The band shocked conservative middle Australia with their outrageous (for the time) costumes, lyrics, and on-stage activities, leading to seven of the ten tracks on their first album being banned from commercial radio. Much of the group's success derived from its distinctive repertoire, most of which was penned by bassist Macainsh.
Although Skyhooks was not the first Australian rock band to write songs in Australia, about Australians, for Australians (rather than ditties about love or songs about New York or other foreign lands), they were the first band to do so and be commercially successful, and the songs were set apart from much of the pop fare of the time thanks to Macainish's mordant humour.
The 'Hooks were the Australian pop success story of their era. Their first album, Living in the Seventies, rocketed to the top of the charts and stayed there for so long that it became the best selling Australian album ever up to that time, with the follow-up, Ego is not a Dirty Word, coming a close second. The band's success was also widely credited with saving the struggling Mushroom record label and enabling it to develop into the most successful independent Australian label of its time.
Both these LPs were produced by Ross Wilson, former lead singer of Daddy Cool, which had been the most successful Australian rock group of the early 1970s. Wilson championed the group, signing them to a publishing contract and convincing Mushroom Records boss Michael Gudinski to give them a recording contract.
Remarkably, the success of Living in the Seventies was mainly due to the enormous support the band were given by the TV pop show Countdown, rather than support from radio — in fact, most of the tracks on the LP had been banned by commercial radio because of their sex and drug references. Despite the ban, and as a deliberate act of provocation to commercial radio, the ABC's newly established 24-hour rock music station Double Jay chose the album's first track, the provocatively titled "You Just Like Me Cos I'm Good In Bed" as the first track played on air on its first day of broadcasting on January 19, 1975.
Over the next few years, Skyhooks gradually faded from the public eye with the departure of key members, and in 1980 the band announced its break-up in controversial circumstances. The demands for the band to reform were successful in 1983, with a record sum of money being paid for each of the original members to play a series of concerts. Further reformations took place in 1984 and then in 1990 the band finally recorded new material, "Jukebox in Siberia", which shot to the top of the charts.
"Shirley" Strachan and Red Symons both went on to successful careers in Australian commercial television. Symons was for many years a villain-cum-guitarist on the long-running TV show 'Hey Hey It's Saturday.' He was especially known for wielding the gong on the 'Red Faces' talent segment. He now works on ABC radio and writes humorous columns for the press. After the demise of Skyhooks, Starkie still plays locally, Freddie became the drummer in the later lineup of noted Melbourne rock band The Sports, and other acts such as The Bushwackers and the "Old Skydaddys". Greg Macainsh played with John Farnham, and in recent years has been a board member of both APRA and PPCA, and is currently completing a Law Degree. Strachan hosted a popular children's TV show 'Shirl's Neighbourhood' in the early 80s and went on to use his carpentry trade skills on air in various home improvement TV shows. He was also a familiar face at Hawthorn Football Club functions, of which he was a passionate supporter. Sadly, Strachan was killed in an air crash on August 29th, 2001, when the helicopter he was learning to fly crashed into Mount Alexander near Kilcoy, northwest of Brisbane. Strachan died instantly.
A Memorial was held to pay Tribute to Strachan at the Palais Theatre shortly after. Tribute were paid and Guest Vocalist and Producer Ross Wilson assisted on the night.
A Night to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the release of the Living in the 70s album was held in 2004. It was a historic night with several different incarnations of the band performing. The only absences were Graham Strachan and Steve Hill.
The Skyhooks and Steve Hill then reformed in 2005 in Sydney for a One-Off gig. Hill had been diagnosed with Cancer and the Original Skyhooks, Peter Inglis, Peter Starkie, Fred Strauks and Greg Macainsh joined with Hill to show their support.
The name "Skyhooks" comes from an imaginary device created in the book Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator used to hold the elevator up in mid-air.
Living In The 70s
Skyhooks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel a little strange
Like I'm in a pay phone
Without any change
I feel a little edgy
I feel a little weird
I feel like a schoolboy
Who's grown a beard
I'm livin' in the 70's
Eatin' fake food under plastic trees
My face gets dirty just walkin' around
I need another pill to calm me down
I feel a bit nervous
I feel a bit mad
I feel like a good time that's never been had
I feel a bit fragile
I feel a bit low
Like I learned the right lines
But I'm on the wrong show
I'm livin' in the 70's
I feel like I lost my keys
Got the right day but I got the wrong week
And I get paid for just bein' a freak
I feel a little insane
I feel a bit dazed
My legs are shrinkin'
And the roof's been raised
I feel a little mixed up
I feel a little queer
I feel like a barman that can't drink a beer
The lyrics to Skyhooks' song Living in the 70's convey how the singer feels out of place and uncomfortable in the world around him. The first verse presents a scenario where the singer is unable to make a connection, being like a person without change in a payphone. He feels strange, not fitting in while feeling edgy and weird. He compares himself to a schoolboy who has grown a beard, indicating that he is trying to be something he is not in an attempt to fit in.
The second verse continues to highlight how out of place the singer feels in the 70's. He feels nervous, mad, fragile, and low. He is aware that he has learned the right lines but is on the wrong show. The line "I feel like a good time that's never been had" emphasizes the sense of loss and missed opportunities of the time. The chorus ties everything together, with the singer being lost and unfulfilled, living in an incomplete and artificial world, seeking solace in medication and feeling like a freak.
Overall, the song presents a critical view of the 70's, a time that many consider to be idealistic, carefree, and full of opportunities. The lyrics illustrate how the world is not as rosy as it's made out to be and how individuals can often feel trapped and out of sync with the times. The song is a commentary on societal issues such as conformity, consumerism, and the pressure to fit in.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel a little crazy
I'm experiencing a sense of madness or insanity
I feel a little strange
I'm feeling odd or peculiar
Like I'm in a pay phone
Without any change
I feel stuck or stranded, like being in a pay phone without any money to make a call
I feel a little edgy
I'm feeling nervous or anxious
I feel a little weird
I'm feeling strange or unusual
I feel like a schoolboy
Who's grown a beard
I feel like someone who hasn't quite grown into their current state or identity, like a student with a grown-up appearance
I'm livin' in the 70's
Eatin' fake food under plastic trees
My face gets dirty just walkin' around
I need another pill to calm me down
I'm living in a time where things seem artificial and sanitised, my environment is polluted, and I'm struggling to cope without the help of drugs
I feel a bit nervous
I'm feeling uneasy or apprehensive
I feel a bit mad
I'm feeling angry or insane
I feel like a good time that's never been had
I feel like I'm missing out on something fun or exciting
I feel a bit fragile
I'm feeling delicate or vulnerable
I feel a bit low
I'm feeling down or depressed
Like I learned the right lines
But I'm on the wrong show
I feel like I'm following the right path, but it's not leading me to where I want to be
I'm livin' in the 70's
I feel like I lost my keys
Got the right day but I got the wrong week
And I get paid for just bein' a freak
I'm living in a time where things are confusing and disorientating, and I'm not fitting in with the mainstream. However, I'm still being valued for my uniqueness
I feel a little insane
I'm feeling a bit crazy or out of control
I feel a bit dazed
I'm feeling confused or disorientated
My legs are shrinkin'
And the roof's been raised
I feel like my world is shifting or changing in ways that are disconcerting
I feel a little mixed up
I'm feeling disorganised or confused
I feel a little queer
I'm feeling strange or unusual
I feel like a barman that can't drink a beer
I feel like someone who's unable to enjoy the things that they're supposed to be serving or providing
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GREGORY J MACAINSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kattcity
A bunch friends and I went and saw them in Jacksonville, FL back in 1975 or 1976, They opened for Uriah Heap who was very popular in Jax back then. always sold out in Jax. They absolutely blew Uriah Heap off the stage. We couldn't even watch Uriah Heap after their performance and left after a few songs. I remember people saying that they were like a cross between Led Zepplin and Lynyrd Skynyrd. I went out and got the Ego is not a dirty word and Living in the seventies albums the next day.
@stephenformosa471
One of a number of great Australian bands of that era that had the abilty to match it with most . Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel, the Sunnyboys, Rose Tattoo, the Divinyls, Radio Birdman, the Angels, Hunters and Collectors, Split Enz, Dragon etc etc
@mikecole5066
@@stephenformosa471 Some great bands there. Enz were from the other side of the ditch though.
@annacooper6435
So glad I grew up listening to skyhooks❤️❤️❤️
@chloesmith33
Who's living in the 2020's n still rocking to this....
@yorkemar
This album is the most "revolutionary" Australian record made..and still sounds ahead of its time today.
@r.cjones1515
RIP Shirley Strachan
@nuffzed2001
+R.C Jones 'Seeya Shirl' - Red Symons
@TheNatasha66
We used to know all these songs off by heart as kids....
@sharmsellars2357
one of the greatest aussie bands,,,if you saw them live you would understand why ,,,shirley's voice,,what can you say ,,rip,shirl,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and so many great albums ,,,still have all mine still flog them,,,,