The Boys Next Door - Door, Door (1979)

Australia's Crow received high praise from Juice magazine as it was deemed "Australia's greatest band". The last band to hold that honor, according to that particular Australian music journal, was a post-punk outfit by the moniker The Birthday Party. The Birthday Party, however, was not always a post-punk outfit and it was not always called The Birthday Party. This once greatest Australian band began at Caulfield Grammar School with a group of boys that called themselves The Boys Next Door.

Nick Cave on vocals, Mick Harvey on guitar, and Phill Calvert on drums were the core of the band from its inception in 1973. Other students John Covivera (guitar), Brett Purcell (bass), and Chris Coyne (saxophone) were also one-time members, but only Chris Coyne had any input (as a non-member) on any Boys Next Door recordings. While still in school, the core's influences came from glam and art rockers like David Bowie and Roxy Music. As they graduated in 1976, the Australian punk movement exploded and the affects could be felt in the band's changing live sets. New Wave material also found its way into their act. Guitarist Rowland S. Howard joined the band in 1978 and became a catalyst in its sonic experimentation.

During the last years of their existence, The Boys Next Door toured Australia prolifically (bootlegs of their performances are common) and garnered both critical and moderate commercial success. In 1978, the group saw the release of their first two singles: a cover version of "These Boots Are Made for Walking" and "Shivers". They followed this up in 1979 with the release of their debut album Door, Door, a selection of slightly poppy, punkish songs from their concerts. The EP Hee Haw marked the last official release of the group as The Boys Next Door and is representative of the constantly shifting direction they would take as The Birthday Party.

Here is the discography surrounding The Boys Next Door's debut album:

These Boots Are Made for Walking (1978 single)
Shivers (1978 single)
Door, Door
Hee Haw (1979 EP)
Scatterbrain (1979 gig freebie)





If you have any ideas for where the musical history tour should go next, please give a shout.

Pass the Headphones!!