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Supernaut (Australian band)

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For the Serbian alternative rock band, see Supernaut (Serbian band).
Supernaut
Supernaut (1976)
Supernaut (1976)
Background information
Also known asThe Nauts
OriginPerth, Australia
GenresGlam rock, glam punk, punk rock, new wave
Years active1974–1980, 2007
LabelsPolydor Records
Wizard Records
Past membersGary Twinn
Chris Burnham
Joe Burnham
Randall Murphy
Philip Foxman
Noel Kennedy

Supernaut were an Australian glam/punk rock band from Perth, Australia.[1] Formed in 1974 by British immigrants Gary Twinn and brothers Chris and Joe Burnham,[2][3] their high points were an Australian No.5 single with an award winning video and a Christmas No.1 album in 1976.[4]

Career

Supernaut were signed to Polydor Records upon a recommendation from Ian "Molly" Meldrum (in turn tipped off by Paul McCartney).[5] They entered the Australian charts at no.16 on July 1976 with the single "I Like It Both Ways".[6][7] The song was banned by most commercial radio stations because of its controversial lyrics, but strong TV performances on Countdown and Bandstand forced radio to give in to public pressure and "I Like It Both Ways" hit the Number 5 spot on most Australian charts (and Number 1 on the Bandstand Top Ten).[4]

Philip Foxman join the band after Randall Murphy left the group. A follow up hit, "Too Hot To Touch",[8] came in November 1976, reaching No.14 on the charts.[9] Their self-titled debut album was a Christmas hit, achieving double gold sales.[10][11] The group was presented with two TV Week King of Pop awards for best new band and best video performance of 1976.[5][12] In 1977 the band released two original songs entitled "Young and Innocent"[13][14] and "The Kids are Out Tonight",[15][16] and a cover of "Let's Spend the Night Together" originally by The Rolling Stones.[17] They had worked extensively on sessions for a second album. Once they realized their style of music was out of touch, the project was abandoned.[18] A year later, they released one more single, "Unemployed".[19] before leaving Polydor.

Signing to Robie Porter’s Wizard Records in 1978 they opted back to their original punk influences and became The Nauts. They released "Spies"[20] and "Black Market World"[21] as means to promote a new album (produced by Robie Porter) under the new name in 1979. They disbanded in early 1980. Two years later Gary Twinn formed Twenty Flight Rockers with former Generation X drummer Mark Laff,[22][23] and now plays with rock supergroup The International Swingers.[24] Chris Burnham went on to play in The Saints with Chris Bailey from 1982 and 1989.[25][26] Philip Foxman formed Illustrated Man in 1984 with Japan member Rob Dean, Gary Numan keyboardist Roger Mason, and Hugo Burnham from Gang of Four. They recorded one self-titled album and toured the U.K and U.S.A, with their single, "Head Over Heels", charting the Top 20 on MTV's dance charts. Foxman currently has a solo career releasing two Cd's: West 4th and Charles, and Up Antenna, as well as a musical composer for Off Broadway show, Atomic, which ran for a limited season at the Acorn theatre, New York.

Supernaut reformed for the Countdown Spectacular 2 Tour of Australia from late-August to early-September 2007.[27]

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of "I Like It Both Ways", Supernaut will once again reunite for a three day tour from June 16 to 18, followed by another show for June 25 at Charles Hotel in Perth.[28][29][30] A new single, “Fading Star", will be released by the end of the month.

Members

  • Gary Twinn - vocals (1974-1980, 2007)
  • Chris Burnham - guitar (1974-1980, 2007)
  • Joe Burnham - drums (1974-1980, 2007)
  • Philip Foxman - bass, keyboard (1976-1980, 2007)
  • Noel Kennedy - keyboard (1978-1980)
  • Randall Murphy - bass (1974-1976)

Discography

Albums
Year Title AUS Label
1976 Supernaut 1 Polydor
1979 The Nauts - Wizard
Singles
Year Title AUS

Kent

AUS

Scanes

Label
1976 "I Like It Both Ways" b/w "Lightning" 16 5 Polydor
1976 "Too Hot To Touch" b/w "Lick My Lolly" 14 19 Polydor
1977 "Let's Spend the Night Together" b/w "Space Angel" - - Polydor
1977 "Young and Innocent" b/w "Goodbye" 40 - Polydor
1977 "The Kids are Out Tonight" b/w "Why?" 44 - Polydor
1978 "Unemployed" b/w "Exile" 80 - Polydor
1979 "Spies" b/w "Misfits" (as The Nauts) - - Wizard
1979 "Black Market World" b/w "I Don't Wanna Be Like You" (as The Nauts) - - Wizard
Others
  • 1995 – I Like It Both Ways compilation (Aureate Records)[31][32]
  • 2007 – "I Like It Both Ways" featured on the Australian Pop of the 70s: Get That Jive compilation. (Sony Music Distribution)[33]
  • 2007 – "I Like It Both Ways (Live)" on the Countdown Spectacular Live 2 compilation. (Liberation Music)[34][35]
  • 2016 – The Best of Supernaut compilation. (Liberation Music) (Digital download only.)

Chart information from Barnes, Dyer & Scanes - The Book 2nd Edition 1956-1985.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Supernaut". Australian Music History.
  2. ^ "Noel McGrath's Australian encyclopaedia of rock".
  3. ^ Supernaut
  4. ^ a b Philip Foxman. "Supernaut 1976 - 1980". Retrieved 2015-02-23.
  5. ^ a b Michael Smith (2007-08-14), The Power of Countdown, Drum Media Magazine, p. 38
  6. ^ "45cat - Supernaut - I Like It Both Ways / Lightning - Polydor - Australia - 2079 082". 45cat.
  7. ^ "I Like It Both Ways".
  8. ^ "45cat - Supernaut - Too Hot To Touch / Lick My Lolly - Polydor - Australia - 2079 091". 45cat.
  9. ^ "Too Hot Too Touch".
  10. ^ "Noel McGrath's Australian encyclopaedia of rock".
  11. ^ "Supernaut".
  12. ^ "Supernaut". Nostalgia Central. Retrieved 2015-02-23.
  13. ^ "45cat - Supernaut - Young And Innocent / Goodbye - Polydor - Australia - 2079 100". 45cat.
  14. ^ "Young And Innocent".
  15. ^ "45cat - Supernaut - The Kids Are Out Tonight / Why? - Polydor - Australia - 2079 109". 45cat.
  16. ^ "The Kids Are Out Tonight".
  17. ^ "45cat - Supernaut - Let's Spend The Night Together / Space Angel - Polydor - Australia - 2079 112". 45cat.
  18. ^ http://nightflight.com/i-like-it-both-ways-the-bisexual-anthem-by-australian-glam-band-supernaut-shocked-the-land-down-under-in-1976/
  19. ^ "Unemployed".
  20. ^ "45cat - Supernaut - Spies / Misfits - Wizard - Australia - ZS-192". 45cat.
  21. ^ "45cat - The Nauts - Black Market World / I Don't Want To Be Like You - Wizard - Australia - ZS-307". 45cat.
  22. ^ "In session tonight".
  23. ^ "In session tonight".
  24. ^ "The International Swingers - Gary Twinn".
  25. ^ The Saints
  26. ^ "The Saints".
  27. ^ "Countdown Spectacular 2". IMDb. 9 December 2007.
  28. ^ http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2016/05/18/supernaut-add-perth-date-to-anniversary-tour/
  29. ^ http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2016/05/10/aussie-glam-punk-vets-supernaut-unveil-tour-and-final-single-plans/
  30. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/sticky-carpet-melbourne-music-news-20160420-go5kio.html
  31. ^ "SLWA Online Catalogue /All Locations".
  32. ^ "I like it both ways [sound recording]. - Version details - Trove".
  33. ^ Steve Leggett. "Australian Pop of the 70s: Get That Jive". AllMusic.
  34. ^ The Countdown Spectacular Live 2
  35. ^ "The Countdown spectacular live 2 [videodisc]. - Version details - Trove".
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