Hoodoo Gurus

Hoodoo Gurus hold a singular place in Australian and indeed international rock’n’roll history. Comprising members of seminal ‘70s Aus-punk outfits including The Victims and Fun Things, the band were unrepentant garage-rockers whose colourful personality and pop culture smarts, superb songcraft and unabashed rocking took them to the top of the charts at home and to the forefront of an international garage-rock, alternative-rock and power pop movements in the mid-‘80s.

Accepted as friends and contemporaries by bands ranging from The Bangles to The Fleshtones and Flamin’ Groovies to Redd Kross, the band became real-deal, rock’n’roll heroes of the pre-grunge era, playing to packed houses across the US and in the UK and Europe, and making their way to the top of the US College charts. Over ensuing decades, and with the addition of a couple of members who have added both the Divinyls and Radio Birdman to group’s extended family tree, the Gurus have solidified a sound that combines a range of ‘60s and ‘70s influences into a classic punk/garage/hard rock sound that – like that of their heroes the Ramones – is instantly recognizable even as it is wide-ranging. 

Since their formation in 1981, Hoodoo Gurus boast 10 x ARIA Top 20 albums, 9 x ARIA Top 40 singles and a host of multi-platinum albums – they’re mainstays on the live scene, and perpetually influential to a new generation of artists that have arrived after them. Their debut album, Stoneage Romeos went to #1 on the US Alternative/College Albums Chart and remained there for four consecutive weeks, with it also becoming one of the most played albums of that year on the college network. The band’s subsequent albums, Mars Needs Guitars!, Blow Your Cool, and Magnum Cum Louder all reached the Billboard 200 as well as topping the Alternative charts.

Few other artists have toured as comprehensively, achieved such an enduring reputation over successive generations, enjoyed such loyalty from fans and maintained such high currency for their work. Their sold-out tours have covered the world and established a devoted fan base especially in territories such as Brazil, Scandinavia, the UK, France, Spain, the US, Canada, and across Australia.

Hoodoo Gurus evocative and relatable lyricism, peerless song writing, with a hint of punk attitude – placed in a distinctively Australian context have provided a careful balance of critical success and enduring mainstream appeal for 40 years. 

The enduring importance of Hoodoo Gurus is reflected in sell-out tours, the status tracks from the Gurus’ catalogue as indisputable staples of radio, being name-checked in ‘best-ever album’ countdowns, even having songs played at weddings and funerals, these are just some of the barometers of the strong legacy Hoodoo Gurus enjoy.

The influence of the Hoodoo Gurus songs is felt beyond Australia’s boundaries and often name checked as vitally influential to a variety of other artists. You can hear the legacy of Hoodoo Gurus in anyone from You Am I and Spiderbait, through to Violent Soho and beyond. International artists who have publicly namechecked Hoodoo Gurus include Steve Van Zandt, Manic Street Preachers, Courtney Love and many more. 

As elder statesmen of Australian rock & roll, the Hoodoo Gurus are held in the same high esteem by their peers as they are by their fans. In 2007, the group was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. Two years earlier, a cross-section of the Australian music community paid the band the ultimate homage by lovingly producing a tribute album of Gurus’ covers entitled Stoneage Cameos. It included contributions from the likes of

You Am I, Spiderbait, The Living End, Grinspoon and, most bizarrely, the Persian Rugs.

Through their chart-topping successes throughout the '80s and '90s, their international triumphs and countless sold-out local tours, from their 1998-2003 break-up through to their comeback … and now vital as ever in 2022, Hoodoo Gurus have been - and remain - one of the most popular and successful musical acts Australia has ever produced.

Hoodoo Gurus – A History Through Their Recordings

Stoneage Romeos is the debut album from Hoodoo Gurus. Released in 1984, and reaching #24 on the chart, it boasts the singles Leilani, Tojo, I Want You Back and My Girl. One of the greatest debut albums of all time, the record was featured within the Top 30 of the 100 Greatest Australian Albums of All Time book in 2010.

Mars Needs Guitars is the second album from Hoodoo Gurus. Released in 1985 and reaching ARIA #5 (and #140 in the US), the album boasts the singles Bittersweet, Like Wow-Wipeout, Death Defying and Poison Pen – and enjoys triple platinum accreditation. The album was included in the 100 Greatest Australian Albums of All Time in 2010.

Blow Your Cool is the third album from Hoodoo Gurus. Released in 1987 and reaching ARIA #2 (and #120 in the US), the album boasts the singles What’s My Scene, Good Times and In the Middle of The Land.

Magnum Cum Louder is the fourth album from Hoodoo Gurus. Released in 1989 and reaching ARIA #13 (and #101 in the US), the album boasts the singles Come Anytime, Axegrinder and Another World – and enjoys platinum accreditation.

Kinky is the fifth album from Hoodoo Gurus. Released in 1991 and reaching ARIA #8 (and #172 in the US), the album boasts the singles Miss Freelove ‘69, 1000 Miles Away, A Place in The Sun and Castles in The Air – and enjoys platinum accreditation.

Electric Soup / Gorilla Biscuit - Compiled in 1992 to mark Hoodoo Gurus’ tenth anniversary, Electric Soup collected all the singles from Hoodoo Gurus’ career to that point. Enjoying Triple Platinum status and spending half a year in the ARIA Top 50, the album was coupled with Gorilla Biscuit, collecting all B-Sides in Hoodoo Gurus’ career to that point. The dual collection was awarded an ARIA for Best Cover art (for Richard McNeil and Richard All) at the 1993 ARIA Awards.

Crank is the sixth album from Hoodoo Gurus. Released in 1994 and reaching ARIA #2 the album boasts the singles The Right Time, You Open My Eyes, Less Than A Feeling and Nobody – and enjoys platinum accreditation.

Blue Cave is the seventh album from Hoodoo Gurus. Released in 1996 and reaching ARIA #18 the album boasts the singles Big Deal, If Only, Waking Up Tired and Down On Me – and enjoys gold accreditation.

Mach Schau is the eighth album from Hoodoo Gurus. Released in 2004 and reaching ARIA #67 the album boasts the singles When You Get To California and Nothing’s Changing My Life.

Purity Of Essence is the ninth album from Hoodoo Gurus. Released in 2010 and reaching ARIA #18 the album boasts the singles Crackin Up, I Hope You’re Happy and What’s In It For Me.

Chariot of the Gods is Hoodoo Gurus’ tenth studio album. Released in March 2022 and debuting at #7 on the ARIA Album Chart, it includes the singles Answered Prayers, Get Out Of Dodge, World Of Pain and Carry On.

Through the span of their international triumphs with sold out tours, 9 gold and platinum records and accolades including being inducted into the Australian Music Hall of Fame, the  Gurus have remained  one of the most popular and successful musical acts Australia has ever produced, proving that once again in 2024 with a #1 Album on the re release of “Stoneage Romeo’s” and a sellout 26 date national tour in 2024/2025.