'There Are No Rules': CIVIC Interview Radio Birdman Ahead Of 50th Anniversary Aus Tour

This month, Radio Birdman are commemorating their 50th anniversary with a massive Australian tour with special guests CIVIC opening the Melbourne dates. Other opening acts include the Hard-Ons, Hits and Cull The Band.

Although their initial run lasted just four years—from 1974 to 1978—Radio Birdman’s legacy remains untouched, immortalised as one of the most influential bands in Australian punk and rock history. They reunited in 1996, kicking on for another 12 years before they disbanded again in 2008. Their second reunion came in 2014, and they’ve been going strong ever since.

To celebrate the tour, CIVIC guitarist Lewis Hodgson interviewed Radio Birdman’s guitarist, singer and songwriter Deniz Tek, and CIVIC’s Jim McCullough quizzed Radio Birdman’s Rob Younger for The Music.

Reuniting once more, CIVIC get to spotlight the band that’s hugely impacted their career, with Younger producing their second album, Taken By Force, released last year.

Both bands are forces of nature, so before you see them on the road, check out what Radio Birdman have to say about having the Prime Minister as a fan, touring, wearing makeup on stage, and their favourite Australian bands of the 60s.

CIVIC’s Jim McCullough interviews Rob Younger

What was the first song you sang in front of friends or family?  

I never sang in front of Mum or Dad, and they both died before I got into bands. I do recall myself, around 14, at a mate's place, singing along to an Animals 45, possibly We Gotta Get Out Of This Place. His sister burst - truly, she burst in - into the room and asked, 'Who was singing just then?' I said me, a bit embarrassed, and she said it sounded great. I was so chuffed I had tears in my eyes. I had a fairly decent low register vocal going, definitely Eric Burdon territory. Of course, I had no ambition to be a singer at that point or anything else. My mate's sister was cute, and I was pleased with myself.

Best/worst spot you’ve slept on tour? 

The best? That would be telling tales after class. The worst, most likely, would be a place in Hamburg, upstairs in the Hafenklang club, I think. The top bunk mattress had all this human hair clinging beneath it that had accumulated over, surely, quite a few years. It really gave me the fucking willies.

Favourite frontman/woman?

Iggy Pop must be the best I've seen. I witnessed an amazing show in London in 1978. He was accompanied by the Sonic’s Rendezvous Band. His stage moves were so balletic, if that's indeed a word, so other-worldly, and his singing was spot on. I saw the Stones in 1972. Mick Jagger was fabulous, too - it goes without saying. Domestically, I'd say Ron Peno had the wood on everyone else. It strikes me as odd that I, as do others, seem to separate local and overseas artists in that way, like with annual music polls. 

Favourite country to tour?

Probably Spain. The place fascinates me, and the audiences don't hold anything back. They're full-on, the Spanish rock crowd. If you thank someone for their help or hospitality, they say with great authority: 'There is no thanks in rock'n'roll!' Hardcore.

The Spanish people didn't get to experience the full force of rock'n'roll while General Franco was in power, and it seems like when he died, what, in the early 70s? Whatever, the collective relief of pent-up frustration music-wise sent their enthusiasm for rock'n'roll through the roof. A simplistic take on it perhaps, but I've been told pretty much the same by Spanish rock fans. They're rather passionate at the best of times, even without a turd like Franco as a catalyst.

What is your favourite song by an Australian band? 

That's pretty tough. No one song stands out in particular, but I can mention a few that I consider wonderful. Buried And Dead by The Masters Apprentices, which we might haul out for the coming shows, and also by the Masters, their song that Civic also recorded, Wars Or Hands Of Time. An amazing piece of work. Mick Bower, Australian rock's unsung hero, wrote that one. 

A Very Special Man by The Easybeats. They created a fabulous body of work, but all you ever hear is people banging on about Friday On My Mind. Great as it is, I reckon they had stacks of others that matched it. What else.... 9.50 by The Twilights, The Loved One by The Loved Ones. I saw them once at The Animals show at Sydney Stadium. Marvellous set of songs, and they wore those coloured suits like on their LP cover.

Normie Rowe's Shakin' All Over. More recently, as in only about 40 years ago, Release The Bats by The Birthday Party, Stoneage Cinderella by Died Pretty; well, they had loads of gems, Eternally Yours by Laughing Clowns... Julie Is A Junkie by Eastern Dark... don't get me started.

Did you ever play an instrument? 

I play guitar just well enough to get my face slapped. I write songs on guitar or my crappy electronic keyboard, occasionally a bass. To claim my 'skills' as being even rudimentary would be to flatter myself enormously.

Bowie’s best phase? 

I loved The Man Who Sold The World LP, same for Hunky Dory/Ziggy Stardust/Aladdin Sane period, the glam stuff; l then cooled on him for a bit, barring the odd single or two, then re-entered the fray with Low and later the single of Heroes. I came to appreciate certain albums well after the fact. Actually, Scary Monsters I dug big-time when that came out. I was playing Pin Ups the other night. Still fun and way weirder somehow than I remembered it to be.

It's a cool set of covers, although none as good as the originals, but that's not the point. It was likely intended as simply a party record and probably a stop-gap because he hadn't written a new album's worth. Some sod nicked my copy of MWSTW back in the day. It had that great cover where he's wearing a dress. Provocative at the time but rather de rigeur now daresay.

Makeup on stage?

For me? Yeah, definitely. I used to wear kohl quite heavily on my eyes. I wish I had the guts to do it now because it makes anyone look better on stage and adds a touch of theatricality. Maybe I should. Fights the drabs, as they say in Spinal Tap. Since it was mainly The New York Dolls that convinced me that I too might have a hope of getting a band up and running, I not only tried to copy David Jo Hansen vocally because that seemed within my reach, but I wanted to emulate their overall look, minus Sylvain's roller skates. I liked knowing I was wearing makeup. What does that say, I wonder?

CIVIC’s Lewis Hodgson interviews Deniz Tek

What's the maximum amount of members that should be in a punk band? 

There are no rules, but I think three or four would be about right.

What inspired your logo?

I pulled it out of the air back when I was in TV Jones, but we never used it then. From the very start of Radio Birdman, we made visuals a priority. However rough we might sound, it had to look cool!

We got the idea from the Blue Oyster Cult to have the logo on flags. Rob and I took some red tablecloths from a movie set and stencilled the logo on them to hang on our speaker cabinets. We started using it on posters, badges, everything. It’s just a design based roughly on wings, with a central bit that looks like a saucer flying head-on. It means nothing other than to represent the band.

The first three Stooges albums ranked best to least best.

They are all great in their own way. If I had to choose only one to keep, I guess it would be Fun House.

Best 60's Australian band?

The Easybeats. But there were so many greats. Some of my other favourites were The Atlantics, The Masters Apprentices, The Loved Ones, The Missing Links, Phil Jones and the Unknown Blues, and, of course, The Seekers.

Best bootleg Radio Birdman record you've come across?

I hate bootlegs. The sound quality is bad, and the cover art is usually appalling. I’ve never come across one that presents the band in a way that we would approve. Occasionally, one comes along that is less heinous and presents good material that would otherwise never be available, like the Italian CD of our 2JJ Live In The Studio sessions from 1976; I think it was called Murder City Nights.

Most unexpected country you've played?

China

Denim or Leather?

Denim. I have nothing against a good-looking leather jacket, but I tried touring with leather jeans, and... not cool. They never dry out.

Is Albanese a real fan?

Yes, he’s been a fan and supporter since long before he went into politics. 

Favourite country to tour?

Spain

Favourite band you've supported?

The Stooges, at the State Theater in Detroit. Other good bands I’ve supported include The Flamin' Groovies, Andre Williams, Mitch Ryder, and Stevie Wright. Our strangest and funniest support was Van Halen in Amsterdam in 1978. To turn your question around, the fave band that ever supported us was Wayne Kramer’s band in 1996….

I’m looking forward to playing with you guys in a few weeks. 

RADIO BIRDMAN

BIRDMAN 5-0 AUSTRALIAN TOUR

 FRI 21 JUNE: CROXTON BANDROOM - MELBOURNE with CIVIC - SELLING FAST

SAT 22 JUNE: CROXTON BANDROOM - MELBOURNE with CIVIC - SELLING FAST

SUN 23 JUNE: THE GOV - ADELAIDE with CULL THE BAND - SELLING FAST

FRI 28 JUNE: THE TRIFFID - BRISBANE with HITS - LAST TIX

SAT 29 JUNE: THE TRIFFID - BRISBANE with HITS - SOLD OUT!

FRI 5 JULY: MANNING BAR - SYDNEY with HARD-ONS - SOLD OUT!

SAT 6 JULY: MANNING BAR - SYDNEY with HARD-ONS - SOLD OUT!

SUN 7 JULY: MANNING BAR - SYDNEY with HARD-ONS - SOLD OUT!

Brisbane shows: Moshtix

All other shows: Oztix