Inspired by the Detroit sounds of THE STOOGES and THE MC5, took Sydney by storm when they formed in 1974, going on to make two albums before splitting during a UK tour in '78. Becoming a huge influence on Aussie punk and rock during the 80s and 90s, they reformed in the late 90s and have remained active since, even releasing a new album Zeno Beach in 2006, and visiting the UK several times.
Filmed and directed by Jonathan J Sequeira, Descent Into The Maelstrom tells the story of the band and the scene they created around their Funhouse club, with help from all the original members plus various Oz rock luminaries.
Says Sequeira, “Descent Into The Maelstrom isn’t just the story of Radio Birdman, it’s the story of a scene, a movement, in Australia, started by the band. It’s about doing your music, and your art without compromise, when everyone tries to shut you down. Radio Birdman inspired the outsiders in Australian society to do their own thing. Like the band, the film is a completely independent production – the band’s take no-prisoners attitude fed into the making of it. The intensity of the music and the individuals is still there, coming off the screen, and it insists that you too settle for nothing less than the best."
The film's cinematic release has yet to be confirmed, but it will be preceded by the release of a soundtrack album featuring Birdman classics as well as their precursors THE RATS and TV JONES, contemporaries THE SAINTS, homegrown influences THE MASTERS APPRENTICES and THE EASYBEATS plus THE RAMONES, FLAMIN' GROOVIES and RICHARD HELL.
Descent Into The Maelstrom – Funhouse Jukebox Soundtrack is set for release on 9 June on vinyl with free download. It's available to pre-order here.
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