This October marks 50 years of Dave Warner’s From the Suburbs, one of Australia’s most original bands and a genuine product of the country’s legendary pub-rock era.
Emerging from Perth in the 1970s, Dave Warner developed what he called “suburban rock” — songs about everyday Australian life delivered with humour, attitude and an unmistakably local voice. By the end of the decade, From the Suburbs had made their mark nationally, with Mugs Game going gold and songs such as “Convict Streak” and “Half Time at the Football” becoming part of the band’s story.
Now Dave is bringing together musicians from across five decades of the Suburbs for a special run of anniversary shows, culminating at Perth’s Astor Theatre on October 24, where original punk outfit Pus will also reunite on stage for the first time since 1975.
We caught up with Dave to look back at 50 years of From the Suburbs, Perth’s music scene in those early days and how the whole Suburban Rock idea came together. We also talk about the upcoming anniversary shows, the return of Pus and plenty more from a career that has always done things a little differently.