They started to write their own songs and within six months were playing an almost totally original set of punk-psych that was always hard to categorise (Aussie rock magazine, RAM, described their music as “weird and wonderful”, Rolling Stone called them “bleak and serious”).
The original lineup played in Canberra and Sydney and Australian regional towns between 1978 and 1981, releasing the independent records, Bronze Portrait (1979) and Broken Man (1980). In 1981 the band relocated to Sydney, setting up a new home in the inner-city suburb of Surry Hills.
Bassist Marcus Flux opted to stay in Canberra and his role was initially filled by Mick Deegan and eventually Martin Wood.
The band were offered a multi-record deal with Festival Records and drew the attention of renowned American hustler/svengali, Kim Fowley. Their first release for Festival was Running From The Heart, which was followed by another lineup change with Glen James joining on drums and Sam Howard coming in on bass.
Yet another rhythm section change occurred in 1984 when the band were joined by two Sydney musicians – Andy Jones on drums and Chris Jurkovich on bass. This lineup released Around (1980) before promptly breaking up.
The Young Docteurs resurfaced from time to time over the next few years (always with a different rhythm section) before reforming in 1987 with Luke Coleman on bass.
1992 saw the brief return of Glen James on drums and Chris Jurkovich on bass before Paul Hayward and Chris Shakallis recruited another new lineup that would perform from 1992 to 1995 (Michael Arthur on bass and Johnny Butler on drums).
The band returned to the live circuit in 2007. They released a new album in 2016, entitled Beginning at the End.
Chris Shakallis
Vocals Paul Hayward
Guitar Marcus Flux
Bass Gup
Drums Martin Wood
Bass Mick Deegan
Bass Sam Howard
Bass Glen James
Drums Andy Jones
Drums Chris Jurkovich
Bass Luke Coleman
Bass Michael Arthur
Bass Johnny Butler
Drums
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