Show me some discipline
Some discipline is what I need when it comes to writing posts, so I don’t leave them till the last minute.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2qLrPQBmcI]
Those of us old enough to remember some of the great Australian music of the late 70’s, early 80’s, should remember the Sunnyboys. Fantastic band, based in Sydney but originally from the NSW North Coast, made up of brothers Jeremy and Peter Oxley, Bil Bilson and Richard Burgman.
The music was power-pop at its finest. Songs like “Happy Man”, “Alone with You”, “Love to Rule”, “What You Need” and others do stand the test of time and I still listen to them regularly (hey I’ve got “Happy Man” as my ringtone on my mobile).
Probably their best known and most successful song was “Alone with You”. This was actually written by Jeremy Oxley while he was still at school.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpJrtCmcoq0]
Unfortunately, the Sunnyboys never did achieve mainstream success, nor did they last long. They had broken up and stopped by the end of 1984, reportedly due to internal dissent within the band. In recent years however, band members have spoken of the reasons for the band’s disintegration, which largely coincided with singer Jeremy Oxley’s mental breakdown due to his schizophrenia,apparently brought on by the constant pressure he felt about performing.
There was an excellent article about Jeremy Oxley in the Good Weekend magazine a few years ago – I can’t find a copy online anymore but if you’re keen to look for it : “Lost Chord” by Richard Guilliatt, Good Weekend, 11/9/2004. Tragically, after several years fighting drugs and alcohol, Oxley has lived as a recluse for over 20 years.
In that article, and in some other stuff I’ve read, some warning signs about Jeremy’s mental state are evident in some of his songs. For example, “Trouble in My Brain”:
I was always ill-at-ease,
I feel the pressures of my dreams,
Got a trouble in my brain…
Its very sad that such a talent is lost, and the wonderful songs he wrote and played with the Sunnyboys limited to only 3 albums worth. Also that the band didn’t enjoy the success it so richly deserved.
Still, to reflect on the Sunnyboys’ earlier, and happy times, and also my feelings at having completed this post, here’s one more song to enjoy.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3drdluoYiE]
I love the Sunnyboys. I’ve got an album of theirs – yes a vinyl record.
I just missed the Sunnyboys, but have heard much about them as many of my friends were fans. Thanks for this.
Even I have heard Alone with You. Very nice. No idea who they were. Aussie cultural education courtesy of Aussie Bloggers.
The Sunnyboys was one gig we never missed growing up in Sydney. Now living as an expat in Buenos Aires, I rarely get a chance to share favourite Aussie tunes with an appreciative audience … until one mate came to stay and we danced by the fireplace all night to one Sunnyboys’ hit after another. What a blast! Sad story about Oxley though. Another wasted talent …