This is a refreshing and honest memoir, not born of ego, but is a personal account about those heady rock years. On stage behind a drum kit, or sitting at a mixing desk in a dark studio, what makes this book interesting is the recounting of how Buzz transformed himself from a ten year old boy obsessed with playing drums in a band to someone who wanted to learn how to produce music in a studio environment.
Along the odyssey, he was fortunate to encounter and eventually work with some fine musicians, artists and recording geniuses, such as Jimmy Barnes, Don Walker, Vanda and Young, Mark Opitz and Mark Moffatt. Also he learned how to deal with people who tried to push him in a direction that he had not necessarily chosen, whilst he continued to manage overinflated egos that threatened to derail some of the great music that was being made.
NO SECRETS offers an insider’s perspective on band dynamics and the realities of life on the road, sharing the stage with mates to touring alongside David Bowie, The Kinks and Cheap Trick. He eloquently describes how the journey to stardom is fraught with struggles, unfulfilled dreams and personal challenges.
Bidstrup points out in the book that the famous line “This is Australia” in the GANGgajang Classic Sounds of Then almost didn’t end up in the song at all – that is until he intervened. He was right there at the heyday of the Australian pub-rock music scene of the mid-1970s and late-1980s, making music with the who’s who of rock royalty, including Mondo Rock and Australian Crawl.
As a drummer, Bidstrup had a unique advantage in seeing which songs move people in a way the lead singer couldn’t. His instincts served him well. Always in-demand as a drummer, session musician, songwriter and manager, he was also an original member of iconic Australian bands, The Angels, The Party Boys and GANGgajang
He also managed and produced legendary indigenous artist Jimmy Little for 13 years and remains CEO of Uncle Jimmy Thumbs Up, which delves into art-based health and community education to schools across Australia.
Some of the most interesting observations in his memoir concern the conduct of some artists, on and off the stage. David Bowie was a total gentleman, a superb artist and performer; Ray Davies of the Kinks was obsessively paranoid, so insecure he had to have Angel City thrown off a tour because they were getting asked for encores; Cliff Richard and his singers gave Buzz a valuable lesson in how to conduct a vocal recording session; and Tiny Tim was just a weird guy, who was always showering during his stay in Australia.
Graham Buzz Bidstrup’s NO SECRETS is a wonderful read with an honest flow that is a must read for not only fans of pub-rock but those young musicians contemplating a future in the music industry.
