The Baddies

The Baddies have been rocking Sydney for over 10 years, playing unashamedly 'old school' punk with the tightness of accomplished musicians, yet always with a Coopers or two at hand.

The Baddies have a history which stretches back to the early days of the punk and post-punk music scene in Canberra and Sydney. Paul Heyward played in the Young Docteurs and John Morris played in Club of Rome and the Moral Majority during the late seventies and early eighties.

The band have been accused of playing support spots at gigs so they can perform while still sober enough to do so proficiently, and also ensuring sufficient time for a few more beers before the bar closes. Guitarist and lead larrikin Paul Heyward plays using a cordless radio pick up on his guitar, so he doesn’t have the guitar lead limiting the distance he can stand from his amplifier. This leaves him free to wander around the crowd, over to the pool tables, up to - and even onto - the bar. Sometimes Paul takes his guitar for a walk out of the pub, across the street and finally back up onto the stage without missing a note. Meanwhile bass playing vocalist John Morris and drummer John Butler Terry Van Stee keep a constantly driving accompaniment.

Paul is an old friend of mine from when I was living in Sydney, and we spent many late nights playing records and guitars and drinking Coopers, and occasionally other beer. I saw many The Baddies gigs and always had a fun, and usually drunken, time. The Baddies live set consists of a mix of British Punk classics and original songs. The band have also released their debut album “The Baddies Worst” which consists entirely of original material and "The Cannon" an adaption of "Canon in D" by Johann Pachelbel.

I’ve posted a link to their video too where Paul is playing his very groovy Galanti Grand Prix guitar, an italian beauty from the 1960's.

If you're in Sydney and get the opportunity, check them out.


The Baddies - In The Mood

The Baddies - In The Mood (The Video)