During the late 80s, Sydney (Australia) band Noiseworks made a huge impact on commercial radio with the perfect balance of tough pub rock, anthemic choruses and lush production.
Frontman Jon Stevens – born in New Zealand to Maori and Glaswegian parents – had been a successful solo pop star during the late 70s in NZ, where his older brother, Frankie, was also a popular cabaret performer.
Stevens relocated to Sydney in 1981 and signed a deal with the Big Time label, recording his second solo LP in Los Angeles with US session players.
Returning to Sydney, he put together a band called The Change, featuring a number of ex-members of Feather. Keyboard player Justin Stanley completed the line-up, and the group re-launched as Noiseworks in 1986.
The band built up a strong following on the Australian pub and club circuit – largely down to Jon’s dark good looks and ebullient stage presence (a sort of Bono figure minus the messianic pretensions) – and eventually signed with CBS.
Their debut, self-titled, album peaked at #2 on the national chart in July 1987 and produced no fewer than five hit singles: Lies (December 1986), Take Me Back (May 1987), Love Somebody (September 1987), Welcome To The World (November) and Burning Feelings (1988).+
Their second album, Touch (November 1988), reached #4 and yielded four more singles: Touch (December 1988), Voice Of Reason (March 1989), Simple Man (May) and In My Youth (September).
While Noiseworks barely made a dent in the Top 40 for the whole of 1989, their position as one of the most popular live acts in Australia remained unchallenged.
Jon Stevens
Vocals
Stuart Fraser
Guitar
Justin Stanley
Keyboards
Steve Balbi
Bass
Kevin Nicol
Drums
Video
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