Oz rock legends Hoodoo Gurus celebrate 40th anniversary of debut album Stoneage Romeos with national tour

Perth-born and raised rock musician Dave Faulkner describes his trip to New York in 1979 as like attending a finishing school. The future frontman for ARIA Hall of Fame inductees Hoodoo Gurus caught gigs by Talking Heads, the Cramps, the Fleshtones, John Cale and even Jerry Lee Lewis in the Big Apple. “It was an incredible time,” says Faulkner, who credits his Telecom office job, the unexpected popularity of his pub band Midget and the Farrellys and an airfare war with enabling him to spend months travelling around the US and London. The now 67-year-old says that after being a leading figure in WA punk rock’s “year zero” playing keys briefly with Perth’s first punk band, the Cheap Nasties, before forming the Victims, the overseas jaunt broadened his taste. Of course, one New York group sparked Perth’s brief punk explosion, according to Faulkner. “I didn’t really get into prog rock,” he explains during an interview at a Northbridge pub. “I liked Jethro Tull but I didn’t like Yes. I liked Elton John. “But then the Ramones came along and nothing else mattered. “I love the Ramones,” Faulkner adds. “They’re probably the most important band for me, apart from the Beatles.” The appeal of punk rock faded soon after it arrived, and the Victims imploded within months. The second wave of punk didn’t impress Faulkner, who instead looked to bands that pre-dated and inspired punk, including the Velvet Underground, the New York Dolls and Iggy Pop and the Stooges. He even got into early, rockabilly-era Elvis Presley, who was decidedly uncool in the final years before his death in 1977. “All this music was exploding in front of me,” Faulkner explains. “It was like finishing school for me, taste-wise.” All these influences, and a healthy dose of trashy retro culture, were injected into Hoodoo Gurus’ debut Stoneage Romeos. Released 40 years ago, the classic Oz rock album featured Faulkner’s “love song about love songs” My Girl, the rollicking Tojo and rocking I Want You Back, a sarcastic kiss-off to founding guitarist Roddy Radalj, who acrimoniously left the Gurus in 1982 and was replaced by axe-wielding stalwart Brad Shepherd. Stoneage Romeos climbed into the charts, won best debut album at the 1984 Countdown Awards and was released in North America, where it topped the college charts for seven weeks. Not bad for a band most of the mainstream music industry treated as a joke. “When we got our contract the music industry laughed,” Faulkner says. “Everyone else was playing drum machines and synthesisers. And we played guitars, which was old-fashioned. “That was their attitude. We didn’t give a rat’s, we just did what we liked.” The frontman explains that Hoodoo Gurus had earned their achievements by touring incessantly around Australia building an audience. “We were door-to-door salesmen of our music and we always have been,” Faulkner says. “Most Australian bands are, by the way.” In May, the 40th anniversary edition of Stoneage Romeos peaked at No.8 on the ARIA album charts and was the best-selling Aussie album and No. 2 release — but left the charts the following week. “It could only happen for a week because it’s all sold out now,” Faulkner chuckles. “We only had 1984 copies. That’s all we made and they all sold.” The 2024 edition of the Gurus — Faulkner, Shepherd, long-serving bassist Rick Grossman and drummer Nik Rieth, who joined in 2015 — have hit the road around Australia to celebrate Stoneage Romeos. In December, they’re due to play four gigs in Perth. While songs such as My Girl, I Want You Back and Leilani are staples of Hoodoo Gurus’ live shows, Faulkner looks forward to digging out album cuts Dig It Up, Death Ship and In the Echo Chamber — the latter regarded as the “unloved child” of Stoneage Romeos. “It’s the most ugly, awkward song and we love that,” Faulkner laughs. “We love that when we play it now, people go ‘Stop that racket’.” Hoodoo Gurus have also returned to the US where the Aussie legends have enjoyed sold-out shows. “Each time we go back it’s bigger venues,” Faulkner says. “We just have fun. It’s not like it’s a big money-spinner for us. “We take care of ourselves by (staying in) hotel rooms when we need to. We sleep in the tour bus overnight to get to the next city but we often check into hotels so we’ve got a few hours just to keep our wits and not go insane.” Mark Kingsmill, who replaced founding drummer and Perth punk legend James Baker in the Gurus in 1984, left the group in 2015 after putting aside enough savings for his retirement. “He hated touring,” Faulkner says. “We had lunch the other day and he looked a little envious about these shows. “I don’t know if he was serious. His stated line is that he hasn’t picked up a drumstick (since quitting the band) other than to stir paint.” The rest of the band still can’t get enough. “We love playing music so much that we couldn’t imagine not doing that,” Faulkner says. “Everything apart from playing on stage is a bit of a pain. That hour-and-a-half or two hours is so much fun and that’s where I get to complete the picture of who I am. “We are the instruments as much as the instruments we play, otherwise we’re just sitting in the corner, gathering dust.” Hoodoo Gurus, he says, will keep going until they can’t keep going. “Oh yeah,” Faulkner insists, “till we can’t do it, physically can’t do it. “Our hearts are in it 100 per cent, more than ever, but if it gets to a point that we’re physically not giving a good account of our music, can’t play it to the level we demand, then sorry. “We’re just music nuts. We enjoy playing music so much.” Hoodoo Gurus play the Astor Theatre from December 12-15.