What: Skyhooks 1975 Canberra Concert Poster
Winning Bid: $192.50 AUS
Starting Bids: $0.99 AUS
Sale Date: 29 June 2013
Description: Original Skyhooks December ’75 Summer Tour Poster
“For Auction is an original Skyhooks December ’75 Summer Tour poster
The picture tells it all
It’s in fairly good condition. The edges are frayed and there are two minor tears, one at the top and the other towards the bottom
Needs smoothing out as has some creasing.
Measures 60cm x 80cm
A great piece of memorabilia”
Time to iron your Amco Peaches, and jump into the Charger – cos we’re doing some time travel aiming for 1975. The date : Sunday the 7th of December and the place: Fraser Park Speedway in the (now blue-collar) area known as Hume (or Tralee) in the Canberra region. Fans of 70’s Australian history will not that The Dismissal of the Whitlam Government had only occurred a mere three and a bit weeks before this gig. But that’s ancient history. The Hooks – still riding the highs of 75 via the charts success of both All My Friends Are Getting Married and “Million Dollar Riff, rode into the capital on an outdoor show which also featured Mushroom label mates Ol’ 55 and The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band. Also sharing the stage was British bluesman Anthony “Duster” Bennett (who would tragically be killed three months after this event in a car crash). Records founders Ray Evans and Michael Gudinski put on this show and I believe in their early days, would bring a lot of blues acts downunder. Fans of nostalgia will also note that the poster states – ‘when Skyhooks fly, they fly Ansett and when they drive – they drive Letz renta car’. Indeed. The ‘In The Heat Of The Night’ Tour would hit most major Australian cities in December of 1975. This is not intended to be a Skyhooks – rant, but if you’ve always dismissed this amazing Australian outfit – now is the time to rediscover their catalogue.
They wrote some amazing, quirky, clever and very very memorable songs. Shirl passed away around the time of 9/11 and (although there were a couple of lovely tribute events) I really think he did not get the adulation/farewell he deserved. His vocals are instantly recognisable and his death was a tragedy. I never saw this band in their heyday, but enjoyed some re-union memories in later years. The hefty price-tag on this auction is an indication that Skyhooks are becoming more collectable. By the way, this speedway currently sits unloved and lost to the elements – adjacent the busy Monaro Highway in South Canberra. Fair to say that the majority of drivers who take this road bound for the Snowy Mountains would be unaware of some 70’s Australian rock (and speedway) history can be seen whizzing by.Time to give ‘Ego Is Not A Dirty Word’ a spin I reckon….(this post’s for you Gig Lizard)
The Rockbrat Blog 
I was at that gig! They played on the back of a flatbed truck. I remember Ol’55 being the support but not the others (must be getting old) Skyhooks encore was a fabulous rendition of Brown Sugar!!
thanks for sharing your memories Phil…
Some good insight there Mr Rockbrat – and to another part of local Canberra History that is semingly forgotten. There are some good photos of Fraser Park in its heyday here
The line~up changed from the poster being printed to the actual show. Captain Matchbox didn’t play, not sure about Duster. But Hush, John Paul Young and Ol’ 55, plus local Mick Choke Band (and maybe some other local Canberra bands) played.
Where can one find other posters from this era for sale?