Skyhooks were an Australian rock band formed in Melbourne in March 1973 by mainstays Greg Macainsh on bass guitar and backing vocals, and Imants "Freddie" Strauks on drums. They were soon joined by Bob "Bongo" Starkie on guitar and backing vocals, and Red Symons on guitar, vocals and keyboards; Graeme "Shirley" Strachan became lead vocalist in March 1974. Described as a glam rock band, because of flamboyant costumes and make-up, Skyhooks addressed issues including buying drugs in "Carlton ", sex and commitment in "Balwyn Calling", the gay scene in "Toorak Cowboy" and loss of girlfriends in "Somewhere in Sydney" by namechecking Australian locales. According to music historian, Ian McFarlane "[Skyhooks] made an enormous impact on Australian social life".
Graeme Ronald Strachan, professionally billed and known as "Shirley" Strachan or Shirl, was an Australian singer, songwriter, radio and television presenter, and carpenter. He was the lead singer of the rock group Skyhooks. While still a member of Skyhooks he had solo singles, which charted on the Kent Music Report, with a cover recording of Brenda Holloway's "Every Little Bit Hurts" and a remake of The Miracles "Tracks of My Tears". After leaving Skyhooks in July 1978 he concentrated on his solo career. He was the host of children's TV program Shirl's Neighbourhood (1979–83), From 1993 he appeared on home renovation TV program, Our House, as a carpenter and co-host. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1993, Skyhooks were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. Strachan died in August 2001 in a self-piloted helicopter accident.
Pat Wilson is an Australian singer and journalist. Wilson wrote for Go-Set, a 1960s and 1970s pop music newspaper, under the pen-name "Mummy Cool" during 1971–1972. Wilson released several singles in the early 1980s including the hit single "Bop Girl". The song was written by her then husband Ross Wilson of the bands Daddy Cool and Mondo Rock. Pat currently resides in the Melbourne suburb of Elwood.
Ross Andrew Wilson is an Australian singer-songwriter, musician and producer. He is the co-founder and frontman of the long-standing rock groups Daddy Cool and Mondo Rock, as well as a number of other former bands, in addition to performing solo. He has produced records for bands such as Skyhooks and Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons, as well as for those of his own bands. He appeared as a judge on celebrity singing TV series It Takes Two from 2005. Wilson was individually inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame in 1989 and again as a member of Daddy Cool in 2006. Ross currently resides in the Melbourne suburb of Port Melbourne.
Faves is the second greatest hits album by Australian musician Renée Geyer. It was the final release on the Mushroom Records label.
Ego Is Not a Dirty Word is the second studio album released by Australian pop rock band, Skyhooks, in July 1975. The album was the follow-up to their highly successful debut album, Living in the 70's (1974).
Hot for the Orient is the fifth and final studio album from Australian glam rock band Skyhooks. This was the only album the band recorded without its second, and best-known, vocalist Graeme "Shirley" Strachan, who had been replaced with Tony Williams. The album peaked at number 64 on the Australian charts, and was the band's first studio album to fail to reach the Australian top ten. Skyhooks disbanded soon after but reformed in 1983 with the line-up which had recorded its first three albums, though it would not release new studio material until 1990.
Gregory John Macainsh is an Australian former musician and songwriter. He provided bass guitar and backing vocals for pop rockers, Skyhooks from 1973 to 1980 and subsequently for various reformations. According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, "Macainsh's biting, provocative songs were the perfect expression of adolescent obsessions and frustrations. With those songs, the band made an enormous impact on Australian social life." Macainsh became an intellectual property lawyer.
"Ego Is Not a Dirty Word" is a song by Australian band Skyhooks, released in April 1975 as the lead single from the band's second studio album of the same name. The song peaked at number two in Australia.
The Latest and Greatest is a greatest hits compilation album by Australian rock band Skyhooks. It was released by Mushroom Records in November 1990 in Australia and peaked at number 4 on the chart and was certified platinum.
Live in the 80's is a live album by Australian rock band Skyhooks. It was released by Mushroom Records in November 1983 in Australia and was certified gold.
Don't You Believe What You've Seen or You've Heard is three-disc box set by Australian glam rock band Skyhooks, subtitled '40 Years of 'Hooks Hysteria!'. The box set includes Skyhooks' first two albums Living in the 70's and Ego Is Not a Dirty Word which both peaked at number 1 in Australia in 1975. The set includes bonus original B-sides and unreleased demos. The third disc is called Skyhooks in Concert: 1974–75. it features 14 previously unreleased live tracks from 1974 and 1975. The album was packaged with a deluxe 8-panel digipak and a 36-page booklet with numerous never-before-seen images and a new essay from former Rock Australia Magazine editor and Skyhooks confidant Anthony O'Grady.
Live! Be in It is the first live album by Australian rock band Skyhooks. It was released by Mushroom Records on cassette and vinyl in December 1978 in Australia and on CD in 1991. The live recordings are taken from various concerts around Melbourne from December 1975 to July 1978.
The Best of Skyhooks is the second compilation album released in December 1979 by Australian band Skyhooks, following The Skyhooks Tapes in 1977. The album was released following the departure of lead singer Graeme Strachan in late 1978. The album peaked at number 9 in Australia.
The Skyhooks Tapes is the first compilation album by Australian band Skyhooks, released in September 1977. The album features all the band's A- and B-side singles and peaked within the top 50 in Australia.
"Foot in the Door" is the fourth studio album by Australian singer songwriter Russell Morris. It was credited to The Russell Morris Band. Two singles were released from the album throughout 1979, with "Hot Love" peaking at number 48. The album peaked at number 38 on the Kent Music Report.
"All My Friends Are Getting Married" is a song by Australian band Skyhooks, released in June 1975 as the second and final single from the band's second studio album, Ego Is Not a Dirty Word. The song peaked at number two in Australia.
"Million Dollar Riff" is a song by Australian band Skyhooks, released in November 1975 as the lead single from the band's third studio album, Straight in a Gay Gay World. The song peaked at number six in Australia.
"Blue Jeans" is a song by Australian band Skyhooks, released in August 1976 as the third and final single from the band's third studio album, Straight in a Gay Gay World. The song peaked at number 12 in Australia and at number three in New Zealand.
"Party to End All Parties" is a song by Australian band Skyhooks, released in April 1977 as the first and only single from the band's first compilation album, The Skyhooks Tapes. The song peaked at number 24 in Australia.
