When delving into 23 years worth of Hoodoo Gurus history, it’s difficult to avoid some pretty serious musical education in the great post punk, pub rock era of Australian rock history.
To date, Tunnel Vision is probably the most comprehensive DVD project undertaken by an Australian band – in other words, if you’re expecting a fluffy little collection of video clips with commentary, you can forget it.
The Hoodoo Gurus, who emerged from the energetic Sydney pub rock scene in the early eighties, are not only one of Australia’s longest producing bands, but have become Aussie icons. It should be said, however, that with hits like My Girl, What’s My Scene?, and Like, Wow – Wipeout! the success of the Hoodoo Gurus couldn’t help but extend internationally into places like South America and Europe. Their greatest overseas success though, was on the American college radio circuit where they achieved cult status as a kooky punk band from ‘down under’. In contrast their Australian fame was to be centered in the pop/rock scene.
Tunnel Vision opens with a range of fantastic clips of their favourite releases that will have those old enough to remember on a trip down memory lane and those too young to know recognising more songs than they might have thought. The volume of material released by the Hoodoo Gurus is that phenomenal, you’d be hard pressed to find a rock fan of any age who hadn’t heard at least one of their intoxicating hits.
And now for the musical history lesson part one. The ‘vintage live’ segment captures the raw energy and pioneering feel of the live pub scene beautifully with footage from their 1984 performance at Sydney’s Chevron Hotel as well as international material filmed at the Ritz New York USA and the Big Day Out. This retrospective trip comes complete with a kooky range of unavoidable stage styles, from bandana wearing, long haired and teased-to-all-hell, to short and shaved.
The highlight of this DVD and the real behind the scenes footage are contained in the Be My Guru documentary. The retrospective was a bit of a surprise to the Gurus who at the time thought they were being filmed for a little subtext style presentation. To their delight the end result is an in depth look at the history of the group as well as a host of warm and fuzzy reflections on the band’s influence by the likes of Tim Rogers and Rusty Hopkinson from You Am I, Kram from Spiderbait, Chris Cheney and Andy Strachan from The Living End, Debbie Peterson, songwriter with The Bangles, Karen Glauber the editor of Hits Magazine and former American college radio DJ, and Lindsay McDougal fromFrenzal Rhomb.
From the sublime to the bizarre the documentary reveals early Gurus’ television appearances – spaghetti eating on Wonder World, and as backing band to a strange howling dog on popular comedy series, The Don Lane Show. If you want to know the mystery identity of the real inspiration to Like Wow, Wipe Out! the documentary covers that topic too, along with guitarist Brad Shepherd’s comically disastrous onstage interruption of The Bangles Walk Like An Egyptian while on tour together, the incestuous find-and-poach Australian rock scene, the comings and goings of Gurus members, and Dave Faulkner’s brilliant songwriting.
For those who have already been touched by the compulsive kitsch punk rock-pop of this legendary Australian band (and there are many), enjoy reliving rock history and going over some Gurus trivia you didn’t know. And for those just discovering the awesome phenomenon of the Hoodoo Gurus, this DVD will leave you not only thoroughly entertained, but inspired. Tunnel Vision is a journey tracing not only the beginnings of the Hoodoo Gurus, but the incredible journey through rock that has seen them inspire not only generations of fans but also some of today’s best musicians.
Check out the exclusive FasterLouder interview with Dave Faulkner here.
