Artist description 3 piece .. Bass, drums and guitar in overdrive Often accompanied by didjeridu or violin

Music Style Punk/Pop/Rock

Musical Influences Leadbelly Sex Pistols Billy Bragg

Similar Artists Who/Jam but mostly Urban Guerillas

Artist History Ken Stewart started the Urban Guerillas in his hometown of Adelaidebefore moving to Sydney. The Urban Guerillas havenotched up over 1000 gigs from the inner city venues of Sydney,Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart to the most outer suburbs andcountry towns of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmaniaincluding playing by request in three of Her Majesties' toughest gaols,on the roof of Grace Bros. at Bondi Junction and even on Cockatoo Islandin Sydney Harbour. Growing and developing the music over the years has lead to a variety ofmembers in the band and currently the 3 piece core is Ken Stewart guitar/ vocals, Anthony Waugh bass / vocals and Brett Dolahenty drums /vocals. The Urban Guerillas are heavily involved in social activity in Australiaplaying for Greenpeace, the Wilderness Society and the AustralianConservation Foundation as well as on the docks for the Maritime Unionand at Circular Quay for the Construction, Forestry, Mining and EnergyUnion in Sydney as Australians resist deepening economic rationalism anda massive nuclear industry.Reflecting change is at the heart of the Urban Guerillas as their musichas the passion and the fire to swing from the sweet to the seriouswhile never losing that working class humour that epitomizes rock in all it's forms.

Group Members Ken StewartAnthony WaughBrett Dolahenty

Instruments Guitar /Bass /Drums

Albums 1996:Just a Lifetime: 1997:Mad in Australia: 1999:Cloud Above My Head: 2000:Carols by Blowtorch

Press Reviews URBAN GUERILLAS Just A Lifetime LOOKING to try and understand modern Australia a littlemore?Trying to make sense of the conservative backlash which erupted at the polls? Maybe just trying to find some new Australian music which will make you feel proud as you adjust to the Howard Years. All this and more can be found in the Urban Guerillas new album. KEN Stewart has kept Urban Guerillas relevant since their inception in Adelaide. Most of the 13 tracks here are Stewart originals and his lyrics are a brilliont depiction of the modern world and Australia's place in it. Never one to hide his convictions, Stewart looks around at the destruction wrought by war, and the Uran Guerillas explode with a passion which is overwhelming. MARRIED against the anger of Friendly Fire or Killing Trade is the sensitivity of Just A Lifetime or Needle Of Death. This is no ordinary song-writer, and in 30 or 40 years time, Sociologists are going to be using What A Mess and Let's Talk as documents of the social mores of the 90's. INTELLIGENCE and passion have been a strong tradition in Australian music. A long time contemporary of the Chisels and the Oils, Just A Life-time sees Ken Stewart at the peak of his talent. Having apparently outlasted his contemporaries, he's now ready to step out of their considerable shadows. The Urban Guerillas have produced a fierce, unyielding and blisteringly Australian album. It should be essential listening in the 'new'Australia. It gives hope. BERNIE HOWITT Just a Lifetime Urban GuerillasSongwriters such as the Guerillas' Ken Stewart and the Stem's Don Mariani lead the way in those halcyon days of Australian independent pubrock. Fusing the energy of punk rock with the maturity and musicality of pop, they created a whole new genre we now know as powerpop. This band has developed over the years into a more experimental pop outfit which still retains the vibe of punk and the sensibility of pop, but performs it with a more individualistic style. Charlie McMahon contributes didge on most tracks, adding an avant garde edge to the songs which is counterpointed by straight rock rhythm section and quirky songwriting. This music is easy to listen to, yet contains considerable stimulation for those more aware of the complexities of song composition.Definitely check this one out. Damn good. On The StreetURBAN GUERILLAS Mad in Australia EP It's been a long time since 1 heard an EP like this, raw and not excessively overproduced. Thumbs up boys. This is what Australian EPs are all about. Urban Guerillas may not be your 'next big thing' but what they represent is the 'boy's next door', your garage band, average musicians playing pub rock. That is what made our pub scene great. I found this CD refreshing in its honesty and providing value for money. You know what you'll get with Urban Guerillas, their sound comes from a pub scene.STUART MIDDRIE Urban Guerillas Mad In AustraliaThe CD starts with No Way to Live which is typical of Ken Stewart's writing. full of biting social comment. Good old pub rock at it's best, with a touch of working man's lament, a la Johnny Rotten, in the vocals. Full of Who-like riff energy, and The Jam like harmonies. Equation of Life has an acoustic ambience that gives way to some rolling rock with changes that really lift it above the ordinary aided by brilliant lyrics. Listening to Farewell to Welfare I am amazed at how much sound comes out of this 3 piece outfit ... social comment on amphetamines!! Fall to Pieces is hooky with a catchy chorus performed with vigour. Claustrophobia is like the energy of the Clash mixed with the wry vocals of Ian Drury. This is new punk all the energy with a real cleverness about it. Australian Song Writers Magazine

Additional Info Rare Urban Guerillas vinyl from 1990

Location Sydney, New South Wales - Australia

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