Jimmy and the Boys
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Defunct | 1982 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, singles, live performances |
Jimmy and the Boys was an Australian band known for blending shock rock and new wave styles, active between 1976 and 1982.
They were trailblazers of shock performance art in Australia, with frontman and contortionist Ignatius Jones alongside keyboardist Joylene Thornbird Hairmouth as the focal points. The band produced two studio albums: Not Like Everybody Else (released November 1979) and Teddy Boys Picnic (issued July 1981). Their only Australian top 10 hit came in May 1981 with "They Won't Let My Girlfriend Talk to Me." After putting out the live recording In Hell with Your Mother in 1982, the group dissolved.
According to music writer Jenny Hunter-Brown, they delivered a "high voltage package of filth," while historian Ian McFarlane highlighted their fusion of S&M visuals, provocative stage elements, sub-Zappa style humor, and varied musical influences, which established them as one of Australia's most sought-after live acts by the late 1970s.
History
Friends from Sydney private schools, Ignatius Jones (born Juan Ignacio Trapaga) and Joylene Thornbird Hairmouth (William O'Riordan) formed Jimmy and the Boys in 1976, aiming to create a shock rock ensemble. The original lineup featured Jones on vocals and contortionism, Hairmouth on keyboards and vocals, Tom Falkinham playing bass, Scott Johnston on drums, Jason Morphett handling saxophone duties, and Andrew de Teliga on guitar. Hairmouth gained recognition as "the kitchiest transvestite." Although the roster often shifted, Jones and Hairmouth remained the core members.
By 1978, the band included Danny Damjanovic (saxophone/flute), Steven Hall (guitar/vocals), Barry Litten (drums, formerly of Rabbit), and Michael Parks (bass/vocals). Their first single was a rendition of The Kinks' "I'm Not Like Everybody Else", released in October 1979. Damjanovic later joined the jazz-rock ensemble Outline.
Their debut album Not Like Everybody Else faced release delays from Astor Records due to concerns over its explicit content but was eventually issued in November 1979 through Avenue Records, a Festival Records subsidiary established specifically for the band. By April 1980, the lineup had changed to include Joe P. Rick (guitar/vocals), Michael Vidale (bass/vocals), with Scott Johnston returning on drums. That year, RAM magazine drew attention to their provocative shows incorporating political themes, simulated sexual acts, dark humor involving violence, and theatrical props such as burning dolls and effigies representing Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser.
In 1981, they achieved their only top 10 chart success with "They Won't Let My Girlfriend Talk to Me," penned by Split Enz frontman Tim Finn. Finn initially expressed dissatisfaction with their interpretation; his original demo version was later featured on Other Enz (1999).
Their sophomore album Teddy Boys Picnic was released in July 1981. The band briefly split in January 1982 when Jones moved into theatre work, notably starring in the Australian production of The Rocky Horror Show. They reunited mid-1982 for a nationwide tour and released the live album In Hell with Your Mother, disbanding shortly thereafter. Following the breakup, Jones secured a six-album contract with Warner Bros. Records but only issued the single "Like a Ghost" in 1982. During the mid-1980s, Jones and O'Riordan established swing jazz-cabaret group Pardon Me Boys, which featured Jones’ sister Monica Trapaga as lead vocalist. Later on, Jones co-authored True Hip (1990) alongside Pat Sheil and played a key role in organizing the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Studio albums
| Album Title | Release information | Highest chart position |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| Not Like Everybody Else! |
|
44 |
| Teddy Boys Picnic |
|
40 |
Live albums
| Album Title | Release details | Peak chart ranking |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| In Hell With Your Mother! |
|
– |
Compilation albums
| Compilation Title | Release information |
|---|---|
| Out of Phaze |
|
| Wild Boys |
|
| The Great Oz Rock |
|
| The Best of Jimmy & The Boys |
|
EPs
| EP Title | Release specifics |
|---|---|
| Products of Your Mind |
|
Singles
| Release Year | Single Title | Highest chart position reached |
Associated Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| 1979 | "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" | 57 | Not Like Everybody Else! |
| 1980 | "Products of Your Mind" | 66 | |
| 1981 | "They Won't Let My Girlfriend Talk to Me" | 8 | Teddy Boys Picnic |
| "Mirror Mirror" | 91 | ||
| "Get Off My Cloud" | – |
Members
Listed in order of appearance and alphabetically:
- Tom Falkinham – bass guitar (1976)
- Joylene Thornbird Hairmouth (William O'Riordan) – keyboards, vocals (1976–1982)
- Scott Johnston – drums (1976, 1982)
- Ignatius Jones (Juan Ignacio Trapaga) – lead vocals (1976–1982)
- Jason Morphett – saxophone (1976)
- Andrew de Teliga – guitar (1976)
- Danny Damjanovic – saxophone, flute (1978)
- Stephen Hall – guitar, vocals (1978)
- Barry Lytten – drums (1978)
- Michael Parks – bass guitar, vocals (1978)
- Rick Sutton – guitar (1979–1980)
- Joe P. Rick (Joseph Attala) – guitar, vocals (1980–1982)
- Michael Vidale – bass guitar (1979–1982)
External links
- Jimmy and The Boys on Nostalgia Central