Initially shunned by radio and record labels yet beloved by many, Radio Birdman embraced their outlaw status in a mission to challenge the zeitgeist of ‘70s Aussie rock. Their oppositional MO was built on a passion for high-energy rock ‘n’ roll and backed by assertiveness and artistic integrity, which helped them emerge from the Sydney underground scene and onto ABC TV in 1977, three years after their 1974 formation.
1977 was also the year in which Sydney's Trafalgar Records released the first version of their debut album Radios Appear. After catching the attention of Seymour Stein, who had visited Australia to sign The Saints, Stein's label Sire Records released an expanded version of Radios Appear in 1978. Although briefly labelmates with The Ramones and Talking Heads, Radio Birdman were dropped soon after during Sire's attempts to stave off bankruptcy.
Keyboardist Philip ‘Pip’ Hoyle was absent from the band at the time of the Sire reissue, leaving Radio Birdman as a five-piece comprised of bassist Warwick Gilbert, co-founding American lead guitarist Deniz Tek, co-founding front man Rob Younger, Canadian guitarist Chris Masuak and drummer eventually became a pivotal work of Australian rock, renowned for the frenetic rhythms in songs such as ‘New Race’, and the pummelling muscle in ‘Hand Of Law’. Between the Sire and Trafalgar releases, lovers of Radio Birdman are still divided as to which version is better. For diehard logo-bearing fans, or those seeking a conversion, the only true way to experience the Birdman blitz was to attend one of their live shows.
