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No Bull
Two young brown chicks walking around Doncaster Shoppingtown dressed like they were about to go and tend to goats in the Swiss Alps must have been quite the sight...'
While most music careers stalled during the pandemic, Vika and Linda Bull soared with two chart-topping albums as they became beacons of warmth in uncertain times. For three decades they were best known as backing singers and collaborators to some of Australia's biggest artists, but it was when the world turned upside down that everyone realised just how much they loved the exquisite harmonies of these hard-working, easy-talking, all-singing sisters.
With charming honesty and infectious humour, Vika and Linda recount the highs and lows, twists and turns they've navigated on the long road to centre stage, from growing up as dark-skinned girls in 1970s Doncaster to confronting their personal demons and stepping into the spotlight as their unabashed selves. No Bull is a riot of a show and a tonic for our times.
While most music careers stalled during the pandemic, Vika and Linda Bull soared with two chart-topping albums as they became beacons of warmth in uncertain times. For three decades they were best known as backing singers and collaborators to some of Australia's biggest artists, but it was when the world turned upside down that everyone realised just how much they loved the exquisite harmonies of these hard-working, easy-talking, all-singing sisters.
With charming honesty and infectious humour, Vika and Linda recount the highs and lows, twists and turns they've navigated on the long road to centre stage, from growing up as dark-skinned girls in 1970s Doncaster to confronting their personal demons and stepping into the spotlight as their unabashed selves. No Bull is a riot of a show and a tonic for our times.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2022
2 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 19, 2022
I pretty much knocked this off in twenty four hours. I am a fan of Vika and Linda and their story of heritage, family and music was most enjoyable.
October 10, 2024
If you have enjoyed the wonderful sibling voices of Vika and Linda Bull through the years, you will doubtless enjoy their duet memoir. Taking turns at singing lead, the sisters alternate stories and reminisces from birth to 2022, when the book was published. Along the way we meet a host of characters, mostly in the music industry, and enjoy the tenacious yet confused way these talented singers have navigated their careers. They would be the first to agree that singing came first and that almost everything else - business, careers, financial security, promotion - a fairly distant second.
Throughout the narrative the most constant refrain is how their connection to and love for their family has been a vital glue and support.
Vika and Linda rarely have a bad word for anyone. Almost every encounter and character is treated warmly and respectfully, perhaps in no small part due to the lack of respect they endured as children (and, sadly, adults) due to their Tongan/Australian heritage. That low-key refusal to get into any kind of slanging or payback is heart-warming, and makes you celebrate their mid-life success all the more enthusiastically.
This is an easy, light read that is sometimes slowed down by repetition. (Maybe their editor needed to be a little less polite). There is also less personal reflection than I would have liked. We often hear gratitude and appreciation for their 'good fortune', but rarely much insight into the inner worlds of the sisters. Despite the appearance of openness, one is left with the feeling that we have not seen behind the scenes, never been invited backstage. But maybe that was not the goal. Perhaps Vika and Linda simply wanted to share a series of simple snapshots of their journey and let us know they don't take any of it for granted. In that case, they succeeded.
Well done, you fabulous musicians. Long may you harmonise.
Throughout the narrative the most constant refrain is how their connection to and love for their family has been a vital glue and support.
Vika and Linda rarely have a bad word for anyone. Almost every encounter and character is treated warmly and respectfully, perhaps in no small part due to the lack of respect they endured as children (and, sadly, adults) due to their Tongan/Australian heritage. That low-key refusal to get into any kind of slanging or payback is heart-warming, and makes you celebrate their mid-life success all the more enthusiastically.
This is an easy, light read that is sometimes slowed down by repetition. (Maybe their editor needed to be a little less polite). There is also less personal reflection than I would have liked. We often hear gratitude and appreciation for their 'good fortune', but rarely much insight into the inner worlds of the sisters. Despite the appearance of openness, one is left with the feeling that we have not seen behind the scenes, never been invited backstage. But maybe that was not the goal. Perhaps Vika and Linda simply wanted to share a series of simple snapshots of their journey and let us know they don't take any of it for granted. In that case, they succeeded.
Well done, you fabulous musicians. Long may you harmonise.
November 26, 2025
I am a huge fan of these amazingly talented humans and I’m so grateful for their contribution to the Australian music industry. I loved that each chapter gave both sisters a voice which offered different but sometimes overlapping perspectives of life events. While these ladies have partied hard with the best of them - this book documents how very hard they have worked to be the uber talented musicians they are today. We learn that while this talent has always existed it has been honed by an unbeatable work ethic, varied experiences and a willingness to give so many things a go. A must read for those who love music, family and having a bloody good time!
March 7, 2023
I have long been a fan of Vika and Linda Bull. Of course, there's the Black Sorrows and their extraordinary backing vocals for Paul Kelly, but it was their self-titled debut album in 1994 - and particularly their song,
Sacred Things
and the incredible rendition of
Many Rivers to Cross
- that cemented it for me.
As is happened, they were among the last of the concerts I saw before COVID shut things down (the Between Two Shores tour, which was a celebration of their Tongan culture and other musical influences - it literally brought me to tears).
Vika and Linda's joint memoir, No Bull , recounts their journey with music, from their childhood - singing at the Tongan church and in the car, with their mother as coach - to their start backing various bands, and eventually performing as a duo.
There is so much of Melbourne in this book (and much of it in my own hood). The Bulls grew up in Doncaster, went to school in Camberwell, lived in share houses in all the usual places (South Yarra, St. Kilda and Fitzroy), and played at pubs and venues that I spent many an evening at during the nineties (in particular, the Central Club in Richmond brought back fond memories).
The writing switches between Vika and Linda and their voices are unequivocally them - the editing has been done with the lightest touch. Like their singing, their writing is in harmony, but their individual perspectives provide richness.
Anecdotes reveal their differences - Vika's willingness to take a risk, and Linda's attention to detail, and her obsession with fashion -
Of course, it has not been a smooth path for Vika and Linda. They don't shy away from describing the difficulties they had making a living from singing and their personal battles - Vika with alcohol (she is now sober) and Linda with her unhappy marriage (these things combined to cause them to be estranged for a couple of months). They also describe the racism they experienced from a young age, with Vika highlighting the fact that the marriage between her Tongan mother and Australian father was highly unusual, given that the White Australia policy was very much in existence when they met.
When I went to their author talk a few weeks ago, Vika and Linda both said that any racism they experienced was handled by their mother, who was determined to protect their father - she didn't want him to think he'd made a mistake marrying her - and to this day he is surprised and shocked when he hears what they experienced.
Vika said that until starting school, she thought she was the same as the other kids in their neighbourhood - "No one had ever called me names before. No one had ever called me black!" There was a pivotal moment when her grandparents arrived from Tonga, and her grandpa came to pick her up from school, dressed in his 'Sunday best' -
Vika was mortified, and yelled at her grandfather for drawing attention to them. She reflects on the incident with great shame, and it ultimately became the inspiration for a song that expressed how much she loved her grandpa.
The overall feeling you get from this book is one of love - a deep sisterly love; love for their family; and love for music.
3.5/5 Probably one for fans, but their positive energy bounces off the page.
As is happened, they were among the last of the concerts I saw before COVID shut things down (the Between Two Shores tour, which was a celebration of their Tongan culture and other musical influences - it literally brought me to tears).
Vika and Linda's joint memoir, No Bull , recounts their journey with music, from their childhood - singing at the Tongan church and in the car, with their mother as coach - to their start backing various bands, and eventually performing as a duo.
There is so much of Melbourne in this book (and much of it in my own hood). The Bulls grew up in Doncaster, went to school in Camberwell, lived in share houses in all the usual places (South Yarra, St. Kilda and Fitzroy), and played at pubs and venues that I spent many an evening at during the nineties (in particular, the Central Club in Richmond brought back fond memories).
The writing switches between Vika and Linda and their voices are unequivocally them - the editing has been done with the lightest touch. Like their singing, their writing is in harmony, but their individual perspectives provide richness.
Not only can we harmonise well but our differences make it work.
Anecdotes reveal their differences - Vika's willingness to take a risk, and Linda's attention to detail, and her obsession with fashion -
Two young brown chicks walking around Doncaster Shoppingtown dressed like they were about to go and tend to goats in the Swiss Alps must have been quite the sight…
Of course, it has not been a smooth path for Vika and Linda. They don't shy away from describing the difficulties they had making a living from singing and their personal battles - Vika with alcohol (she is now sober) and Linda with her unhappy marriage (these things combined to cause them to be estranged for a couple of months). They also describe the racism they experienced from a young age, with Vika highlighting the fact that the marriage between her Tongan mother and Australian father was highly unusual, given that the White Australia policy was very much in existence when they met.
When I went to their author talk a few weeks ago, Vika and Linda both said that any racism they experienced was handled by their mother, who was determined to protect their father - she didn't want him to think he'd made a mistake marrying her - and to this day he is surprised and shocked when he hears what they experienced.
Vika said that until starting school, she thought she was the same as the other kids in their neighbourhood - "No one had ever called me names before. No one had ever called me black!" There was a pivotal moment when her grandparents arrived from Tonga, and her grandpa came to pick her up from school, dressed in his 'Sunday best' -
...a crisp white shirt, lovely leather sandals and a tupenu - a kind of sarong. Over this was a ta'ovala, which is a woven Tongan mat, held in place with a kafa - a belt made from our hair that Mum had made especially for their arrival... Not exactly your standard Donnie grandpa uniform.
Vika was mortified, and yelled at her grandfather for drawing attention to them. She reflects on the incident with great shame, and it ultimately became the inspiration for a song that expressed how much she loved her grandpa.
The overall feeling you get from this book is one of love - a deep sisterly love; love for their family; and love for music.
Side stage, I'll look Vik in the eye and we always give each other a nod or a little hand squeeze. It's a private moment, tight and quiet. We have never said it aloud to each other, but I reckon we're both reaching for the same thing: the sound we make when we get it right, the one that only comes from blood harmony, from singing together since we were little kids.
3.5/5 Probably one for fans, but their positive energy bounces off the page.
April 1, 2023
VIKA: “At home I put Etta on the turntable and immediately fell in love. Oh my God, I thought. Who is this woman? She can sing.
I sang along with those records every day, for weeks on end, and copied everything she did - Etta’s power, her passion and he way she sang a love song and told a story with that incredibly soulful voice. Not only that but the woman was beautiful too. Etta became my musical inspiration from that day on. Don't get me wrong, Aretha was still one of my favourites, but my knowledge was starting to expand. The members of Sophisticated Boom Boom introduced me to some incredible singers, including Ruth Brown, Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith. These guys had great taste in music, and I felt so lucky to receive this kind of musical education. Up until that point I'd only ever listened to Mum and Dad's collection of records, and Top 40 radio.
Sophisticated Boom Boom and the Swingin' Sidewalks played heaps of gigs around Melbourne, and we also travelled to Adelaide many times to play at the Austral Hotel in Rundle Street.”
LINDA: “Vika told me the Black Cat needed staff, so I went in to meet Henry and Toni and got myself a job. The staff at the Black Cat did everything, including making coffee, prepping and cooking the food, cleaning the toilets and floors, scrubbing down at the end of the day, and most importantly, playing DJ.
Toni and Henry's playlist was next level. Latin, Brasil '66, R&B, 50s 60s girl groups, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, ska, dancehall, reggae…you name it, they had it, and the best part was you got to choose the music for your shift. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.
I’m still friends with a lot of the people I met at the Black Cat, including Ros Sultan. Ros and I worked a lot of shifts together and gar along from day one. A proud Eastern Arrernte and Gurindji woman, Ros was older than me and took me under her wing. I loved her and I also loved her little boys, Dan and Luke, who she’d sometimes bring to work. When Dan started singing at the top of his voice, I'd throw bagels at him and tell him to be quiet. Thank goodness he took no notice of us and went on to become one of this country's greatest singers.
Vika was working as a receptionist at Platinum Recording Sudios and living in South Yarra with her mates Tony Dennis and Tanya at that time. They all partied way more than I did, and Vik was establishing herself as a singer with the Thunderwings and the Blue Tomatoes, and guesting with the Bachelors.”
I sang along with those records every day, for weeks on end, and copied everything she did - Etta’s power, her passion and he way she sang a love song and told a story with that incredibly soulful voice. Not only that but the woman was beautiful too. Etta became my musical inspiration from that day on. Don't get me wrong, Aretha was still one of my favourites, but my knowledge was starting to expand. The members of Sophisticated Boom Boom introduced me to some incredible singers, including Ruth Brown, Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith. These guys had great taste in music, and I felt so lucky to receive this kind of musical education. Up until that point I'd only ever listened to Mum and Dad's collection of records, and Top 40 radio.
Sophisticated Boom Boom and the Swingin' Sidewalks played heaps of gigs around Melbourne, and we also travelled to Adelaide many times to play at the Austral Hotel in Rundle Street.”
LINDA: “Vika told me the Black Cat needed staff, so I went in to meet Henry and Toni and got myself a job. The staff at the Black Cat did everything, including making coffee, prepping and cooking the food, cleaning the toilets and floors, scrubbing down at the end of the day, and most importantly, playing DJ.
Toni and Henry's playlist was next level. Latin, Brasil '66, R&B, 50s 60s girl groups, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, ska, dancehall, reggae…you name it, they had it, and the best part was you got to choose the music for your shift. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.
I’m still friends with a lot of the people I met at the Black Cat, including Ros Sultan. Ros and I worked a lot of shifts together and gar along from day one. A proud Eastern Arrernte and Gurindji woman, Ros was older than me and took me under her wing. I loved her and I also loved her little boys, Dan and Luke, who she’d sometimes bring to work. When Dan started singing at the top of his voice, I'd throw bagels at him and tell him to be quiet. Thank goodness he took no notice of us and went on to become one of this country's greatest singers.
Vika was working as a receptionist at Platinum Recording Sudios and living in South Yarra with her mates Tony Dennis and Tanya at that time. They all partied way more than I did, and Vik was establishing herself as a singer with the Thunderwings and the Blue Tomatoes, and guesting with the Bachelors.”
March 19, 2023
‘Linda and I were opposites from the start.’
While I remember Vika and Linda Bull for their work with The Black Sorrows, I mainly know their work with Paul Kelly. I loved their a cappella rendition of the ‘Advance Australia Fair’ at the 2016 AFL Grand Final and have been exploring some of their other work. As the book reminded me, Vika and Linda had two chart-topping albums during the pandemic: their harmonies are beautiful, their voices complement each other perfectly.
But behind the voices? I knew very little about the sisters. In this book, the sisters take it in turns to recount some of the highs and lows of their lives and singing careers. I did not know that they had seven studio albums (note to self: some purchasing is in order), nor did I know that they had sung for both the King of Tonga and Nelson Mandela.
Vika and Linda have worked hard, with the support of their family, to achieve their dreams. I read about some of the challenges they have faced both as children and as adults and admired their tenacity.
Now excuse me while I head off to track down a copy of ‘Sunday (The Gospel According to Iso)’. If you enjoy their singing, I think you will enjoy their memoir. I read the book, but I understand that there is an audio version, narrated by Vika and Linda.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
While I remember Vika and Linda Bull for their work with The Black Sorrows, I mainly know their work with Paul Kelly. I loved their a cappella rendition of the ‘Advance Australia Fair’ at the 2016 AFL Grand Final and have been exploring some of their other work. As the book reminded me, Vika and Linda had two chart-topping albums during the pandemic: their harmonies are beautiful, their voices complement each other perfectly.
But behind the voices? I knew very little about the sisters. In this book, the sisters take it in turns to recount some of the highs and lows of their lives and singing careers. I did not know that they had seven studio albums (note to self: some purchasing is in order), nor did I know that they had sung for both the King of Tonga and Nelson Mandela.
Vika and Linda have worked hard, with the support of their family, to achieve their dreams. I read about some of the challenges they have faced both as children and as adults and admired their tenacity.
Now excuse me while I head off to track down a copy of ‘Sunday (The Gospel According to Iso)’. If you enjoy their singing, I think you will enjoy their memoir. I read the book, but I understand that there is an audio version, narrated by Vika and Linda.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
April 3, 2024
Australian rock legends Vika and Linda Bull grew up in a big-hearted household in Doncaster, VIC with a Tongan mother and Aussie father. Here they share their childhoods, their early singing performances before they became household names with the hugely successful Black Sorrows, their personal milestones and struggles, and their career highs and lows. The sisters also talk about being the target of racism and their experiences of being women in the rock industry.
I thoroughly enjoyed this warts-and-all memoir, both women take a clear-eyed, honest look at themselves both professionally and personally. Their different personality styles are evident: Vika gets her outgoing feistiness from her mother, whereas Linda is more quietly determined. I loved the format of this, Vika and Linda pass the narrative baton back and forth, picking up the story where the other has left off, sometimes telling the same story from the other viewpoint. The two sisters voice the audiobook and their warm personalities shine through—they’re naturals.
I thoroughly enjoyed this warts-and-all memoir, both women take a clear-eyed, honest look at themselves both professionally and personally. Their different personality styles are evident: Vika gets her outgoing feistiness from her mother, whereas Linda is more quietly determined. I loved the format of this, Vika and Linda pass the narrative baton back and forth, picking up the story where the other has left off, sometimes telling the same story from the other viewpoint. The two sisters voice the audiobook and their warm personalities shine through—they’re naturals.
December 28, 2022
When the Black Sorrows hit the airwaves with their song Chained to the Wheel in the late 80s, the Bull sisters’ voices rang out with gusto. From that moment, I was taken by their dual strength and looked forward to their continued contributions to the Australian music scene. Their first album together after leaving the Black Sorrows was a favourite of mine, and I played it when driving to and from uni for a good while, singing along at the top of my voice! Reading this book has given a wonderful insight to Vika and Linda’s childhood, including their differing abilities and interests and their strong bond. They share their own side of the story at each stage of their lives from their early experiences singing at church through their times with different bands and songwriters, experimenting with life choices beyond the music industry and turning back to singing together in bands, on TV and on social media. While I haven’t followed their journey as closely in the last twenty years, this book has encouraged me to go back and revisit their lives, as I’ve missed the many musical offerings they have made and look forward to rediscovering their joyful and powerful voices.
January 27, 2025
I enjoyed reading this tag team memoir from singing sisters Vika and Linda. I have loved their music since buying their first album in 1994. Their stories are a straightforward set of anecdotes with some overlap and some differing perspectives. The personalities of both singers are evident on the page but I finished the book feeling that I still don't really know either of the women. They were polite and positive about almost everyone they mentioned. When there had been disagreements and fallings out I was left wanting to know more in order to understand their story better. Nevertheless I enjoyed reading Vika and Linda's book probably mostly because I am a fan of their music.
January 3, 2023
The honesty and love rises from these pages. Heard Vika and Linda in conversation with the talented Sarah Carroll when this book was released and it was also a beautiful and honest conversation. Have loved their voices since the Black Sorrows. Most recently saw them perform at Queenscliff Music Festival they totally owned that big stage and brought the house down: Raise Your Hand. Loved the taking turns device of this sister memoir. It’s a revealing insight into growing up in the music industry and the steel and hard work needed to survive and thrive.
April 25, 2023
Great background on two great Aussie singers. The audiobook version was read by them, which added a layer of enjoyment. Only 3 stars though, because I think if you’re writing a memoir you have to be prepared to be a bit mean, or have a fun dig, or share difficult emotions - either about self or others. These women are too nice to write a great memoir. Their story was full of very interesting information, but not enough feeling. Too much tell, not enough show I think.
June 14, 2025
Such a lovely unveiling of the trials, tribulations and success and these two wonderful women! As Paul Kelly is an Australian music icon, so too are Vika and Linda! A very down to earth account of their early lives, and what must have been unexpected and unwanted racism; how backward Australian was in the 70s and 80s! If you love their music or not, their story is interesting as a reflection of how two strong, young vibrant women, with loving parents, made it in Aussie music!
August 21, 2023
I love the Bull sisters, always have since I first heard their beautiful harmonies with the Black sorrows. I really like how they've written this from both their perspectives, it really works. I also enjoyed revisiting their early albums (will work my way through their catalogue now)and shed tears listening to Grandpa's Song. A great page turner! Keep rocking!!
December 21, 2022
Listened to in a day as I finished off a big project very good as audiobook
December 31, 2022
DNF audiobook- would probably best suit fans
January 17, 2023
Interesting
January 18, 2023
A thoroughly enjoyable listen.
January 29, 2023
How great it was to read the life stories of my favorite Australian singing duo! And it's a story that, though it has its regretful moments, is full of joy and love.
April 21, 2023
Incredible life stories and tales from the careers of the amazing Bull sisters.
May 2, 2023
An amazing pair of entertainers I have long admired and enjoyed. It was a great peek into the lives of two wonderful powerful women.
January 23, 2025
Excellent read really enjoyed it. Very honest and I liked the way throughout the book you got two views of the same story from the sisters.
October 11, 2025
I love Vika and Linda, but the book didn’t really grab me like t try heir music does.
March 30, 2023
Love the Bull sisters and loved this book- great to hear how they got where they are today
September 13, 2024
I really enjoyed this book about the Bull sisters outlining their separate musical strengths and strengths together from children to today. It was a pleasure to read.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews