Radio Birdman

Radio Birdman was one of the first punk bands. Deniz Tek and Rob Younger formed the group in Sydney, Australia in 1974. The group influenced the work of many successful, mainstream bands, such as

Radio Birdman was one of the first punk bands. Deniz Tek and Rob Younger formed the group in Sydney, Australia in 1974. The group influenced the work of many successful, mainstream bands, such as Midnight Oil, but their main legacy was their towering influence over Australian indie rock in the 1980s.

Radio Birdman began recording in 1976 (see 1976 in music) when the single "Burn My Eye" was released. They took their name from a misheard lyric in the Stooges song, "1970". (The actual line is "Radio burnin'") Their first LP, Radios Appear, showed diverse influences, including Detroit bands of the late 1960s, such as The MC5 and The Stooges. The album was totally ignored by commercial radio but was championed by Sydney station 2JJ (Double Jay) and became sufficiently successful in Australia to lead to a contract with Sire Records (US label, home of The Ramones), who released a different version of Radios Appear internationally. It took three years to record a follow-up, Living Eyes, and by then, the Australian punk scene had diversified and the band broke up before the LP was released.