Hoodoo Gurus on surviving 40 years in the world of rock

It was New Year’s Day in 1981. Dave Faulkner formed the Hoodoo Gurus. Now the Aussie rock Hall of Famer reveals more about the iconic band.

Today marks the 40th anniversary of iconic Australian rock band Hoodoo Gurus.

The group formed on the roof of a Sydney house in the early hours of January 1, 1981.

The only remaining original member, frontman Dave Faulkner, has assembled the first line-up for a mini-documentary available on the band’s You Tube channel until tomorrow morning.

Initially called Le Hoodoo Gurus, the only footage of that line-up (with Kimble Rendall, James Baker and Roddy Radalj) is on the video for debut single Leilani, released in 1982.

They would go on to have Australian and international success with Tojo, What’s My Scene, Bittersweet, My Girl, Like Wow … Wipeout and Come Anytime and were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Original 1981 line-up of Australian band Le Hoodoo Gurus. Pic: Sandy Edwards

“It doesn’t really feel like 40 years ago, we still play those songs,” Faulkner said.

“They don’t sound antique, it’s not like listening to the Charleston or something. People still seem to love those songs, they still have significance. It’s not like we changed in style, we’ve always sounded like the Hoodoo Gurus.

“But it is a very rare thing for a band to still be going this long and still be viable. Bands flame out, you become a known quantity and people go ‘Next!’ We recognise we’re privileged to be able to somehow keep walking this tightrope.”

As well as a new album, the band are planning shows later this year to mark their first ever live show, at Sydney’s Institute of Technology in September 1981.

Their first gigs since last January were two seated shows in Sydney in November, with Faulkner noting “everyone sitting at tables was like a cabaret show, I felt like Tom Jones, but everyone was excited to see live music again so it didn’t matter.”

The Gurus hope to join the Red Hot Summer Tour, with Jimmy Barnes, Diesel, Vika and Linda, Jon Stevens and Chris Cheney when it kicks off in March but science buff Faulkner is watching the borders closely.

“There’s shows in WA, SA and Queensland on that tour, who knows what their border rules will be by that point, everything seems to be going haywire again. We’ve seen the NRL and the cricket have people back in large venues.

“So hopefully outdoor festivals will be allowed to go ahead, if people can be seated like they are at sporting events and staff make sure people don’t get too close in the lines for toilets or whatever. It’s unfair sport is given an armchair ride while we just try to keep the industry going.”

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Dave Faulkner outside the Darlinghurst house where Hoodoo Gurus formed. Pic: Bob Barker

Originally published as Hoodoo Gurus on surviving 40 years in the world of rock