sydney's Mental As Anything were a young and new rock band, playing short-sharp power pop songs and crowd pleasing standards. Yet, their ode to drinking 'The Nips Are Getting Bigger' was to indicate that they, too, shared the same history of The Sports and Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons.

One band, from New Zealand, who may not have been able to hide their age, but were musically far removed from pub rock were Mi-Sex. MS (as they were rechristened in South Africa!) were in their late 20's/early 30's - played in various pub bands in New Zealand and like Midnight Oil, had a prog-rock beginning. Not much had been known about Mi-Sex for most of 1979 - despite the exposure of a single 'You Just Don't Care'. However, the band's profile was elevated in the later months of '79, when the next single 'Computer Games' raced to the # 1 spot on the Australian Single Charts - making the space-themed-dressed-like-Devo-matured-looking-pub-rockers into a pop sensation. This momentum was to carry the band through to 1981.

Still, there remained the young and unsigned bands cutting their teeth in the Australian music scene. INXS, who had played as The Farris Borthers, began recording demos and sessions for Sydney radio station Double J. INXS, taking a little from The Sports and blending a bit of Mi-Sex in the mix, had been around for a couple of years and were aspired to play funk-rock to an Australian audience.




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Aussie Bands/Artists with Debut Albums:
Mental As Anything - The Reels - Boys Next Door - Loaded Dice - Young Modern - Stockley See Mason Band - Contraband - Mondo Rock - Jimmy & The Boys

Aussie Bands/Artists with Debut Singles/EP's:
The Radiators - Australian Crawl - Le Femme - The Breakers - The Aliens - The Scientists - XL Capris - Paul Kelly & The Dots - The Hitmen

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Kkwi Bands/Artists with Debut Albums:
Th' Dudes - Mi-Sex


Kiwi Bands/Artists with Debut Singles/EP's:
The Swingers

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Chart Hits from Australia and New Zealand in the year 1979: