Kryptonics

Kryptonics
Company type	Independent band
Industry	Music
Founded	1985
Defunct	1992
Headquarters	Perth, Australia
Products	Music recordings (singles, EPs, albums)

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Kryptonics, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 29 November 2025

Originally hailing from Perth, Western Australia, Kryptonics was a melodic pop punk group active between 1985 and 1992. They emerged alongside contemporaries such as The Stems, The Triffids, and The Bamboos in the Perth music scene, releasing multiple 7" singles and 12" vinyl EPs through independent Australian labels.

Biography

The band was initiated by guitarist Ian Underwood and bassist Cathy Webb, who met at Balcatta Senior High School in 1982. They recruited drummer Shakir Pichler through a classified advertisement. After dedicating eighteen months to rehearsals, Kryptonics made their live debut in August 1985, opening for The Stems. Since Underwood was hesitant to handle both vocals and guitar simultaneously, Michael Reynolds was brought in as the lead singer. Their debut single, "Baby"/"Plastic Imitation," came out on the local Cherry Top label, accompanied by a music video.

Just before the single’s release in January 1986, Pichler departed to join The Bamboos (rock band). Subsequently, Underwood took over lead vocal duties while adding drummer Brett Ford and guitarist Peter Hartley from Lavender Disaster. This lineup released the 1987 single "Land That Time Forgot" / "She's Got Germs" on the Easter label, along with a flexi-disc featuring "Cyclops" / "Rock Me to Sleep" included with issue No. 6 of Vortex fanzine.

In efforts to break out of Perth’s confines, Kryptonics embarked on interstate tours despite facing logistical setbacks such as vehicle failures. Their shows in Sydney were positively received, supporting acts like The Screaming Tribesmen and The Psychotic Turnbuckles. Chris Dunn of Waterfront Records encouraged them to record further material. However, a later tour was disrupted by arrests and cancellations, which contributed to internal fractures within the group. Webb, Ford, and Hartley left and were replaced by Russell Hopkinson and Greg Hitchcock from The Bamboos.

This new formation recorded Kryptonics’ first EP, Sixty Nine, which Waterfront released in May 1989. Before touring to promote the EP, Hopkinson and Hitchcock exited the band, necessitating additional lineup adjustments. Eventually, Underwood secured a stable roster featuring Tony Rushan on guitar, Peter Kostic on drums, and Jeff Halley on bass. In September 1989, they released the single "When It's Over" / "Oedipus Complex."

A further revision with Greg Brennan handling bass resulted in the November 1990 release of the single "Bad September" backed with live tracks on Seaside Records. Midway through 1990, Richard Corey replaced Brennan; that August saw the band relocate to Sydney and undertake extensive tours across Australia’s eastern seaboard. In 1991, they issued the 12-inch EP Tonka Tuff on Zero Hour before disbanding around mid-1992. Kryptonics are recognized for having former members who later joined notable Australian bands such as You Am I, Front End Loader, Lubricated Goat, Regurgitator, and The Chevelles.

Following Kryptonics' dissolution, Underwood formed Challenger 7 in Sydney in 1995, recording a mini-album with ex-members Hitchcock, Kostic, and Corey. He continued with various lineups until 2002 and currently co-manages Reverberation—a Sydney-based independent label and distributor—alongside former bandmate Russell Hopkinson.

In November 2007, Underwood reunited with Kostic, Corey, and Rushan for a one-time show in Perth; former guitarist Hitchcock joined them for selected numbers.

Albums and EPs

Sixty Nine – Waterfront (DAMP95) (May 1989)
Tonka Tuff – Zero Hour (ZERO801) (1991)
Rejectionville – Memorandum/Reverberation (MEM03) (14 May 2007)

Singles

Baby/Plastic Imitation – Cherry Top (CT002) (1985)
Land That Time Forgot/She's Got Germs – Easter (MR7029) (January 1987)
Cyclops/Rock Me to Sleep – Vortex fanzine (1987)
Oedipus Complex/When It's Over – Waterfront (DAMP117) (October 1989)
Bad September/Telephone Line (live)/Another Girl Another Planet (live) – Seaside (PIP001) (November 1990)

Compilation Appearances

Hometown Farewell Kiss – 6UVS (DT001) (1988) ("Dare")
I Could'a Been a Contender (A Waterfront Compilation) – Waterfront (DAMP121) (1989) ("Land That Time Forgot")
Across the Nullabor (Triple J presents 16 Hot Bands from Perth) – ABC Music (838 975-1) (1990) ("Baby")
This Ain't the Plimsouls – Zero Hour (ZEROCD 1001) (1991) ("I Want You Back")
Bad Timing (A Perth Pop Retrospective) – Rubber/Idaho Music (RUB031) (1994) ("Land That Time Forgot" [live])

Band Members

Michael Reynolds – lead vocals (1985–1986)
Ian Underwood – guitar (1985–1992, 2007), backing vocals (1985–1986), lead vocals (1986–1992, 2007)
Cathy Webb – bass guitar (1985–1987)
Shakir Pichler – drums (1985–1986)
Peter Hartley – guitar (1986–1987)
Brett Ford – drums (1986–1987)
Greg Hitchcock – guitar (1987–1988)
Russell Hopkinson – drums (1987–1988)
Tony Rushan – guitar, backing vocals (1989–1992, 2007)
Jeff Halley – bass guitar (1989–1990)
Andrew Robinson – drums (1989)
Peter Kostic – drums (1989–1992, 2007)
Greg Brennan – bass guitar (1990)
Richard Corey – bass guitar (1991, 2007)

External Resources