Hoodoo Gurus

Hoodoo Gurus
Three males at microphones partly obscured by an audience in foreground, centre male with eyes closed holds a guitar.
Hoodoo Gurus at the 2007 South by Southwest
Background information
Also known asLe Hoodoo Gurus
OriginSydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres
Years active
  • 1981–1998
  • 2003–present
Labels
MembersDave Faulkner
Brad Shepherd
Nik Rieth
Richard Grossman
Past membersJames Baker
Roddy Radalj
Kimble Rendall
Clyde Bramley
Mark Kingsmill
Websitehoodoogurus.net

Hoodoo Gurus are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1981[4] by Dave Faulkner (songwriter, lead singer and guitarist) and later joined by Richard Grossman (bass), Mark Kingsmill (drums), and Brad Shepherd (guitar, vocals, harmonica).[5] Their popularity peaked in the mid- to late 1980s with albums Mars Needs Guitars!, Blow Your Cool! and Magnum Cum Louder.

Hoodoo Gurus had a string of pop-rock singles including "Leilani" (1982), "Tojo" (1983), "My Girl" (1983), "I Want You Back" (1984), "Bittersweet", "Like Wow – Wipeout" (1985), and "What's My Scene?" (1987).[4] After touring the United States from 1984 onward they gained popularity on the U.S. college rock circuit with the singles "Come Anytime" (1989)[6] reaching no. 1 and "Miss Freelove '69" (1991)[7] reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.[8] The Hoodoo Gurus' biggest Australian single was their 1987 top-3 song "What's My Scene?".[9] The song was parodied for the National Rugby League 2000s theme "That's My Team".[10][11]

The Hoodoo Gurus were inducted into the Australia's 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame.[12][13] The band's induction announcement stated that the Gurus were one of the most "inventive, lyrically smart and exciting" bands from Australia.[14] From 1960s power pop and garage punk to hard rock and funky psychedelic kitsch, the group's music stood out from Sydney's Detroit-inspired bands.[4]

  1. ^ "LIKE WOW – WIPEOUT BY HOODOO GURUS". NFSA. 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  2. ^ Hoodoo Gurus Bio, AllMusic
  3. ^ Hull, Tom (20 April 2012). "Gurus of garage rock gather a few friends". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  4. ^ a b c McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Hoodoo Gurus'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Archived from the original on 6 June 2004.
  5. ^ Holmgren, Magnus; Georgieff, Didier; Hartung, Stephan. "Hoodoo Gurus". Passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  6. ^ "Australian Singles Chart 'Come Anytime'". Australian-Charts.com. Archived from the original on 21 September 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2007.
  7. ^ "Australian Singles Chart "Miss Freelove '69"". Australian-Charts.com. Retrieved 22 December 2007.
  8. ^ "Billboard Artist Chart History – Hoodoo Gurus". Billboard. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  9. ^ "Best of 1987". Oz Net Music Chart. Archived from the original on 17 April 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
  10. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. ^ Guest, Thomas J. (1991). Thirty Years of Hits. Collingwood, Melbourne: M. J. Maloney. ISBN 0-646-04633-0.
  12. ^ "ARIA Awards 2007: About Hall of Fame". ARIA Awards. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2007.
  13. ^ Pope, Mark (18 July 2007). "ARIA Hall of Fame bio for Hoodoo Gurus" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 July 2007. Retrieved 12 March 2008.
  14. ^ Pope, Mark (7 May 2007). "ARIA presents the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame" (PDF). Archived from the original ((PDF)) on 30 October 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2008.