Axegrinder

Last updated
"Axegrinder"
AxeGrinderFrontHG.jpg
Single by Hoodoo Gurus
from the album Magnum Cum Louder
A-side "Axegrinder"
B-side "Spaghetti Western"
ReleasedJuly 1989
Genre Rock
Length3:18
Label RCA
Songwriter(s) Dave Faulkner, Brad Shepherd, Richard Grossman, Mark Kingsmill
Producer(s) Hoodoo Gurus
Hoodoo Gurus singles chronology
"Come Anytime"
(1989)
"Axegrinder"
(1989)
"Another World"
(1989)

"Axegrinder" was a single by iconic [1] [2] Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus. It was released on RCA Records in July 1989 from their album Magnum Cum Louder ; and was co-written by Dave Faulkner, Brad Shepherd, Richard Grossman and Mark Kingsmill. [3] B side "Spaghetti Western" was also written by Faulkner. [3]

Contents

"I often describe "Axegrinder" as the song that 'killed' Magnum Cum Louder. We had enjoyed considerable airplay for "Come Anytime" (and prior singles) but "Axegrinder" stopped everything cold. Funnily enough, it became one of our biggest showstoppers in concert within 12 months." - Dave Faulkner. [4]

Track listing

  1. "Axegrinder" (Dave Faulkner, Brad Shepherd, Richard Grossman, Mark Kingsmill) [3] — 3:27
  2. "Spaghetti Western" (Dave Faulkner) — 3:23

Personnel

Credited to: [5] [6]

Charts

Chart (1989)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [7] 58

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" "Come Anytime"... best described as a romantic song about an unromantic subject but you can reverse the adjectives and the statement would be equally correct.
"Cajun Country" wears its Creedence influence proudly on its sleeve which is probably the reason we (foolishly) left if off the album and consigned it to the obscurity of a flip-side..." - Dave Faulkner.

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"... was written on the morning after the events described in the song, although I gave them some embellishment to provide a happy ending: the real police declined to join the party. Miss Freelove herself was meant to be the incarnation of Bacchus but if she was anyone, she was me!" - Dave Faulkner.

1000 Miles Away

"1000 Miles Away" is a single by Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus that was written by Dave Faulkner. It was released by RCA Records in June, 1991 and reached #33 on the Australian singles chart;

"Many people have told me "1000 Miles Away" is their favourite Gurus song and it's also among my top ten. There are references to airports and flying but I was writing about emotional distance rather than physical travel. "I Think You Know" was another Punishment Song. We liked to keep bashing out the last two chords for a couple of minutes, Buzzcocks-style, a bit like a punk mantra. Punishment never felt so good."

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Death Defying

"Death Defying" was a single by iconic Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus. It was released on Big Time Records in February, 1986; and was written by Dave Faulkner. "Turkey Dinner", was also written by Faulkner. The single peaked at No. 43 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart.

"One of my favourite songs I've written... I have vivid memories of shooting the video in Kakadu National Park after having awoken to see the news footage of the Challenger Space Shuttle exploding during take-off." - Dave Faulkner.

Poison Pen (song)

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Good Times (Hoodoo Gurus song)

"Good Times" was a single by iconic Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus. It was released on EMI on 13 July 1987; and was written by Dave Faulkner. Backing vocals were supplied by touring mates The Bangles. Its B-side was: "Hell for Leather (live)" and was also written by Faulkner.

"Brad was off gallivanting in L.A. to supervise the recording of the Bangles harmonies on "Good Times". We had toured with them the previous year promoting Mars Needs Guitars! and we watched then go to No. 1 with "Manic Monday" as the tour began. Oh well, so much for the co-headline. That tour and its sequel two years later were some of the most fun we ever had on the road." - Dave Faulkner.

In the Middle of the Land

"In the Middle of the Land" was a single by iconic Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus. It was released on Big Time Records in 1987; and was written by Dave Faulkner. "Hayride to Hell, part 2 ", the B-side, was also written by Faulkner.

"... was written about one of my pet subjects: evangelical preachers and their hypocrisy. As a later song of mine says, 'Follow any creed / If my freedom's guaranteed / I don't mind.'" - Dave Faulkner.

The Generation Gap (song)

"The Generation Gap" was a single by Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus. It was released on RCA Records in 1988 as a single-only release. It was written by Charlie Craig, Betty Craig, Jim Hayner and was a cover of Jeannie C. Riley's 1970 country song. The B-side, "Jungle Bells" was written by Dave Faulkner.

The Right Time (Hoodoo Gurus song)

"The Right Time" was a single by iconic Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus which reached #41 on the ARIA Singles Charts. It was released on RCA Records in November, 1993; and was written by Dave Faulkner. First B side "Road Hog" was written by Brad Shepherd and second B side "Wait for the Sun" by Faulkner.

"... was originally conceived to be just one of a suite of songs, a mini-opera like the Who's A Quick One as I strived to fulfill my Wagnerian masterplan to revive the '70s concept album. Two other songs from Crank, "Hypocrite Blues" and "Gospel Train", also survive from the grand opus. "The Right Time" was intended as the theme for a female gang of motorcycle hellcats, but of course that's obvious." - Dave Faulkner.

You Open My Eyes

"You Open My Eyes" is a single by iconic Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus which reached #43 on the ARIA Singles Charts. It was released on BMG in February, 1994; and was written by Brad Shepherd. This was the first Hoodoo Gurus single that was not written or co-written by Dave Faulkner. The B side, "Something I Forgot to Say", was written by Faulkner. The second B side was a cover of The Victims' "Television Addict" written by James Baker and Faulkner. The music video for "You Open My Eyes" was directed by former Guru, Kimble Rendall and was their most expensive to date.

"... found Brad taking over lead vocal duties on a Hoodoo Gurus single. Though Brad had sung on every album since Mars... this was the first time that people started crying out, 'It's a hit!' The video was pretty spectacular and was the most expensive of our career even though we were charged a fraction of its true cost - thanks, Kimble!" - Dave Faulkner.

Brad Shepherd

Bradley Mark "Brad" Shepherd is an Australian rock musician. Shepherd is a guitarist, singer-songwriter and harmonica player; he has performed with several bands, especially Hoodoo Gurus.

Mark Kingsmill

Mark Adrian Kingsmill is an Australian rock musician. He has drummed with several bands including the Hitmen (1979–84), New Christs (1983–84), the Screaming Tribesmen (1984) and Hoodoo Gurus. He is the older brother of Richard Kingsmill, music director and presenter on Triple J.

References

  1. "ARIA Awards 2007: About Hall of Fame". ARIA Awards. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  2. Pope, Mark (2007-05-07). "ARIA presents the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 30, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  3. 1 2 3 "Australasian Performing Right Association". APRA. Archived from the original on 2008-05-05. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  4. Faulkner, Dave (June 2000). "Pop and punishment". juliat. Archived from the original on 2008-02-26. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  5. "Discogs entry on Magnum Cum Louder" . Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  6. "Discogs entry on "Axegrinder"" . Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  7. "Response from ARIA re: Hoodoo Gurus ARIA singles chart history to 21 November 2017". Imgur.com. Retrieved 21 November 2017. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the single's peak on the national chart.