Sunnyboys
Sunnyboys were a Sydney based band which went through a number of active periods from 1980-1984, 1987-1989 & again in 1991. I have to admit that I never actually saw them which is unusual given how popular they were at the time.
Jeremy Oxley, Peter Oxley and Bil Bilson had played in a garage band together called Wooden Horse. Richard Burgman completed the original lineup in 1979 when they officially formed Sunnyboys.
They were a high-energy pub rock band that some described as “power pop”. Some see “Pop” as a bad thing but it was meant quite literally. They wrote popular sounding, catchy tunes that really captured the spirit of the Australian music scene in the early eighties. It was rock enough to draw a live crowd and pop enough to be played on the radio. Not a bad combination in my book.
They were the first Sydney band to be signed by Mushroom records and in July 1981 they had their first hit with “Happy Man”.
Members
- Jeremy Oxley – Vocals, Guitar 1980 – 1991
- Peter Oxley – Bass 1980 – 1984
- Richard Burgman – Guitar 1980 – 1984
- Bil Bilson – Drums 1980 – 1984
- Peter Hincenbergs Drums – 1987 – 1989
- Nick Freedman – Guitar 1987 – 1989
- Bill Smith – Bass 1987 – 1989
Recordings
- The Sunnyboys – 1981
- Individuals – 1982
- Get Some Fun – 1984
- Real Live Sunnyboys – 1984
- Days Are Gone – 1985
- Wildcat – 1989
- Play The Best – 1991
- Shakin’ Live 1991 – 1993
- This Is Real – 2004
Known gigs for Sunnyboys
1980
August
September
- with Surfside 6, The Proteens, The Introverts, The ClonesRock Garden, Kings Cross
Stuart Coupe's Birthday Party
November
- with Surfside 6, Jump VisionRock Garden, Kings Cross
- with Minutemen, Flaming HandsRock Garden, Kings Cross
December
- with ME-262, The SaintsRock Garden, Kings Cross
1981
February
March
- with MinutemenSgt Pepper's Rock Café, Kings Cross
May
- with Speed Limit, OutlineWar and Peace, Parramatta
June
- with The AllnitersManly Vale Hotel, Manly Vale
July
- Trade Union Club, Surry Hills
- Astra Hotel, Bondi
- Sundowner Hotel, Punchbowl
- Sydney University, Sydney
Lunchtime show.
- San Miguel Hotel, Cammeray
- Selina's - Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee
- Sylvania Hotel, Sylvania
- Avalon Beach RSL, Avalon
August
- with Flaming HandsSylvania Hotel, Sylvania
- with The KelpiesManly Vale Hotel, Manly Vale
October
- with CrackajacksSylvania Hotel, Sylvania
December
- with Mondo Rock, INXS, DivinylsFestival Hall, West Melbourne
- with The AngelsPalais Theatre, St Kilda
1982
February
- Lady Bay Hotel, Warrnambool
- Prospect Hill Hotel, Kew
- with The Chemicals, MachinationsSeaview Ballroom, St Kilda
- Macy's - Her Majesty's Hotel, South Yarra
March
- with The SwingersFamily Inn, Rydalmere
- with A.E.I.O.U.Vicar Of Wakefield Hotel, Dural
- with X-ITFlorida Hotel, Terrigal
May
June
- with Billy Miller's Great BlokesChevron Hotel, Melbourne
- Sentimental Bloke, Bulleen
- Waterloo Cup Hotel, Moonee Ponds
- with Dynamic HepnoticsPier Hotel, Frankston
- Macy's - Her Majesty's Hotel, South Yarra
- Festival Hall, West Melbourne
July
- with The OrphansFamily Inn, Rydalmere
- with Pat DrummondMaroubra Seals Club, Maroubra
- Dorset Gardens Hotel, Croydon
- with The ReelsBombay Rock, Brunswick
- Seaview Ballroom, St Kilda
August
- with DropbearsBayview Tavern, Gladesville
- with The TurnaroundKuringai College, Sydney
- with EuroglidersSundowner Hotel, Punchbowl
September
- with Hoi PolloiTrade Union Club, Surry Hills
December
- with Hoodoo GurusTrade Union Club, Surry Hills
1983
January
- Batemans Bay Bowling & Recreation Club, Batemans Bay
- with Dynamic HepnoticsPaddington Town Hall, Paddington
February
- Bayview Tavern, Gladesville
March
- with The ZooFamily Inn, Rydalmere
- with JFK & The Cuban CrisisTrade Union Club, Surry Hills
April
- with Hoi PolloiBluegum Hotel, Waitara
- with The Party BoysNoosa Picnic Race Track, Noosa
- San Miguel Hotel, Cammeray
May
June
- with The DebutantesBluegum Hotel, Waitara
July
- with Decline Of The ReptilesManly Vale Hotel, Manly Vale
- Blacktown RSL, Blacktown
December
- Balmain Leagues Club, Balmain
- with Arms & LegsManly Vale Hotel, Manly Vale
- with Hoodoo GurusSt George Sailing Club, Sans Souci
- with The Triffids, Arms & LegsCronulla Workers Club, Cronulla
- Blacktown RSL, Blacktown
1984
January
- with Uncanny X MenRoyal Antler Hotel, Narrabeen
- Narara Music Festival, Somersby
May
- with The NaturalsDee Why Hotel, Dee Why
- with I'm TalkingSan Miguel Hotel, Cammeray
June
- with The Cuckoos, The NaturalsStardust Hotel aka Sweethearts, Cabramatta
1988
January
- Mentone Hotel, Mentone
- The Venue, St Kilda
- Corner Hotel, Richmond
- with TrilobitesThe Venue, Dee Why
March
- with Panic Poets, The Spliffs, Slightly DazedSydney Cove Tavern, Circular Quay
1989
January
- with Tall Tales And True, Trilobites, New ChristsSelina's - Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee
August
- Kardomah Cafe, Kings Cross
1991
August
- Central Club Hotel, Richmond
- Central Club Hotel, Richmond
- Central Club Hotel, Richmond
2023
February
Video’s of the Sunnyboys
Alone with you tonight
Happy Man
Show Me Some Discipline
Had the pleasure of seeing them live but only the once.
I can’t remember the venue but the support band was Sekret Sekret who I actually went to see.
The Sunnyboys were a bonus for me that night, great band!!
have seen the sunny boys a lot. ex husband used to be the sound guy, i always thought they were great.
Who is your husband, and when did he work with The Sunnies?
I heard that the Sunnyboys grew up on the NSW Far North Coast and went to school at Kingscliff High can someone confirm this for me.
I grew up in Sydney and loved their gigs. Now living in NSW FNC.
Yes this is correct
I played guitar with Jeremy and Peter Oxley when they lived at Kingscliff in a band called Foreplay. We used to gig every weekend at the Surfside Hotel in Byron Bay, and at the Port of Call and the Patch, Coolangatta. I mixed the Sunnyboys first gig at Chequers supporting the Lipstick Killers and a few more including the Rock Garden.
Hi Paul,
Are you originally from Narrandera in NSW?
I saw The Sunnyboys live at the St George Sailing Club at Sans Souci in late 1984 (I think the date is close to correct)
Saw the Sunnyboys play at Port Kembla Leagues Club down near Wollongong in mid-80’s. Great concert and even bought one of their printed t-shirts. Still listen to their tracks today. Special moment in time.
That would have been Dec 1, 1984. I was at that show, just turned 18 that day and it was my first time i was (legally) allowed to drink. Awesome show.
[…] Sunnyboys […]
Knew them as young boys at Kingscliff, saw them at Cloudland, supporting, Ian Drury and the Blockheads, fantastic night , early eighties