Skyhooks Reunite For Rockwiz Balwyn Calling Melbourne 8 October 2015

Skyhooks do a one-off mini-gig for Rockwiz at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia, 8 October 2015. Ross Wilson stands in for the late, great Shirley Strachan.

[@gabriellefagan1014]

Where would Melbourne music be without those wonderful Bull sisters!🤗

[@markv1274]

(1) The Melbourne music scene is in the crapper. There are many reasons for this, one being the lack of suitable live venues for young musicians to hone their craft. Another is that people are addicted to nostalgia and unwilling to give a new band a shot. There needs to be a balance. (2) We could easily do without The Bull Sisters. Don't even get me started on those two.

[@andrew29666]

There wasn’t a house party in the 70’s that wasn’t blasting out “Living in the 70’s” - Skyhooks were massive - saw them live at Swinburne Uni when they reformed in the 80’s with Shirl upfront - bloody awesome 🤩

[@petervad]

Imants Strauks - surely one of the greatest, creative and most interesting rock/pop drummers in our history. It is just brilliant listening to how interesting he makes a song while at all times staying true to the groove and feeling. Thank you for being a role model for me.

[@blue54band]

Perfect fit for these songs

[@bull716]

I was influenced by Freddie as a drummer as well Australia’s finest👌☮️

[@markdouglas9182]

The Kaboodleschnitzer ia an awesome drummer.

[@VickiRotheram]

I just can't do it , I still love Shirl too much ❤

[@pauliejay4161]

Good work Ross. I'll bet when he produced this song in the studio back in 1974 he never thought that he would be fronting the band singing lead vocals 40 years later.

[@nearlythere1957]

oh der

[@leokimvideo]

Never knew about this, we love Ross Wilson, but no one can ever replace Shirl.

[@mattjohn66]

Now that was great. Made my evening. There's something genuine about letting Ross Wilson front the band given his pivotal role in Skyhooks history. Miss you, Shirl, though.

[@dufensmertz1]

I can relate to this song.. I was 18 , Freda was 26 and hugely overweight .. She kept calling me at home and even at work .. My own version of Balwyn in real life when this Skyhooks song came out..

[@allymayful]

What a neat surprise. I'm thinking - "but who could fill in adequately for Shirley??" But Ross was the producer of the Skyhooks records, so l guess it makes sense. AND IT IS GOOD.

[@easytigerbasscouch6275]

Either Ross Wilson or Leo Sayer could easily front the band. They would own the club circuit in Australia.

[@BraveBoySnapper]

SKYHOOKS are awesome but no-one can replace our beloved Shirl

[@dalediamond]

of course

[@roblostandlate.6005]

BraveBoySnapper. That's Ross Wilson (Daddy Cool), he made Skyhooks! Without him there would never have been Skyhooks.

[@davidendres2696]

Maybe John Farnham check out woman in uniform with both

[@fillhixx]

Pour enough beer in him, I bet Jon Anderson could just about do it!

[@LEObondTraveller]

Leo Sayer would have been a great Shirley replacement back in the day

[@markdp1983]

I wish they'd do a couple of low key gigs with Ross singing. Im a latter day Skyhooks fan so never saw them live..

[@ShazGibbs]

Went to this as an avid Skyhooks fan. Definitely not the same without Shirl but the guys rocked it.

[@buildmotosykletist1987]

Aussie Icons. Thank you.

[@michaelmarshall1713]

Juke magazine has Kiss on the cover saying America,s Skyhooks. I laughed at the time and then became a huge Kiss Fan as well. But Skyhooks were Australian and that is what makes them special.

[@REVENGEPRODUCTIONful]

Both rock

[@DotsKangaroo]

Skyhooks were streets ahead of Kiss, they wrote and sang about local stuff that we could all relate too.

[@suzazza]

Fantastic! It's great to have you back even if for a short time. Wish I had of been there that night :( That distinct Skyhooks sound...cannot mistake it.Miss ya Shirl, you were an amazing front man. Loved the Hooks back in 74' and always will.

[@getcovers]

Awesome! Thanks for posting

[@lauriebiswell4302]

Love my Skyhooks and love me some Ross!!! Skyhooks and Daddy Cool rock!!!

[@MagicThys]

awesome..Ross their producer standing in for Shirl...works very well...thankyou

[@liammalcolm]

Radio Birdman fan and a Skyhooks groupie. Nice one MagicThys!

[@ETERNITY777]

😈😎 PURE AUSTRALIAN ETERNAL ROCK 😎😈

[@KG84C]

Rippa! Thanks for posting this gem!

[@ruiseartalcorn]

Great band!!! Sad that Shirl couldn't be there but I am sure he was tuning in :) Ross kicks ars* anyway so all's good :)

[@djizzah]

holy crap, ross wilson really suits the band.. do a tour!! :)

[@allymayful]

+dji zzahIt was a neat surprise for me too. But he produced the Skyhooks records, so l guess it makes sense.

[@wheresthegovernance4350]

Would be good if Bob Spencer was in there too! 👌👍

[@grahamwalker8940]

why? He wasn't part of the original band.

[@curtismurray9793]

even Bongs band who plays Melb frequently hits the spot

[@pjgold8018]

Was there > Great fun... Thanks for uploading :-)

[@curtismurray9793]

bloody brilliant wish they'd tour OZ

[@joeys5429]

thanks for upload

[@anfnifarr]

It's perfect that Ross didn't attempt an impression of Shirl.

[@gustavobro2484]

The mighty hooks !!!

[@venderstrat]

Love this....love Ross Wilson...but Shirl sang it an octave higher. :)

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

Not even John Farnham could hit notes that Shirl could reach.

[@johnmitchell5782]

You are right. A lifetime ago I saw John Farnham singing "Women In Uniform" and Shirl joined in and kicked John's brains in. I know it was Shirl's song. But even the great John Farnham couldn't compete with Shirl.

[@elmonteslim3711]

They were way ahead of their time

[@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

It's like Angry Anderson singing Bon Scott songs, who else???

[@BoyleZ28]

Shirl sadly missed :(

[@jamescarney6894]

Legends!

[@mariospeedwagon3924]

To people in Balwyn, you don't have a surf beach. I FUCKING DO!

[@thevatrat]

that was great

[@tonycoz2309]

Ah Shirl.....he is missed.

[@ZalMoxis]

Classic song....

[@specialized29er86]

Really was red simon is skyhooks.

[@joeys5429]

Ross sings it well for his age too

[@rossalynsmith5253]

Thou I was a Sherbet Fan but I did like Skyhooks songs

[@manfromhongkong]

RIP Shril

[@venderstrat]

I like the 6th chord at the end.

[@grahamgilby3237]

please tour

[@giggabyt78]

do a tour

[@mikeheule8247]

yes

[@alphasixfive1658]

and the only one not dressed up is Red ?

[@ZalMoxis]

He always played the anti theme persona

[@DotsKangaroo]

He does not need to, he's Red

[@maurojselva]

good stuff

[@robdavidson9747]

If you're in the audience recording , FFS keep the phone still willya lol

[@rickyelvis3215]

curly ain’t shirley

[@mauricemain3463]

That was a bit sad, a bit disrespectful to Shirl. The ONLY possible frontman who could step in for Shirl would have been Claude Crow. He would have done it for a bowl of used band aids as well.

[@AussieOutlaw]

ROSS singing in the Wrong Key don't sound too good

[@ahenshawful]

Not the same, and Bob Spencer is a MUCH better guitarist than Red.

[@anthonymcdibble9496]

True, Red isn't much of a musician.

[@mariusmaine6006]

well that was terrible!

[@ginchville7031]

dreadful

[@toomuchinformationforu9919]

what a pathetic performance ,the band even looks embarrased about it.

[@marshallman1au]

Sorry .... But the party was well and truly over .... Ross was abysmal .... And the Rockwiz Orkestra carried them ..... Sad really .... Shirl was truly "It" .....

[@anthonymcdibble9496]

Ash Naylor and James Black in the background.