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No Secrets: A classic Aussie pub rock memoir for readers of Jimmy Barnes, Jim Moginie and Rick Rubin
Imagine stepping into a packed Australian pub in the mid-1970s and the late 1980s - the heyday of the pub-rock music scene - where the air was thick with the unmistakable scent of beer, sweat and pot, and the atmosphere was electrifying. Doc Neeson, charismatic lead singer of The Angels, famously captured this raw energy when he quipped, 'I know you're out there. I can smell you!'
Australian pubs were then the epicentre of a musical revolution soundtracked by a heady mix of growling guitars, thumping bass, pounding drums and adoring fans. This golden era gave birth to some of the country's most iconic and beloved rock music - and Graham 'Buzz' Bidstrup was at the heart of it all.
In No Secrets, Buzz recounts his journey from his first drum kit to becoming a powerhouse drummer, session musician, songwriter, producer and manager. An original member of The Angels/Angel City, GANGgajang and The Party Boys, he's also made music with a who's who of rock royalty including Jimmy Barnes, Mondo Rock, Australian Crawl, Richard Clapton, Don Walker's Catfish, Swanee, The Stetsons and even Tiny Tim. Buzz managed and produced albums for young artists like Nathan Cavaleri and Diana Anaid, The Numbers and The Riptides, and spent a life-changing thirteen years managing and producing the legendary Indigenous entertainer Jimmy Little AO.
Navigating the complexities of artist management, royalty disputes and the music industry's drug culture, No Secrets offers an insider's perspective on band dynamics and the realities of life on the road. From sharing the stage with mates to touring alongside David Bowie, The Kinks, and Cheap Trick, Buzz eloquently describes how the journey to stardom can often descend into struggles with egos, unfulfilled dreams and personal challenges.
Australian pubs were then the epicentre of a musical revolution soundtracked by a heady mix of growling guitars, thumping bass, pounding drums and adoring fans. This golden era gave birth to some of the country's most iconic and beloved rock music - and Graham 'Buzz' Bidstrup was at the heart of it all.
In No Secrets, Buzz recounts his journey from his first drum kit to becoming a powerhouse drummer, session musician, songwriter, producer and manager. An original member of The Angels/Angel City, GANGgajang and The Party Boys, he's also made music with a who's who of rock royalty including Jimmy Barnes, Mondo Rock, Australian Crawl, Richard Clapton, Don Walker's Catfish, Swanee, The Stetsons and even Tiny Tim. Buzz managed and produced albums for young artists like Nathan Cavaleri and Diana Anaid, The Numbers and The Riptides, and spent a life-changing thirteen years managing and producing the legendary Indigenous entertainer Jimmy Little AO.
Navigating the complexities of artist management, royalty disputes and the music industry's drug culture, No Secrets offers an insider's perspective on band dynamics and the realities of life on the road. From sharing the stage with mates to touring alongside David Bowie, The Kinks, and Cheap Trick, Buzz eloquently describes how the journey to stardom can often descend into struggles with egos, unfulfilled dreams and personal challenges.
437 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2025
4 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 15, 2025
I picked up Mr Bidstrup's new book because he was once the drummer for the Australian band, The Angels, known as Angel City internationally. Not too long ago I read the book Doc on the former front man of The Angels who sadly lost his life to a brain tumour.
I really loved this band, saw them live several times and loved the theatre and energy, and the interaction with the audience. They started out in the late 70's and struggled along, not raking in huge money, nor were they massive anywhere other than Australia but what a great band. Sadly when I read Doc I learned how fractured the band were, having the two Brewster Brothers trying to run the band's direction and recoup all the writing royalties against the rest of the band. Reading this book that same story is repeated.
Like I said, The Angels started out in the late 70's. The best Australian pub rock all came from that era and it is the music I grew up with. So many of the artists I loved (and still do) are/were from this era and so many of those are sadly no longer with us.
Michael Hutchence (INXS), Bon Scott & Malcolm Young (AC/DC), Bernard 'Doc' Neeson & Chris Bailey (The Angels), Steve Prestwich (Cold Chisel), Chrissie Amphlett (Divinyls), Graham "Shirley" Strachan (Skyhooks), Greedy Smith (Mental As Anything), Bones Hillman (Midnight Oil), James Freud (Models), Guy McDonough & Brad Robinson (Australian Crawl), Paul Hester (Split Enz & Crowded House), David McComb (The Triffids), Kimble Rendall (Hoodoo Gurus), Neil Storey, Paul Hewson & Marc Hunter (Dragon), Stuart Fraser (Noiseworks)......... R.I.P
All of these artists were a part of my life, and while I personally didn't know any of them, they all leave a mark when they pass. So, having said that, it made it a little hard to read R.I.P after so many people that Bidstrup names in his book. Most of them are in the music industry but are behind the scenes, roadies, managers, techs etc. There would be more than 100 in his book and it really gave the book a sad tone.
I am not downplaying Graham's career which was so much more than just the Angels but I did lose some interest in the read as he spoke of his other bands and his mixing and managing jobs. I did just pick this up for his stories of The Angels, which his does roll back to at the end of the book.
I really loved this band, saw them live several times and loved the theatre and energy, and the interaction with the audience. They started out in the late 70's and struggled along, not raking in huge money, nor were they massive anywhere other than Australia but what a great band. Sadly when I read Doc I learned how fractured the band were, having the two Brewster Brothers trying to run the band's direction and recoup all the writing royalties against the rest of the band. Reading this book that same story is repeated.
Like I said, The Angels started out in the late 70's. The best Australian pub rock all came from that era and it is the music I grew up with. So many of the artists I loved (and still do) are/were from this era and so many of those are sadly no longer with us.
Michael Hutchence (INXS), Bon Scott & Malcolm Young (AC/DC), Bernard 'Doc' Neeson & Chris Bailey (The Angels), Steve Prestwich (Cold Chisel), Chrissie Amphlett (Divinyls), Graham "Shirley" Strachan (Skyhooks), Greedy Smith (Mental As Anything), Bones Hillman (Midnight Oil), James Freud (Models), Guy McDonough & Brad Robinson (Australian Crawl), Paul Hester (Split Enz & Crowded House), David McComb (The Triffids), Kimble Rendall (Hoodoo Gurus), Neil Storey, Paul Hewson & Marc Hunter (Dragon), Stuart Fraser (Noiseworks)......... R.I.P
All of these artists were a part of my life, and while I personally didn't know any of them, they all leave a mark when they pass. So, having said that, it made it a little hard to read R.I.P after so many people that Bidstrup names in his book. Most of them are in the music industry but are behind the scenes, roadies, managers, techs etc. There would be more than 100 in his book and it really gave the book a sad tone.
I am not downplaying Graham's career which was so much more than just the Angels but I did lose some interest in the read as he spoke of his other bands and his mixing and managing jobs. I did just pick this up for his stories of The Angels, which his does roll back to at the end of the book.
September 22, 2025
A great read from Graham 'Buzz' Bidstrup, telling his story from his growing up in a loving family in Adelaide where he discovered a passion and talent for drums and music to his time with some of Australia's top rock bands, including The Angels, GANGgajang and The Party Boys. Having been present in the early days of The Angels, due to my husband's work with the band, it was a pleasant trip down Memory Lane for me, especially Buzz's remembrances of his friendships with the late Doc Neeson and Chris Bailey and Peter Ware. Particularly poignant is his friendship and work with the late Jimmy Little and his ongoing work with the Jimmy Little Foundation. Well worth a read for every fan of Australian rock bands from the 70s and 80s era.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews