Supernaut (Australian band)

Supernaut
Supernaut (1976)
Background information
Also known as The Nauts
Origin Perth, Australia
Genres Glam rock, glam punk, punk rock, new wave
Years active 1974–1980, 2007, 2016
Labels Polydor Records
Wizard Records
Associated acts Illustrated Man
The Saints
Twenty Flight Rockers
This Is This
Knock-Out Drops
The Honeydippers
Speedtwinn
The International Swingers
Past members Gary 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 debut album peaked at number 13 in 1976.[4]

Career

Supernaut were signed to Polydor Records in 1974 upon a recommendation from Ian "Molly" Meldrum (in turn tipped off by Paul McCartney).[5] In May 1976, They released their debut 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" peaked at number 16 on the Australian Kent Music Report.[4]

Philip Foxman joined the band after Randall Murphy was fired. A follow up hit, "Too Hot To Touch",[8] was released in September 1976, reaching No.14 on the charts.[9] Their self-titled debut album was released in November 1976 and peaked at number 13, achieving double gold sales.[2][10] The group was presented with two TV Week King of Pop awards for best new band and best video performance of 1976.[5][11] In 1977 the band released two original songs entitled "Young and Innocent"[12][13] and "The Kids are Out Tonight",[14][15] and a cover of "Let's Spend the Night Together" originally by The Rolling Stones.[16] 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.[17] A year later, they released one more single, "Unemployed".[18] before leaving Polydor.

Signing to Robie Porter’s Wizard Records in 1978 they opted back to their original punk influences and became The Nauts. With the addition of Noel Kennedy on keyboard, they released "Spies"[19] and "Black Market World"[20] 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,[21][22] and now plays with rock supergroup The International Swingers.[23] Chris Burnham went on to play in The Saints with Chris Bailey from 1982 and 1989.[24][25] 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.[26]

In 2016, Supernaut commemorated the 40th anniversary of "I Like It Both Ways" with a three-day tour from 16 to 18 June, followed by another show on 25 June at Charles Hotel in Perth.[27][28][29]

Members

  • Gary Twinn - vocals (1974-1980, 2007, 2016)
  • Chris Burnham - guitar (1974-1980, 2007, 2016)
  • Joe Burnham - drums (1974-1980, 2007, 2016)
  • Philip Foxman - bass, keyboard (1976-1980, 2007, 2016)
  • Noel Kennedy - keyboard (1978-1980, 2016)
  • Randall Murphy - bass (1974-1976)

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
Australia
Supernaut 13
The Nauts
  • Released: 1979
  • Second studio album
  • Label: Wizard Records
  • Format: Vinyl, Cassette
 -
I Like it Both Ways[30][31]
  • Released: 1995
  • First greatest hits album
  • Label: Aureate Records
  • Format: Compact Disc
 -
The Best of Supernaut[32]
  • Released: 28 January 2016
  • Second greatest hits album
  • Label: Aureate Records
  • Format: Digital download
 -

Singles

Year Title Australia[33] Label
1976 "I Like It Both Ways" b/w "Lightning" 16 Polydor
1976 "Too Hot to Touch" b/w "Lick My Lolly" 14 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
1978 "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

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Supernaut". Australian Music History.
  2. 1 2 "Noel McGrath's Australian encyclopaedia of rock".
  3. ↑ Supernaut
  4. 1 2 Philip Foxman. "Supernaut 1976 - 1980". Retrieved 2015-02-23.
  5. 1 2 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. ↑ "Supernaut".
  11. ↑ "Supernaut". Nostalgia Central. Retrieved 2015-02-23.
  12. ↑ "45cat - Supernaut - Young And Innocent / Goodbye - Polydor - Australia - 2079 100". 45cat.
  13. ↑ "Young And Innocent".
  14. ↑ "45cat - Supernaut - The Kids Are Out Tonight / Why? - Polydor - Australia - 2079 109". 45cat.
  15. ↑ "The Kids Are Out Tonight".
  16. ↑ "45cat - Supernaut - Let's Spend The Night Together / Space Angel - Polydor - Australia - 2079 112". 45cat.
  17. ↑ http://nightflight.com/i-like-it-both-ways-the-bisexual-anthem-by-australian-glam-band-supernaut-shocked-the-land-down-under-in-1976/
  18. ↑ "Unemployed".
  19. ↑ "45cat - Supernaut - Spies / Misfits - Wizard - Australia - ZS-192". 45cat.
  20. ↑ "45cat - The Nauts - Black Market World / I Don't Want To Be Like You - Wizard - Australia - ZS-307". 45cat.
  21. ↑ "In session tonight".
  22. ↑ "In session tonight".
  23. ↑ "The International Swingers - Gary Twinn".
  24. ↑ The Saints
  25. ↑ "The Saints".
  26. ↑ "Countdown Spectacular 2". IMDb. 9 December 2007.
  27. ↑ http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2016/05/18/supernaut-add-perth-date-to-anniversary-tour/
  28. ↑ http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2016/05/10/aussie-glam-punk-vets-supernaut-unveil-tour-and-final-single-plans/
  29. ↑ http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/sticky-carpet-melbourne-music-news-20160420-go5kio.html
  30. ↑ "SLWA Online Catalogue /All Locations".
  31. ↑ "I like it both ways [sound recording]. - Version details - Trove".
  32. ↑ "The Best of Supernaut". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  33. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 301. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
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