Spy vs. Spy (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Founder | Craig Bloxom, Cliff Grigg, Michael Weiley |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
v.Spy v.Spy, alternatively known as Spy vs. Spy or SPY v SPY, was an Australian pub rock ensemble established in 1981. The group gained recognition for their lyrical focus on social and political themes such as racism, homelessness, and drug-related issues. The original trio consisted of Craig Bloxom (bass guitar and lead vocals), Cliff Grigg (drums and percussion), and Michael Weiley (lead guitar and vocals). Their initial musical direction combined indie rock elements, later transitioning into a harder rock sound. Their first album, Harry's Reasons, was released through Powderworks in February 1986. After signing with WEA, they achieved a peak position of No. 31 on the Australian singles chart with "Don't Tear It Down" in February 1987; the album A.O. Mod. TV. Vers. reached No. 12. The follow-up album, Xenophobia (Why?) (March 1988), climbed to No. 15, while Trash the Planet (1989) attained No. 22 on the ARIA charts. In 1991, Cliff Grigg departed and was succeeded by Mark Cuffe on drums. The band dissolved in 2003 following Bloxom’s move to the United States. Michael Weiley passed away in 2018.
History
Spy vs. Spy originated in Sydney in 1981.[1][2] Craig Bloxom, born in Los Angeles in 1959 and relocating to Australia in 1965,[3] met Michael Weiley at Nelson Bay High School in 1976.[1][2] Both moved to Sydney’s northern suburbs after finishing school, where they connected with drummer Cliff Grigg through mutual acquaintances.[1][2] The band's name was inspired by the Spy vs. Spy comic strip from Mad magazine.[1][2] Initial rehearsals were held at Grigg's squat located in Glebe.
Their debut performance took place at Sydney’s Sussex Hotel, filling in for the Fast Cars.[2] Early on, they developed a following with their ska-influenced rock sound and toured Aboriginal communities throughout rural New South Wales in 1981.[4] Managed by Dirty Pool, they supported prominent acts such as INXS, the Clash, and U2.[4][5] Their first single, "Do What You Say," was launched on the Green label in April 1982,[1][2] followed by the EP Four Fresh Lemons, which quickly sold out.[1][2] Early recordings showcased strong ska influences that resonated with Sydney’s pub audiences.[1] Due to legal constraints, they modified their name slightly to v.Spy v.Spy for releases outside Australia.[1]
The band became prominent within Australia's pub rock circuit for their energetic tracks tackling social concerns such as Indigenous racism, drug dependency, homelessness, homophobia, sexual violence, child abuse, and domestic violence.[1][2] Following a brief breakup early in 1983,[2] Bloxom reassembled the group with Marcus Phelan joining as a second guitarist, shifting their sound away from ska towards more straightforward rock.[2] That same year, Weiley’s activity was limited due to a hepatitis diagnosis,[2][6] and Phelan exited after equipment theft incidents.[1][2]
Under management by Gary Morris of Midnight Oil fame,[1][2] they released the EP Meet Us Inside via Powderworks in October 1984,[7] followed by the single "One of a Kind".[7] Their debut album Harry's Reasons appeared in March 1986 with production by Leszek Karski,[1][7] featuring singles that confronted Aboriginal injustices ("Injustice"), media criticism ("Give Us Something"), and heroin addiction ("Harry's Reasons").[2] This album reached the top 50 on Australian charts.[1]
After transitioning to WEA, their second album A.O. Mod. TV. Vers. was released in November 1986 and included singles such as "Don't Tear It Down," inspired by efforts to demolish their Glebe squat,[8] "Sallie-Anne," about whistleblower Sallie-Anne Huckstepp, and "Credit Cards," which critiqued consumer debt and national identification card issues.[2] The track "Don't Tear It Down" peaked at No. 31 and earned platinum certification.[9]
Their third studio effort, Xenophobia (Why?) (March 1988), co-produced by Karski and Guy Gray,[1][7] addressed escalating racial tensions preceding Australia's Bicentenary celebrations and achieved a domestic peak of No. 15,[9] with distribution across fourteen international markets.[1][7] Singles from this album included "Forget About the Working Week," "Clarity of Mind," and "Waiting".[1] Additionally, they performed under the alias Drug Grannies at smaller venues around Sydney.[10]
In 1989, recording took place at Richard Branson's Manor House studios with producer Craig Leon for the album Trash the Planet.[1][2][7] This release reached No. 22 on ARIA charts,[11] generating four singles including "Hardtimes".[1] Of these singles, only "Hardtimes" made a modest chart impact.[11]
Following Cliff Grigg’s exit late in 1991,[2] Bloxom and Weiley paused activities to manage personal matters,[12] returning with Mark Cuffe filling the drummer role.[12]
Upon signing with Sony Music Australia,[7] they released Fossil (1993), produced by Karski alongside Peter Cobbin,[7] featuring singles such as "Comes a Time" and "One Way Street".[12] This album showcased softer vocal delivery and more diverse musical arrangements,[12] gaining notable popularity within Brazil’s surf culture scene,[13] which led to tours there. They also attracted attention across North America through broadcasts supported by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
By 1994 Spy vs. Spy had dissolved once more;[1][2] Bloxom teamed up with Cuffe to form Shock Poets while Weiley engaged in side projects.[1][2] The band reunited in 1996 with Paul Wheeler replacing Cuffe on drums,[7] releasing a compilation featuring unreleased material via Festival Records in 1999.[1] By the year 2000, Bloxom balanced his music career with training as a chef.[13] His final performance with the band occurred in 2003 before his international relocation.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Subsequently, Cuffe and Weiley established Spys in 2006.[1] Michael Weiley succumbed to cancer in 2018.[6] In 2024, Craig Bloxom’s Regae Spys planned a Brazilian tour alongside Hoodoo Gurus and Ganggajang.[14]
Members
- Craig Bloxom – bass guitar, lead vocals (1981–1983, 1984–2003)
- Cliff Grigg – drums and percussion (1981–1983, 1984–1991)
- Michael Weiley – guitar, vocals (1981–1983, 1984–2003; deceased 2018)
- Marcus Phelan – guitar (1983)
- Mark Cuffe – drums, guitar, backing vocals (1992–1997)
- Paul Wheeler – drums (1999–2003)
Studio albums
| Title | Release information | Highest chart position |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| Harry's Reasons | Released: 10 February 1986; Label: Powderworks (POW6106); Format: LP | 42 |
| A.O. Mod. TV. Vers. | Released: December 1986; Label: WEA (254458-1); Format: LP | 12 |
| Xenophobia (Why?) | Released: March 1988; Label: WEA (255349-1); Format: LP, cassette | 15 |
| Trash the Planet | Released: November 1989; Label: WEA (256920-1); Format: LP, CD, cassette | 22 |
| Fossil | Released: May 1993; Label: Sony (473606-2); Format: CD, cassette | — |
Live albums
| Title | Release details | Peak chart position |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| Feito Na Praia | Released in 2000; Label: Tronador (TMSS12); Available on CD and digital platforms | — |
| Demolition Live - The Hottest Place in Town | Issued in 2001; Label: Unofficial (1905485-2); Format: CD and digital; Recorded live in early 1980s Sydney venues | — |
| Live in Caringbah 1981 | Released in 2020 by Laneway; Format: Digital only | — |
| Live at the Prince of Wales 1984 | Released in 2021 under ARCA; Digital format; Part of the Australian Road Crew Association's Desk Tape Series | 83 |
Compilation albums
| Title | Release data | Highest chart position |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| Spy File: The Best Of | Released in 1991 via EastWest (903175649-2); Format: CD | 85 |
| Mugshots: The Best Of | Issued in 1999 by Festival (D26388); Available on CD and digital formats | — |
| The Early Cases | Released in 2002 on Tronador (TMCL01); Formats include CD and digital | — |
| Demolition I - Squat | Issued in 2004 by Tronador (TMDEMO1-2); CD format featuring early demos and recordings | — |
| Demolition II - Rough Heads | Released in 2004 through Tronador (TMDEMO2-2); CD with early demos and recordings included | — |
| Demolition | Issued in 2004 as a triple-CD box set by Tronador (TMCL06), compiling Demolition albums | — |
| The 1981 Demos | Released digitally by Laneway in 2020 |
Extended plays
| Title | Release information | Peak chart position |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| Four Fresh Lemons |
|
— |
| Six Fresh Lemons |
|
— |
| Meet Us Inside |
|
— |
| Because Bootlegger e.p. |
|
193 |
Singles
| Title | Year | Highest chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| "Do What You Say"/"Table Tea and Mix" | 1982 | — | Template:Non-album single |
| "One of a Kind" | 1984 | 66 | Meet Us Inside |
| "Injustice" | 1985 | 87 | Harrys Reasons? |
| "Harry's Reasons" | 1986 | — | |
| "Something" | 65 | ||
| "Don't Tear it Down" | 31 | A.O. Mod. TV. Vers. | |
| "Sallie-Anne" | 1987 | 64 | |
| "Credit Cards" | — | ||
| "Forget About the Working Week" | 44 | Xenophobia [Why?] | |
| "Clarity of Mind" | 1988 | — | |
| "Waiting" | — | ||
| "Hardtimes" | 1989 | 59 | Trash the Planet |
| "Clear Skies" | 1990 | 103 | |
| "Our House" | 119 | ||
| "Oceania" | — | ||
| "Stand Out" b/w "Troubled Waters (A Song for Somalia)" by Quick and the Dead |
1993 | 122 | Fossil |
| "Comes a Time" | 117 | ||
| "One Way Street" | — |
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