Young Docteurs rose from the Canberra punk scene in 1978, they moved to Sydney and immediately made an impact with their unique blend of psychedelia and punk.
Performing alongside many influential bands of the time including New Race (featuring members of Radio Birdman, MC5 & The Stooges), The Stray Cats (Runaway Boys Tour 1981), Los Angeles band The Gun Club, The Birthday Party, The Saints, X and Elvis Costello.
Young Docteurs with their individual distinctive sound drew the attention of many including members of The Hard Ons, INXS, The Church, The Sunnyboys, Hellmen and Happy Hate Me Nots. The band signed a multi-record deal with Festival Records and they were approached by LA scenester, Kim Fowley, renowned American hustler/svengali ( Former Manager of The Runaways). In 2013 Spanish band Red Nukes paid tribute to Young Docteurs song Buying Freedom by recording and releasing it on 45.
In 2015 original members Paul Hayward (guitars) and Chris Shakallis (vocals) were joined by the rock solid rhythm section Darren Spiteri (bass) and drummer Imants (Immo) Freimanis. In June 2016 Young Docteurs are releasing a new album, a heady concoction of material from their new, cryptically titled album, Beginning at the End.
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'beginning at the end'
The legendary Young Docteurs, Canberra’s answer to British bands such as The Damned and Magazine, Young Docteurs have an epic psychedelic element in the songwriting and their sound.
September 28, 2013 Simone Penkethman City News
At the peak of the '70s punk boom, the best local act I recall were the Young Docteurs, whose Man in the Box was claustrophobically resonant.”
Their music is almost impossible to label. It is neither straight rock and roll nor post- punk, nor 60's revivalist but has elements of all three.
(Sharon O'Connell - music critic)
They have a power-pop appeal that's a stride between innocence regained and mid-60's garage punk revisited.Their singer Chris Shakallis is a rager on stage ,leaping and gyrating like a madman possessed ,they've got a tight rhythm section in Paul 'Gup' Turnbull & Marcus Flux and Paul Hayward has a razor sharp approach to guitaring that blends beautifully with their batch of memorable songs.
(Juke 13/6/81. Andy Collie. Review of Jam Factory gig with The Riptides)
Feel inclined toward a dose of insanity? Then take a look at the Young Docteurs. Like a scene from Dante’s Inferno, head banging roll on the floor and be sick noise.
(Juke 18/9/83)
The Young Docteurs were a great band, a bit too weird to ever make it big, but nonetheless a great band.
Steve Kilbey (The Church)
Think of the song 'The End' when Jim Morrison screams mother I want to”, what happens next is a moment of snapped emotion. The Young Docteurs take those few seconds and base a whole performance around it. They try and stretch things to the limits… great black noise music
(On The Street 15/12/82)
Young Docteurs were a flag on the map in Sydney in 81, 82, rock and roll with a bit of edge, great songs driven in a kind of great way! The Young Docteurs were fantastic; I saw them at the Governors Pleasure, it was great and the place was packed.
Paul Berwick (Happy Hate Me Nots)
Photo by Steve Nebauer
current line-up
Chris Shakallis
Paul Hayward
Darren Spiteri
Imants (Immo) Freimans
Vocals
Guitars
BASS
DRUMS
Photo by Pling
Photo by Steve Nebauer
Photo by Steve Nebauer
Photo by Steve Nebauer
UPCOMING GIGS
MARRICKVILLE BOWLING CLUB
91 Sydenham Rd, Marrickville
Date:
Time:
Entry:
featuring all-star lineup including
Young Docteurs, Nudist Colonies of the World
and The Speed Machine
» MAP
OCT
2016
Friday, 21 October
8:30pm 'til midnight
$6, door prizes, cheap drinks
