Hoodoo Gurus - Bittersweet (Live at Dig It Up! Sydney) | Moshcam

Hoodoo Gurus performing Bittersweet live at Enmore Theatre in Sydney on 22 April 2012

The legendary Hoodoo Gurus are, by any measure, one of Australia's best loved and most enduring rock bands of all time.

Often referred to as the Gurus by fans, the group was formed in Sydney in 1981 by the mainstay Dave Faulkner (songwriter, lead singer and guitarist) and later joined by Richard Grossman (bass), Mark Kingsmill (drums), and Brad Shepherd (guitar, vocals, harmonica). Their popularity peaked in the mid to late 1980s with albums Mars Needs Guitars!, Blow Your Cool! and Magnum Cum Louder.

Hoodoo Gurus had a string of acclaimed pop-rock singles including "Leilani" (1982), "Tojo" (1983), "My Girl" (1983), "I Want You Back" (1984), "Bittersweet", "Like Wow - Wipeout!", and "What's My Scene?". After touring the United States from 1984 onwards they gained popularity on the U.S. college rock circuit with singles "Come Anytime" (1989) reaching #1 and "Miss Freelove '69" (1991) reaching #3 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The band's biggest Australian hit single was their 1987 Top 3 hit song "What's My Scene?" or, as modified for the National Rugby League 2000s theme, "That's My Team".

Hoodoo Gurus' iconic status on the Australian rock scene was acknowledged when they were inducted into the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame. Their induction announcement stated that the Gurus were one of the most "inventive, lyrically smart and exciting" bands from Australia. From 1960s power pop, and wild garage punk to hard driving rock and funky psychedelic kitsch their music stood out from Sydney's Detroit-inspired bands.

[danielcrammond]

You've gotta hand it to them....The Gurus are much gold in their

[scorpio]

LOVE the guitar riff!!!!
Great song!!!!
Forever and ever!!!😎🇪🇦

[argusloud]

My favorite band in 1984... Still love them!

[AL-sfwh]

Havent listened to this song in 25 years. They sound amazing!

[Finsami]

Mark Kingsmill has a snare sound i could recognize from 1000 miles away

[BTR-xwof]

Have always loved bands with twin guitars. What a back catalogue this iconic Aussie band has. I'm finally going to get to see the "Hoodoo's" in November at "The Palais", so so much Aussie pub rock history in that joint. Even though I was only a very young kid - Melbourne 'was' arguably the home of Australian pub rock in the 1980's. So many bands cut their teeth in some of Melbourne's oldest, historic pubs - sadly not enough went on to break into the US market, many did, but many didn't sadly. But their 'musical footprint' is as relevant in 2024 as it was during the early-mid-late 1980's. I was staying with a girl who lived in a house with her Mum, and she'd rented out a room to this bloke who at the time I was living with her, he had hooked up with the iconic Chrissie Amphlett.

[ScragNath]

Top band.
I would pay quids to see these guys in the UK.
Memories of when I lived in Sydney from '82-'92.

[janetamcleod]

Unwaveringly great vocals. Nice work, Dave.

[ddqsm]

Look forward to seeing You All in Seattle, September 18 at the Tractor!!

[p.z.]

Nostalgia...surf na alma...Quilombo, Navegantes, SC...80 e tal...

[lenny]

Oh the memories. Stoney Pony Labor Day Weekend show 1994.

[darrylkelly]

Saw them at the Townsville V8 gig... Awesome show. How good are these guys?

[nickvegas]

New album out. Why did it take so long???

[mrtulipeater]

Lost the phyllis diller hair, but still has the chops

[TheNadaladaDOTnet]

Hot fucking chili dogs they are such a great live band.

[henryhawk]

Was this the gig they headlined over Blue Oyster Cult? I laughed and left the venue after Buck Darma blitzed us with everything in his arsenal. The complete arrogance, but apparently that's the tool that D Faulkner is.