Radio Birdman - Living Eyes (1978)

Getting into the 1st album yesterday, I thought that

the theme could be continued with their 2nd album.

Not everyone knows about this - it was recorded in

1978 but due to record company indifference and the

band splitting up, it was only released years later.

While not quite as good as "Radios Appear", it still rocks

like a bastard and at least 4 of the tracks were used in the

"New Race" project with Ron Asheton.

Radio Birdman - Radios Appear (1978)

Radio Birdman were a band that introduced a whole section of

Australian underground listeners to a love of Detroit rock'n'roll.

Although the Stooges and MC5 are the obvious touchstones

here, there are strong pop hooks, jazz-tinged guitar licks,

keyboard flourishes and vocals that touch upon Morrison

as well as Iggy.

Infectious, essential listening to anyone with a love for guitars

and the smell of overloaded amps!

Band Info

New Race - The First and The Last (1981)

Wet dream fanboy time for Deniz Tek, from Radio

Birdman.

Radio Birdman were a great Aussie band who

channeled the Detroit proto-punk sound into

high energy, snotty rock'n'roll.

In 1981 he contacted Ron Asheton and Dennis

Thompson to form a one off, live touring band

and this live album is a document from that event.

The set is mainly Radio Birdman songs, with one

original "Columbia" but The Stooges get a look in

with a version of "Loose", the MC5 songs "Gotta

Keep Movin'" and "Looking at You" are thrashed out

and there is also a fantastic version of the Destroy All

Monsters classic "November 22nd, 1963" which is a

revelation with male vocals.

This is fast, raw sweaty stuff.