Twenty-five years on and Australian punk legends The Meanies have somehow weathered many a storm to still be not only around but being more relevant now than ever before. 

The band is about to launch a national tour to mark a quarter of century in “the business”.

_{The re-tooled Radio Birdman (from left) is Jim Dickson, Dave Kettley, Rob Younger, Deniz Tek, Pip Hoyle and Nik Rieth.}

Radio Birdman has announced the line-up for its October-November Australian tour with Nik Rieth drumming and Dave Kettley of the New Christs on guitar.
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Rieth, the former Celibate Rifles and briefly Visitors member, was behind the traps for a handful of Birdman shows in 2006. 

There’s a benefit show for Gary Quackenbush of The SRC on September 6 at Club 54 in Sterling Heights in Detroit. The guitarist has been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. 

The SRC were formed by Scott Richardson after singing with the Chosen Few, an Ann Arbor band that also had Ron Asheton and James Williamson (later of the Stooges) as members at various times. The SRC ranks included Glenn Quackenbush, Gary Quackenbush and E.G. Clawson. Jeep Holland, manager of The Rationals, became their manager and suggested Richardson as lead singer. Bass player Robin Dale was added later.

The SRC was one of Michigan’s finest psych bands of the ‘60s and  contemporaries of the Stooges, the MC5 and The Up.

Capacity at the benefit gig is limited to 400 and doors open 6pm.  The bill includes The Reefermen, Frijid Pink and an after-jam with Ray Goodman (SRC) and the Essentials featuring Tosha Owens. Scott Morgan will be the guest MC and will also be performing.

Following acclaimed compilations like "Boogie!", "Dirty Jeans" and "Down Under Nuggets" and deluxe reissues of classic albums and material by Sunnyboys, Archie Roach, Frente! and the early Bee Gees, Warner Music’s hertitage imprint Festival Records continues its excavation of great Australian music with a number of releases focussing on Melbourne’s influential ‘70s scene, to be released on October 3.

“(When The Sun Sets Over) Carlton: Melbourne’s Countercultural Inner City Rock Scene Of The ‘70s” is a deluxe 2CD set that documents the arts and politics-infused rock scene that gave Australia cultural icons like Paul Kelly, Joe Camilleri, Stephen Cummings, Jane Clifton, Peter Lillie, Ross Wilson, Ross Hannaford, Greg Macainsh, Red Symons and Shirley Strachan, as well as author Helen Garner.

The Australian underground music scene has been rocked by the sudden passing of Tumblweed bass-player Jay Curley. At 8am today, the band made a statement via its Facebook page: 

"It is with deep sadness that we inform everyone of a great loss in the Tumbleweed family. Our brother, friend and bass player Jay Curley passed away suddenly in his home yesterday. We are still shocked at the news of his death. We hope that people will remember him for his music, his big heart and his total dedication to rock and roll."

Hot on the heels of the Perth show and a day after the Sydney gig, there's a Brisbane benefit for Lime Spiders vocalist Mick Blood happening in Brisbane.  

"Bloodstock" is being held at Roma Street's Beetle Bar on Sunday, September 28th from 1pm and features the talents of friends and former bandmates.

You can catch Screamin' Stevie, Dr. Bombay, The Busymen, The Counterfeit Umbrellas, The Pretty Fingers, Hill 60, Team Utopia and Brisbane's own Burlesque beauty, Miss Red Devotchkin, from 1pm.

Tickets are available at the door for $10. All proceeds will go directly to Mick's Support Act fund.

Mick is recovering in a Newcastle hospital after a pub altercation left him with brain damage.

Bloodstock on Facebook

www.supportact.com.au