The Young Doctors (as they were first known) formed in Canberra, mid- 1978, inspired by the new music movement known as punk rock. Paul Hayward (guitar), Chris Shakallis (vocals), Gup (drums) and Marcus Flux (bass) were all students at high school in Canberra, the nation's capital. They had seen each other at a couple of the fledgling punk and anti-disco events in Canberra through 1977/78 so they knew they were into similar music. The band initially started out playing songs by the Sex Pistols, Ramones, Dead Boys, Stooges, Radio Birdman, Lou Reed and David Bowie. Almost overnight they also started to write their own songs and within six months were playing an almost totally original set. Their song writing developed from raw, high energy punk inspired tunes to dark moody gothic experimental pieces, sometimes heavy and primal other times melodic.
Their music was once described by Steve Sinclair in the liner notes to a Young Doctuers 1992 CD 'Threshold' release as a kind of " Punk Psychedlia to Pure Pop Distortion Overdrive.". RAM magazine in the early 80's described their music as "weird and wonderful" Other journalists of the day described it as " Roll on the floor and be sick noise". The late 70's/early 80's was an exciting time for live music in Australia, there were so many innovative, new sounds being created by bands. It still seemed possible to create an individual distinctive sound for a band, the rulebook hadn't yet been fully written. The Young Doctuers were a part of that new music scene. The original line up played in Canberra and Sydney and assorted Australian regional towns from 1978-81, during this time the band released a couple of independent records, a three-track single ''Bronze Portrait'', ''The Multitude'' and ''Ecliptic Mirrors'' on the Dull label (1979) and 'Broken Man' (1980).
In 1981 the band moved to Surry Hills an inner-city suburb in Sydney. At the eleventh hour, Marcus, the bands original bassist decided to stay in Canberra. His role was initially filled by Mick Deegan a friend the band knew from Canberra punk/pop band The Word. This line-up was short lived and eventually the new bass player was Martin Wood a 17-year-old from another Canberra band Manshead. The band were also joined in Sydney by manager Dave Brown and Cody Anderson and his frenetic travelling multimedia light show, which added to the bands already intense, cathartic power. Cody also designed the bands distinctive handbills and posters. It was this second incarnation of the Doc's which led to them being offered a multi record deal with Festival Records and also drew the attention of LA scenester, Kim Fowley, renowned American hustler/svengali, who rang the band from the states, offering them fame and fortune. The band continued on regardless. Live the band went from strength to strength, this period also saw the band perform in Melbourne for the first time.
The band recorded their first release for Resistance, ''Running From The Heart'', however just prior to its release in 1983 the band changed rhythm section, now joined by Glen James on drums (previously with Canberra band The Framed) and Sam Howard on bass (from yet another Canberra band, Tidal Wave). This line up recorded a number of demos at Festival Studios though nothing was released until a retrospective of the bands Festival recordings was released on the 1992 CD release 'Threshold'.
In 1984 yet another rhythm section change occurred when the band were now joined by two Sydney musicians Andy Jones on drums and Chris Jurkovich on bass. This line up recorded more demos at Festival and released a 1980 composition “Around” rerecorded in 1985. Shortly after this the band broke up. Over the next few years, the band would resurface from time to time with different rhythm sections. Reforming in 1987 for a series of gigs, Paul Hayward, Chris Shakallis and Andy Jones were now joined by Luke Coleman on bass (ex-The Mothers).
In 1992 saw the brief return of Glen James on drums and Chris Jurkovich on bass. This line up did a number of gigs to promote a limited edition 17 track retrospective of Festival recordings ' Threshold'. Paul and Chris then decided that it was a good thing to be writing new songs and performing again so they then recruited a line up that would perform together from 1992-95, this time joined by Michael Arthur on bass and drummer Johnny Butler who had been performing with former Sunnyboy Jeremy Oxley .In 2007 saw the return of the band to the live circuit this time joined by Mark Nicholson on drums (ex Toys Went Berserk) and and Alex Daley on Bass.
In 2015 original members Paul Hayward (guitars) and Chris Shakallis (vocals) were joined by the rock solid rhythm section Darren Spiteri (bass) and drummer Imants Freimanis. In June 2016 Young Docteurs released a new album, a heady concoction of material from their new, cryptically titled album, 'Beginning at the End'.
Members
Paul Hayward (guitar), Chris Shakallis (vocals), Gup (drums), Marcus Flux (bass),
Martin Wood (bass),Mick Deegan (bass), Sam Howard (bass), Glen James (drums),Andy Jones (drums), Chris Jurkovich (bass), Michael Arthur (bass), Johnny Butler (drums),
Darren Spiteri (bass), Imants Freimans (drums)
References
http://www.oocities.org/owedtenbucks/youngdocteurs.html
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