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The Urban Guerillas
The Urban Guerillas performing at the Beaches Hotel in Thirroul, New South Wales, 2016
The Urban Guerillas performing at the Beaches Hotel in Thirroul, New South Wales, 2016
Background information
OriginAdelaide, South Australia, Australia
GenresPub rock, Punk rock
Years active1981–present
LabelsWatchful Eye
MembersKen Stewart (guitar / vocals)
Michael Elsley (drums / vocals)
Phil Paviour (bass / vocals)
Websiteurbanguerillas.com

The Urban Guerillas are an Australian pub rock band.[1][2] Originally formed in Adelaide, the band is currently based in Sydney.

Beginnings 1981

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A tough, punk-influenced band with a fiercely independent streak,[3] The Urban Guerillas was formed in Adelaide in 1980 as a trio with Ken Stewart (guitar/vocals), Terry Burgan (bass/vocals) and John Martin (drums). Terry and John had recently moved to Adelaide from Whyalla. After playing their relentless, driving brand of original pop / punk rock music[3] around Adelaide for a little over two years and releasing two independent cassettes,[1][4][5] the band moved to Sydney and seamlessly slotted into the live pub circuit.

Sydney 1983–1987

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In 1983 they went into Studios 301 to record and released the song 1984[6] on their own label, The single sold in enough quantities to attract the attention of George Wayne from Triple J[4] who invited the band into the Australian Broadcasting Corporation studios to play live to air. In 1984[4] they recorded a more pop-oriented single, She's Probably,[2][5] produced by Adelaide guitarist Mal Eastick[5] from Stars (Australian band) and producer of the Andy Durant Memorial Concert. This single won numerous favourable reviews around the country[3] and gave the band a boost around Sydney before a membership reshuffle took some time to consolidate the new four-piece line up.[7] The band resurfaced nationally in 1986 with their Borrowed Time EP[2][3][7][8] and an appearance on a nationally televised talent quest Star Search (Australia). During this time the Urban Guerillas played regularly at the Sandringham (Sando) and until Roaring Jack entered the scene, had held the over-the-bar record[9] of takings at the famous inner west hotel. (The Roaring Jack crowd consistently managed to out-drink the Urban Guerillas punters). The band toured nationally in 1986[2][3][8][10][11] mostly headlining but also playing some notable supports with The Saints,[7] The Hitmen, the New Christs and Spy vs Spy.[7] In 1987 the band released their signature tune Here Come the Americans.[12][13][14] An anthem against the Americanisation of Australian culture. Using a war analogy for the cultural invasion gave the song a literal interpretation that resonated with the peace movement. The song gave the Urban Guerillas a provocative edge and the renewed attention from the media delivered access to the suburban venues. Through various line-up changes[13] the band experimented and consistently fronted up as an energetic and formidable live performance unit until the end of 1987, when after much touring and having all their gear stolen,[15][16][17] the Guerillas had imploded.

Another View 1988–1990

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In 1988 Stewart played solo in addition to supporting Roaring Jack[18] whilst putting together another three piece. This outfit toured to Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide[17][19][20] frequently and the suburban bars in Sydney but their regular work became to an abrupt end when Stewart fell off the drum-kit while playing guitar during a gig in Oatley, breaking his wrist. However, before the accident the Urban Guerillas had managed to record their first album, Another View, in 1989 with Phil Punch at Electric Avenue studio and released it in 1990 to critical acclaim.[17][21][22][23][24][25]

Funky Zoo

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Ken worked with new bass player Phil Paviour to write a children's musical around a song, The Funky Zoo,[26] that Ken had written. Enlisting musicians from other bands that they had played with. Ken assembled a cast and put the Funky Zoo on in Bondi Pavilion Theatre in 1992. It was immediately recognised and booked for a week of shows at Tumbalong park, Darling Harbour, for the Festival of Sydney 1993. After 30 live shows, the "Funky Zoo" song was nominated for the APRA Award for Children's Composition of the Year in 1993 (but lost to "Tigers Roaring in the Afternoon" by former Play School presenter Monica Trapaga). In 2008 the Funky Zoo returned to the stage in Sydney, this time, using professional actors. The show was relaunched at Bondi Pavilion, where it began, followed by a week of shows at the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre in Newtown, including an appearance at the Newtown Festival.[27][28][29] During 2009 and 2010 the Funky Zoo spread its environmental message to sell out shows far and wide throughout Sydney suburbs and regional NSW.[30][31]

Recording and touring 1995–2002

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In 1995 with Just a Lifetime getting airplay,[32] the band again played regularly around Sydney in various line-ups while releasing the Mad in Australia EP CD in 1997.[33] In 1998 the Urban Guerillas performed on the docks for the maritime workers who were striking to save their jobs in the 1998 Australian waterfront dispute. The band released two CD albums Carols by Blowtorch and Cloud Above my Head in 1999. In 2001 the Urban Guerillas released their Big Brother single[34][35] and began touring interstate again. Through 2002 the band extensively toured the outback including regional Northern Territory and South Australia,[36][37] twice touring the remote outback and desert townships of central Australia including Alice Springs.

Political activism

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The Urban Guerillas were chosen to perform at Euro-region Camp 2000 for young Europeans visiting Australia during the 2000 Summer Olympics to study Antipodean social structure and culture. Over the years, apart from their appearances in hotels and venues throughout Australia, the Urban Guerillas have played at Sydney Airport to 6,000 workers stranded when Ansett Australia collapsed, Peace Rallies in Sydney and Brisbane, No Racism, No War Rally to 50,000 people in the Domain, Corroboree Sovereignty for indigenous rights at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra, Woomera Immigration Reception and Processing Centre 2002 Festival of Freedoms, May Day[38] celebrations of workers rights, NAIDOC celebrations and the Hiroshima Never Again Rally commemorating those who died as a result of the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.[39] The Urban Guerillas have also played for the M1 Alliance, S11 (protest) in Melbourne, Greenpeace, the Australian Conservation Foundation and The Wilderness Society (Australia) and Labor Council of New South Wales and Rock for Rights to 40,000 people at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2007 sharing the stage with The Screaming Jets, Hoodoo Gurus, Dallas Crane, Kev Karmody, Missy Higgins, Tex Perkins and Youthgroup.[40] The Urban Guerillas historically played on Cockatoo Island (New South Wales) with Roaring Jack in 1989 and played on the pickets at Port Botany for the Maritime Union of Australia in 1998 to support workers at threat of losing their jobs. In 2008 they played at the 10 years on from the Maritime Union of Australia waterfront dispute "MUA Here to Stay" concert and against the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum on the back of a truck in Sydney's CBD.[41][42]

Outback and regional Australia tour 2006

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In October 2006 the Urban Guerillas returned to outback and regional Australia starting from Adelaide and touring to Pimba, Roxby Downs, Coober Pedy, Alice Springs, Oodnadatta, Pt Augusta, Streaky Bay, Iron Knob, Pt Pirie, Leigh Creek, Broken Hill, Cobar and Nyngan, this time aided by funding through a grant from the Federal Government and Music NSW to introduce their Every Generation single which promptly received airplay on Triple J.[43]

2007 to 2015

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In 2007, the CD album ...and the wind brought change was released inspired by the social impact on America of Hurricane Katrina. Described as a mix of down-and-out aggression with a peaceful social-conscience the album reinforced the perception about the band's tough musical flexibility and outspoken lyrical content.[44][45] In 2010 the Urban Guerillas performed at the Alistair Hulett Memorial concert along with a collection of bands and artists that had worked closely with him and Roaring Jack. In 2012 the band played sporadically live while concentrating on new material for their next studio album. The 2014 single release of Rise Up and Ballad of Ned Kelly was the band's first release since 2007. The video of Rise Up was promptly posted on the Green Left Weekly web site.[46] On 6 August 2015, just before midnight, Hutchison Ports, located in Sydney and Brisbane, sacked 97 workers by text message and email – 57 in Sydney and 40 in Brisbane [47] This prompted the Urban Guerillas to perform again on the Hutchison Ports docks to support Australian workers keeping jobs. In November 2015 the band released a 5 track EP album My Kind after which Ken went for the Rickenbacker guitar and a Vox AC30 amplifier combo giving the band more edge and jangle.

2016 to 2018

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Urban Guerillas at Dee Why RSL 2016 pic by Alec Smart

In 2016, the Urban Guerillas teamed up with Spy vs. Spy (band) and toured around Sydney suburbs and regional towns in NSW. In 2017 the Urban Guerillas released a single "No Walls" inspired in part by the newly elected President of the USA boasting about building a wall between Mexico and the United States. Toward the end of the year the band released a song "Guerilla Radio" as an EP. The song had become their signature tune and explained what to expect from the Urban Guerillas in style and substance. [48] The EP was chosen in the Top 10 releases in 2017 by 2RRR Sounds of Sydney DJ Big Daddy K. [49] The band was taking their music to the streets and played on the docks for the Maritime Union in support of sailors and dockers fighting for their jobs while their union was under attack by Australia's anti-union conservative government. They also performed on the back of a truck at the Hiroshima Day commemoration and nuclear protest rallies in Sydney's Hyde Park. In January 2018 Stewart plays to a demonstration in Martin Place imploring the government to fix Sydney's public transport system [50] [51] [52] In April the band played at the M-Club in Maroubra for the Maritime_Union_of_Australia to commemorate 20 years on from the 1998 Waterfront dispute. The Urban Guerillas played on the docks to support the strikers during that dispute. [53] The band played their last gig supporting Michael Weiley's Spy V Spy at the Caringbah Hotel in Sydney's south. Michael had taken ill. He never recovered and tragically died in September. [54] The Guerillas toured to Melbourne and Adelaide releasing two digital singles throughout the year, “What I Wish For” and their version of a Small_Faces classic “Afterglow (of your love)”

2019 to 2024

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Spy V Spy regroup around Cliff Grigg and join the Urban Guerillas, The_Radiators_(Australian_band) and Gang_Gajang in a tribute to Michael Weiley at the Hawkesbury Hotel in Windsor in Sydney's north west. The Guerillas and the new Spy V Spy lineup teamed up to continue their joint attack. The Urban Guerillas played at the Tote in Melbourne before joining the Spies in Tasmania. More gigs in Sydney and regional NSW followed with the Urban Guerillas releasing their “Equation of Life” CD [55] at the Petersham Bowling Club. The fire season impacts gigs across Australia and into January 2020 before even further disruption of flooding rains. Urban Guerillas and Spy V Spy tour to Queensland in March 2020 just as news comes through that COVID-19 has become a worldwide pandemic that would threaten Australia. After a fundraiser gig for Firefighters, Australia goes into lockdown. All gigs and tours are postponed or cancelled and the live promotion of the “Equation of Life” stalls. The band releases “MRI” followed by “Bandage This Heart” during the lockdown period. In November, after 6 months lock down the NSW government underwrites COVID-19 gigs to seated audiences to kick start live gigs but the uncertainty and restrictions has an impact on all live performance work. In 2022 the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted in a piecemeal manner and major venues and tours return. Local hotel gigs are still struggling with audience reticence and cancellations. As the year unfolds the overall feeling is that Covid is still around but no longer a threat to life. The Urban Guerillas release a digital single "Hurricane" as a comment on the ongoing natural disasters throughout the land caused by climate change. The single is mostly ignored by the mainstream despite the live reputation of the band growing. To give the establishment a nudge the band released a new song on November 11 to coincide with the date Australia's reformist Prime Minister Gough Whitlam was sacked and folkloric figure Ned Kelly was hanged. Titled "They Won't Play My Song On The Radio" ironically gets played on the radio.

Discography

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Cassettes

Year Album title
1981 8 Exploded Hits
1983 Urban Guerillas
1984 Take No Prisoners

Vinyl Singles 7"

Year Title
1983 1984
1984 Shes Probably
1987 Here Come the Americans
1989 Better Than This

Vinyl Albums 12"

Year Album title
1986 Borrowed Time
1990 Another View

CD Singles

Year Title
2001 Big Brother
2005 Here Come the Americans
Just a Lifetime
2006 Every Generation
2014 Rise Up

CD albums

Year Album title
1995 Just a Lifetime
1997 Mad in Australia
1999 Cloud Above My Head
Carols by Blowtorch
2003 Soundtrack to the Revolution
2005 Nukalyptus Surreptitious
2007 ...and the wind brought change
2015 My Kind
2017 Guerilla Radio
2019 Equation of Life

Digital Singles

Year Title
2013 Ballad of Ned Kelly
2014 Rise Up
2017 No Walls
2018 What I Wish For
2018 Afterglow (of your love)
2020 M.R.I.
2020 Bandage This Heart
2021 So Hard
2022 Hurricane
2022 They Won't Play My Song On The Radio

Digital Re-issues

Year Title
2021 She's Probably (Single)
2021 Here Come The Americans (Single)
2023 1984 (Single)
2023 Big Brother (Single)
2023 Just A Lifetime (Album)


References

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  1. ^ a b Spencer, Chris; Nowara, Zbig; McHenry, Paul (2002). "Who's Who of Australian Rock 5th edition" ISBN 1-86503-891-1. pp.419–420
  2. ^ a b c d Sly, David (3 July 1986). "Urban Guerillas now fight back". The Advertiser. Adelaide. pp. entertainment.
  3. ^ a b c d e Day, David; Tim Parker (1987). Glenn A. Baker. ed. SA great it's our music 1956–1986. Glandore, S. Aust.: D. Day and T. Parker. ISBN 1-86252-964-7. pp.248
  4. ^ a b c Walsh, Peter (25 February 1984). "Urban Guerillas; From a flower to a garden". Juke. Melbourne. p. 11.
  5. ^ a b c McDonald, Elly (13 April 1984). "Urban Guerillas – Politics now!". RAM. Sydney. p. 9.
  6. ^ Brechin, Robbie (3 November 1983). "Hot Licks". "The Advertiser. Adelaide. p. 26.
  7. ^ a b c d Foxton, Rachel (13 August 1986). "Urban Guerillas Dansepolitik". RAM. Sydney. p. 8.
  8. ^ a b Parker, John (3 July 1986). "Guerillas triumph". The News. Adelaide. pp. scene.
  9. ^ "Ken Stewart – The Urban Guerilla". David Robinson – Bad Ronald Music. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  10. ^ Copas, Chris (30 November 1986). "Guerillas on the front line". Sunday Examiner. Hobart. p. 26.
  11. ^ Parsons, Belinda (1 July 1986). "Urban Guerillas battle for the working class". The Sun. Melbourne. p. 33.
  12. ^ Smith, Michael (19 August 1989). "Urban Guerillas play war games". Juke. Melbourne. p. 10.
  13. ^ a b Hitchcock, Vic (2 December 1987). "The Urban Guerillas; Inside and Out". On The Street. Sydney. p. 17.
  14. ^ Hughes, Bob (13 December 1987). "Sounds". The Sunday Telegraph. Sydney. p. 33.
  15. ^ Eliezer, Christie (1 November 1986). "Guerillas Ripped Off". Juke. Melbourne. p. 5.
  16. ^ Stafford, Phil (10 November 1986). "Urban Guerillas Stolen Gear – Help!". RAM. Sydney. p. 2.
  17. ^ a b c Brander, Cheryl (12 December 1990). "Urban Guerillas animalistic music". In Press. Melbourne. p. 23.
  18. ^ "Urban Guerillas". Roaring Jack Archives, 21st Century Reviews. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  19. ^ Tauschke, Steve (12 December 1990). "Urban Guerillas; Another View". Beat. Melbourne. p. 37.
  20. ^ Dunning, Natalie (9 October 2000). "Ken Stewart's Few Gigs in Adelaide". Rip It Up. Adelaide. p. 6.
  21. ^ Layland, Penelope (20 September 1990). "Urban Guerillas Another View". The Canberra Times. Canberra. p. 21.
  22. ^ Liosatos, Tonia (6 December 1990). "Guerillas deserve identity". The Canberra Times. Canberra. p. 21.
  23. ^ Apter, Jeff (27 November 1990). "Urban Guerillas Another View". The Drum Media. Sydney. p. 33.
  24. ^ Hyde, Darrin (30 August 1990). "Urban Guerillas Another View". Rip It Up. Adelaide. p. 10.
  25. ^ Sly, David (23 September 1990). "Guerillas swing into big league". The Sunday Mail. Adelaide. p. 163.
  26. ^ King, Sean (8 April 1993). "Holiday Fun Guide". The Daily Telegraph Mirror. Sydney. p. 36.
  27. ^ Young, Matt (16 September 2008). "Get out and enjoy the fun". Inner West Courier. Sydney. p. 38.
  28. ^ Smith, Michael (4 November 2008). "Newtown Festival". The Drum Media. Sydney. p. 48.
  29. ^ Tunks, Wayne. "Wayne's World; Time to pick and chose". Erin James and Matt Edwards.
  30. ^ Sadlier, Kevin (2 April 2009). "Revived musical from Sydney rocker's pen;Zoo story is uplifting for Ken". St. George and Sutherland Shire Leader. Sydney. p. 65.
  31. ^ Goldsworthy, Tahnae (16 April 2010). "Wild Show Full of Funk". Southern Highland News. Mittagong. p. 16.
  32. ^ Howitt, Bernie (19 March 1996). "Urban Guerillas Just a Lifetime". Drum Media. Sydney. p. 50.
  33. ^ Niddrie, Stuart (8 April 1997). "Urban Guerillas Mad in Australia EP". Beat. Sydney. p. 34.
  34. ^ Smith, Michael (21 August 2001). "For Guerillas BIG BROTHER is reality". The Drum Media. Sydney. p. 64.
  35. ^ Sheridan, JD (9 July 2001). "Live Scene – Urban Guerillas". Revolver. Sydney. p. 63.
  36. ^ Best, Clayton (4 April 2002). "Go wild with Urban Guerillas". Port Lincoln Times. Port Lincoln. p. 30.
  37. ^ Story, Bev (28 February 2002). "Urban Guerillas return". Whyalla News. Whyalla. p. 18.
  38. ^ Casey, Robbie. "Urban Guerillas confront injustice". Green Left Weekly. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  39. ^ Smith, Michael (30 July 1991). "Local and/or General". The Drum Media. Sydney. p. 50.
  40. ^ PSA (April 2007). "Rockin For Rights strikes right chord". Public Service Association. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  41. ^ P.Murphy (1 September 2007). "All People for Environment & Community". Paxchrstinsw. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  42. ^ Australian (5 April 2008). "Political awareness through online forums such as YouTube is a growing phenomenon". Australian. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  43. ^ jPlay (October 2006). "Urban Guerillas Triple J Airplay". jPlay. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  44. ^ Alex Harmen (11 January 2011). "Urban Guerillas And The Wind Brought Change". Altmedia. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  45. ^ Apter, Jeff (22 February 2008). "Urban Guerillas And The Wind Brought Change". Sydney Morning Herald Metro. Sydney. p. 22.
  46. ^ John Reynolds (9 March 2014). "Urban Guerillas Rise Up". GreenLeftTV. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  47. ^ Pupazzoni, Rachel (12 August 2015). "Hutchison Ports dispute: Maritime Union of Australia launches legal action over sackings". ABC News. Sydney. p. 1.
  48. ^ Barman, The (10 November 2017). "Guerilla Radio - Urban Guerillas". i-94 Bar Magazine. Sydney. p. 1.
  49. ^ Cherry, Kevin (11 December 2017). "Barflys Top Tens:Kev "Big Daddy" Cherry of Sydney's Radio 2RRR –FM". i-94 Bar Magazine. Sydney. p. 2.
  50. ^ Laurence, Emily (17 February 2018). "Protesters march through Sydney in rally against NSW transport plans, road tolls". ABC News. Sydney. p. 2.
  51. ^ Smith, Kerry (18 February 2018). "Sydney says:'Fix NSW Public Transport'". Issue 1170. Sydney. p. 1.
  52. ^ Cotter, Fabian (6 April 2018). "NSW Protests get second wind for 2018". Australasian Bus & Coach. Sydney. p. 1.
  53. ^ Kermond, Clare (6 April 2018). "20 years on: War on the waterfront". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney. p. 1.
  54. ^ Eliezer, Christie (2 October 2018). "Michael Weiley of V Spy V Spy passes, aged 59". Music Daily. Australia. p. 1.
  55. ^ "Guerillas don't monkey around with labels". Craig Barman. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
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