Description

‘This book is dangerous.’ – Bart Willoughby

No Fixed Address appeared on the Australian rock circuit in the early 1980s with a reggae swing and a set of songs that gave a voice to the truth of their young lives. Whites were stunned by the pride and defiance of their lyrics, while Indigenous people whispered, ‘Can they say that?’

The 1981 film Wrong Side of the Road brought them to national attention, and they kicked down the door into the lilywhite Oz rock scene, releasing records, appearing on Countdown and mounting tours to the UK and Eastern Europe. Their music was adopted by the Aboriginal protest movements of the time, and ‘We Have Survived’ became the unofficial anthem of the land rights struggle.

It was hard enough being a band on the road during the glory days of Australian pub rock. The casual, everyday racism No Fixed Address experienced as a black band just added another degree of difficulty. But not only did they survive; they persevered. And they endured.

Told in their own words, and including the memories of those who worked with them, supported them, played with them, and experienced their music, this is their story.

‘They came crashing into middle-class Australia. And it changed everything. Really. I think “tip of the spear” is an appropriate term.’
– Shane Howard, Goanna