‘No Secrets’: a memoir by Graham ‘Buzz’ Bidstrup that leaves no stone unturned
When it comes to the rock’n’roll scene, there are no secrets, really. Lots of legendary tales and mounting-up myth: stories that usually lead you to the truth, so, no, no secrets.
Perhaps not so ironically, then, a new memoir by musician Graham ‘Buzz’ Bidstrup is titled No Secrets, taking its name from one of his better known songs with Australian rock outfit, The Angels.
No Secrets – subtitled An Oz-Rock Memoir of Music and Mayhem – is a memoir in the traditional sense in that it follows Bidstrup’s journey from childhood beginnings learning to drum, to becoming a central figure in the heyday of the garage and pub rock scenes of the late 1970s and early ’80s.
It is distinct from other memoirs as Bidstrup truly takes a no-holds-barred approach, revealing rocky stories of life on the road, the chaos and camaraderie of creating and performing music, and what it takes to succeed in such a fickle industry.
The author reflects on working with major artists and bands such as the aforementioned The Angels, GANGgajang, and The Party Boys (cue: He’s Gonna Step On You Again), as well as on his roles producer, manager and collaborator across the industry.
Aside from intra-band shenanigans and drama, there are stories that draw in other luminaries of the Australian music scene, such as Jimmy Barnes, Richard Clapton, the lads from Australian Crawl, Mondo Rock, Swanee, and even Tiny Tim.
The best parts of the book are when Bidstrup reveals his weaknesses: when ego came into play and made a mess of things; when the pressures of performance began to build up; and when the pitfalls of the music scene – such as excess drugs, royalty disputes, and burnout – all began to add up to too much of a toll. Heck, the guy’s so forthrightness goes so far as to include trouble he once had with the Australian Tax Office.
No Secrets is indeed a great revelation packed with cautionary tales. Anyone working in the music industry ought to read it and reap.
‘No Secrets: An Oz-Rock Memoir of Music and Mayhem’ is published through HarperCollins Australia, RRP $16.99 also available in general bookstores.
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