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Interview with
DAVE FAULKNER
from
THE HOODOO GURUS
who with other great artists
just released
“Rockin 4 The Homeless 2020:
The Greatest Hitters”

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Rockin for the Homeless is an annual music charity event that raises money for Redcliffe’s local Breakfast Club. Every year Breakfast Club provides over 12,000 free community meals, assists with emergency food parcels, provides supplies for rough sleepers, and gives information about housing services for those in need.

Due to Covid-19 the annual event had to be cancelled, however, organiser’s came up with a plan to be able to still raise vital funds for Redcliffe’s Breakfast Club. A Rockin for the Homeless double compilation album. The album titled “Rockin for the Homeless 2020: The Greatest Hitters” has been released and features many great Aussie artists that have supported the event over the years.

One such band is the Hoodoo Gurus. On the album the Hoodoo Gurus have an exclusive unreleased song on the album titled “Mighty Clean”. Simone from AMNplify recently had the opportunity to catch up with Hoodoo Gurus front man Dave Faulkner to talk about the event, their new single and their impressive career spanning the decades.

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HOODOO GURUS

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Simone: Hi Dave. It’s Simone calling from AMNplify. How are you?
Dave: Good thanks Simone. Thanks for calling and talking to me.

Simone: No thank you for taking the time to talk to me today. I feel very privileged.
Dave: Well we’re talking for a good reason today that makes it even better.

Simone: Absolutely. I have been a fan for a very long time, since my teens. I’m pretty old now! (laughs)
Dave: Oh thank you that’s kind of you to say

Simone: So how have you been holding up this year with the effects of Covid on the music industry?
Dave: Oh look it’s been a pain hasn’t it! Look we’ve been fine. We’ve been keeping ourselves busy with recording and working towards new albums, so that’s actually helped us out a lot, so we haven’t been too stressed out and miserable. It’s been hard as we just love playing and it’s good for our mental health as well as our physical health. I get out on stage and jump around. I don’t go to the gym or do exercise bikes and stuff like that. So, I get an aerobic workout on stage. So fitness level has kind of helped me as well. There’s so many other things about playing that I enjoy, not just the music, but definitely the music level alone its just part of our psyche and just expressing ourselves musically and we’re a little bit bottled up.

Simone: Yes definitely. And I’m in Melbourne so we haven’t had live music for a very long time.
Dave: I know! We haven’t played a gig since (pauses) – we just did 2 weeks ago which was extraordinary. They were like the special ones that the government paid for, the NSW government have done this thing called Great Southern Nights in November where they’re paying for 2500 artists to perform throughout the state just to help tourism and to give people a bit of a window into a better reality that is coming not far away we hope. So we can go back to a bit more of what we call normal. So that was something good to get out and get our toe in the water. But generally speaking, we haven’t played since January so its been a long time between drinks. So we’ve had the studio to help occupy us and release a couple of singles and things like that that have been pretty enjoyable on that level.

Simone: A lot of artists I’ve spoken to are doing the exact same thing as you. It’s given them that opportunity to get back into the studio and concentrate on recording and writing and so forth.
Dave: And some artists unfortunately they can’t afford to do that, because playing live is how they pay for their studio and all that stuff because it’s not cheap to go and make a record. You can make one at home for nothing but sometimes it sounds like it was made at home and it’s not that exciting for people to hear. So that’s been a terrible thing for the music industry. We can’t minimize how disruptive it’s been and how bad it’s been for the mental health of a lot of people that are involved in music. But for some of us who are able to afford to fund ourselves for a bit for a while to do this sort of stuff, it’s been – not necessarily welcome – but we made the best of a bad lot.

Simone: Of course. And we’ve seen so many great music events cancelled this year and as much as they are all important, I think it hurts just that little bit more when music events that raise vital funds like Rockin for the Homeless have to be cancelled.
Dave: Exactly. Yes. And these are people who don’t have any real way of making money. It’s not a mainstream charity. It’s someone who has got off their arse and put this together and is doing an amazing job on the smell of an oily rag every year.

Simone: Yes of course
Dave: This is a major support for the community. This has obviously been a terribly hard thing so we were really excited when we could think of an alternative plan in the middle of the Covid thing to do something else. Hopefully get some money to help continue the great work.

Simone: Yes of course. And you guys were a part of it last year as well and got to play it live.
Dave: It wasn’t last year, it was a few years ago.

Simone: Oh a few years ago.
Dave: Last year I went up as – like an auctioneer. As part of the gig they also had an auction with memorabilia that people donated, signed guitars and all sort of things, cause you know quite a few people wanted to help Dan doing what he is doing. Sarah McLeod and myself were up there, you know (laughs), making fools of ourselves (Simone laughs). Sarah’s amazing. She’s such a powerful energetic person. She goes through the crowd and grabs you by the scruff of your neck (Simone laughs). She’s a great entertainer. She kind of carried me a little bit. I was just trying to be a second banana as they say, and she was just to get the room going and she did. It was a bit of fun. Then we were talking about some stuff between her and I and that was funny as well, kind of telling war stories so to speak to give people a bit of a laugh.

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Simone: That’s fantastic. And because the event can’t go ahead this year, the organiser’s have tee-ed up to release the double compilation album, and there’s some exciting news for you guys on this album. You’re putting on there a never before released song called “Mighty Clean”.
Dave: And it looked like it was never going to be released because it features our previous drummer Mark Kingsmill. He retired a couple of years ago and this was the recording that was just sitting in the vaults going; well what the hell is going to happen with this now? And it’s a really good song! It’s funny how it got left off this album at the time it was recorded because there was a couple of songs left off that record that I really liked! (laughs). And that’s one of them. It’s just one of those things. It’s not because it was a bad song that it wasn’t released before, it just didn’t fit on at the time. Whether we made the right call it might be something you might want to question as it’s a great song! (Dave and Simone laugh)

Simone: I’ve had the privilege of being able to have a sneak peak and have a listen to it and I think, I guess what I’m used to with the Hoodoo Guru’s it’s a little bit of a different style or genre if you’d like to put it that way, a bit more punk or punk rock maybe?
Dave: We’ve always had that in us. And that particular era came from an album called Mach Schau. We were doing quite aggressive sounding music. I mean we always have, but there was a lot of it on that particular album, that might be one of the reasons that was one of the songs that didn’t get on as there was a lot of other songs that were kind of screamers too. And it was like “urgh we can’t kill people here!”. (Simone laughs). They’ll be begging for mercy! For whatever reason it didn’t get on there, but it is a high-powered track, it doesn’t just sit there! It’s got something to say and it goes 100 miles an hour.

Simone: And it’s really edgy and I really really like it. It’s got such good riffs in it and a good sound. I really enjoyed it. I listened to it quite a few times over.
Dave: We didn’t have a guitar solo before when we recorded it. It was sort of finished but I think it wasn’t finished you know. So when we had this chance to release it I said let’s put a solo on it, it needs one. So we put a guitar solo on and we also added the keyboard that happens just before that guitar solo which is to keep the energy up and basically just go mental! We just added even more energy to the song which was already energetic.

Simone: They say things happen for a reason so maybe that’s why it didn’t get on the album first time. Now you’ve fine tuned it! (laughs)
Dave: Another song we had at the same time that was left off the album and at the time I questioned it and thought we should have it on the record but I got out voted but a song called “Used by Date” which ended up becoming a single by itself! We even made a video and the whole thing. It was like a big release became part of this compilation the best of album we released called “20 Golden Greats Gold Watch” and that was the main song off that. That was new. That’s like a standalone single. So that’s the quality of material that was being left off this record. As I said, we might have made a couple of mistakes there. (laughs)

Simone: (Laughs) Well there’s always time!
Dave: The story of the song is; it’s about basically when you’ve had a big week at work and you’re kind of feeling like you need to let off some steam and you head out somewhere and have a couple of drinks and meet some nice people and mainly get friendly. I don’t like being at work so let’s let our hair down so to speak.

Simone: It’s a really fun song I think it will be very well received on the album when the public are able to get their hands on it.
Dave: Yeah cool

Simone: I also wanted to say that you’re no stranger to working alongside charities. In 2003 you did a parody of one of your own song “What’s my Scene” and re-made it as “That’s my team” for the National Rugby League and all profits were donated to several breast cancer charities.
Dave: We’ve always done as much as we can. We don’t talk about it a lot, things like this, like the Breakfast Club, things that make sense to us we obviously like to be involved in that.

Simone: Yes of course. And I found a couple of others that I wrote down the information. In 2009 you performed at Soundrelief which was a benefit concert for the Victorian Bushfire crisis and the Queensland floods. And in 2018 you did another benefit again for bushfires as well.
Dave: Yeah we’ve done several of those. We even went to China and played a show that was a benefit for earthquakes over there a few years ago. So yes, these things happen.

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Simone: Yes, and I was going to say what does it mean to yourself and the Hoodoo Gurus as a band to be able to participate in these types of live music charity events?
Dave: We do. We like it. But the only trouble is, I’ve gotta say, that the problem we have, and that is that we cut our expenses production wise. We’ve got crew and things like that that we need to have to put on the show we think our audience deserves. We won’t go out there and do a half-cut rate show. And that does slightly rule out some of the smaller events for us, because we don’t want to see the charity wasting all it’s money on production expenses. So we tend to only be able to play as a whole band at the bigger ones. That’s why this is kind of fun we can actually get the whole band on the album. When we played the original Rockin for the Homeless show it was just Brad and I as a duo because we just thought we don’t want to see any of this money wasted trying to get our crew up here, so we just did it as a duo which was a lot of fun. And those shows are great. It’s kind of like seeing the Hoodoo Gurus without drums that’s all. And people still dance. It’s not like we need a drummer to get people to dance. They still get into it. So that’s the only thing. It’s nice that this time we get the entire band involved in the Rockin for the Homeless charity and not just the two of us.

Simone: Yeah definitely that’s really good. And I just wanted to mention a bit of background. The Hoodoo Gurus you guys are a part of Australian rock royalty. You formed in 1981, you’ve toured extensively worldwide, played a variety of shows, won various award, you’ve been inducted to the ARIA hall of fame in 2007. And as you’ve said before you’ve remained quite active on the gig circuit for many years. You do your own shows as well as play many festivals like Splendour in the Grass, A Day on the Green, Meredith Music Festival etc. What shows do you guys prefer playing? Is it your own tour shows or do you like playing these bigger festivals?
Dave: Well I think that’s a funny thing to say because we basically like playing. Present us with an opportunity and we’ll go out there and do our best. For example, we played a show, the last show we did before the Covid shut down, we played with Cold Chisel at Paramatta Stadium. It was a very big show and we had a ball. So we don’t mind opening for other bands if it’s going to be a fun night. But of course, it’s true you do like to do your shows where you’re in charge and the audience is coming to see you. They’re more likely know to know every one of your songs and the real die hards that know what you’re about. But we don’t mind educating an audience.

Simone: (laughs) Of course of course!
Dave: I think the thing that a lot of people find when they see the Hoodoo Gurus live is that they’re shocked – well the casual listeners anyway, they’re surprised how many of our songs they do know they don’t realise it they’ve kind of been absorbing us all their life without realizing it. They didn’t recognize that particular song was a Hoodoo Gurus song. Even young kids for example, they hear the song “Come Anytime” they say “oh that’s the song from Thank God You’re Here” when they were little kids maybe. So they’ve been singing Hoodoo Gurus songs for all these years. Things like that. We’re still happy to play to strangers, but we also like playing to friends. We get to play longer as well. When you’re on a big bill you do a shorter set. Lucky with Red Hot Summer we are playing a long set and we are doing the full hour with Jimmy Barnes and a bunch of other people. But sometimes you are doing 45 minutes or even less sometimes. I haven’t done that for a while, the smaller shows, the shorter shows, but it’s nice to give the full picture what you’re about. When you do a short set, you have to leave out songs that are less well travelled so to speak.

Simone: Fully agree with you about those festival ones, as you said, they do bring in a large age range group and I’ve got kids myself who are heading into their teens and of course they know all of my music (Dave laughs). Yep they’re all over the Hoodoo Gurus! It’s things like that as you said you see young people at these things that perhaps haven’t heard of music from back in the 80’s, 90’s, even early 2000’s, and then they hear you guys and they say yes I recognize it, yes I love it, yes I’ve heard it that somewhere before be it on radio or on a tv show or a movie.
Dave: I had the same experience myself when I was a teen I went to see ACDC and I just bought a ticket as I heard they were good in concert and I sort of knew a couple of songs but after I went I realised I knew so many of their songs. It happens to all of us. And we all don’t have to expect everyone to be the biggest avid collector of your records to enjoy your show. That’s how we got to where we are. The fact that we can just have people show up that don’t even know anything about us and enjoy it.

Simone: Yes. Absolutely. And I just want to finish off on, because you have such an amazing career that spans the decades, I think we’re very lucky in Australia we’ve got a lot of long staying music and Aussie artists that have been around for decades hence shows like The Red Hot Summer Tour. It’s all these people from back in my day (laughs) I love it. So with a career that spans decades what have been some of the highlights for you as a band over the years?
Dave: Wow! Now now now! (laughs)

Simone: I know I know! There’s going to be a lot! Or do you have a particular favourite memory or something that really stands out?
Dave: I’ve got so many of them obviously. Being in this band has been like an adventure. You get to do things you never dreamed you’d do. And the fact that we’ve been here doing it for so long is kind of mind boggling in itself. That’s an achievement in itself. To still be making music after all this time and still feeling just as strongly about people enjoying it and say the new songs are great. Those things really matter a lot to us. We don’t just go up there and clock on and clock off and just pick up some cash for being there. We actually want to contribute and make people feel like we have a reason for being around not just the fact that you happen to be. And that’s new songs, and it’s also going out there every night wanting the audience to have the best night of their lives. We feel very strongly that way. I think the best artists that do hang around have that attitude which is just really want to give a good account of themselves and that people have a great night. And if that happens, people recognize that and keep coming back and they know they’ll get something they want rather than take a punt on something that might not quite deliver. Hopefully they will take a punt on things though as new music is very important too. But there’s no shame having an artist that has a few miles on the clock. They might know a thing or two on how to do these things.

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Simone: Absolutely. I’ve always said I think you have the best of both worlds. A lot of artists talk about old school days before internet, before putting things out online, all of the online music stuff compared to where you used to go out and buy vinyl and we used to take it out of its sleeve.
Dave: Times do change and you do loose a lot of things that were worthy, but there’s some things about what’s happening that are really exciting too. For example, we released a single a while back which we recorded, and we had it out virtually within a few weeks. You couldn’t have done that in the past. Getting it to the factory and all that sort of stuff it was huge. Just being able to chuck it out digitally after just putting it in the system that way it’s out almost immediately. It’s a luxury. And it’s fantastic and so on top of things that way. And you know another thing as well, people thought that when the internet came in that all this stuff was going to somehow destroy all the old artists, in fact it’s been the opposite. Because a lot of kids now are discovering artists that were before their time which they wouldn’t even had a way of finding out about in the past because you know unless they went to a record shop and spoke to the person behind the counter that put them on to things, they wouldn’t be hearing them on the local radio station or on their television, they wouldn’t be able to see it. Where as with the internet you can now go to a chat room, or you can see one thing led to another – if you like this you might like that – and people are discovering all this music from all eras and all places and all styles. And they are able to do their own personal radio station so to speak. They can just follow their nose and find all this music they never otherwise hear. And that has been a boom for artists like ourselves and many others who have got a bit of history and people discover that history. Those songs aren’t something like you might hear on the playlist anymore because it was old and only the latest single which is by so and so. It’s been funny. And you sense a real hunger in the younger audience, in younger people. You hear them talk about all the time that they wish they grew up in the 80’s or something. They get a sense of what they might have missed just through discovering artists like us and other artists. They do want to find out more about the music they like, where it comes from and sometimes they like to trace it back its roots and that’s what I’ve always done myself, the music and artists that I love I went back to find the artist that influenced them and I listen to that. That’s what being a music band is about. These days you can do it from the comfort of your home with a computer.

Simone: Absolutely yes. And I hope like you said that with the album coming out for Rockin for the Homeless that it gives more people the opportunity to grab the album if they couldn’t get a long to the show. So it has a wider reach.
Dave: Absolutely. The money goes towards a very good cause. You’re helping to make the world a nicer place for people that are having a tough time or if they are very lonely and old people that have one square meal that they’re living pretty tight on their budget of the pension, or they’re just lonely people who want to go over and meet some people and feel welcome. That’s what the Breakfast Club does as well. It’s not just literally about dishing out meals. It’s about giving a sense of community and being a part of the community. It’s a bigger thing than just giving someone some food. That’s very important mind you but it’s more than that. This album is going to do a lot of good for people and I hope people will support it and enjoy the record as well because there’s a benefit for the person that buys it because they’ll get some great music that they wouldn’t be able to get any other way.

Simone: Yes absolutely. Well thank you so much for talking to me today about your journey as well as Rockin for the Homeless, it’s been a great pleasure.
Dave: My pleasure.

Simone: I can’t wait to see you guys back on the road again soon, particularly in Melbourne (laughs)
Dave: Yes, we’ll be there soon!

Simone: No worries, I’ll be in the photopit taking photos and I’ll give you a wave! (Simone and Dave laugh)
Dave: Lovely. Thank you. And say hi to your kids from us. I hope they like the new song we’ve got coming out.

Simone: Absolutely. I let my kids have a sneak peak listen and they did enjoy it.
Dave: No worries. Lovely to speak to you and thank you.

Simone: No worries thanks Dave and enjoy the rest of your day.
Dave: You too. Thank you. Good bye.

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Follow HOODOO GURUS
Website – Facebook

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Follow ROCKIN’ 4 THE HOMELESS
Website – Facebook

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Follow BREAKFAST CLUB REDCLIFFE
Website – Facebook

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Press Release 2nd December – HERE

Heavy hitting Australian Artists
team up with local bands & community
to release benefit album:
“Rockin 4 The Homeless 2020:
The Greatest Hitters”

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The Artists – In Their Own Words

The Hoodoo Gurus are very proud to once again be part of Rockin’ 4 The Homeless. R4TH raises funds to support Dan Nebe’s amazing work with The Breakfast Club, a community program that provides nourishment – both physical and emotional – for some of the most neglected people in our society. Whether someone is homeless, elderly, poverty-stricken or even just simply lonely, The Breakfast Club is a welcome outpost of generosity in an uncaring world. Rocking’ 4 The Homeless is putting charity right where it is most desperately needed. PS – The Album Rocks – Dave Faulkner – Hoodoo Gurus

“I was homeless as a child with my family. I know it was part of my journey, but I wish for no kids to have to sleep under buildings or beg for food. I wish for no kids to miss breakfast and lunch, dreadlocked and unbathed, going to school barefoot and having to sit out excursions and sport. I wish for a better future for everyone, not just for those who have been lucky or fortunate at birth, or who have more than what they need in life. If people knew about the poverty and struggle that so many families have to go through just to keep a roof over their head..perhaps there would be more given to organisations like R4TH. It is an honour to be amongst the other artists giving their time and energy to this project and also Dan is a total legend (and a good mate) that I am proud to stand behind for this mammothly important issue raising funds and raising awareness.” – Diana Ahnaid

“The guys at Rockin For The Homeless go above and beyond to help out people in need. They’re relentless in their pursuit to raise money and they do it in such a fun way. Rock n roll gigs and the auctioning of rock n roll memorabilia, a couple of beers and a few laughs, it’s always a good time for a good cause.” – Sarah McLeod

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AMNPLIFY – DB

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