The members of Hoodoo Gurus have lashed Pauline Hanson and her One Nation party for using one of their hit songs without permission.
The controversial senator came under fire from the Aussie band after she used their song What’s My Scene? to walk out during an anti-immigration rally in Brisbane, which took place on Australia Day.
The band – fronted by Dave Faulkner – took to Facebook to issue a stinging rebuke, labelling Hanson and her supporters as “wannabe fascists” and urging them not to play or even listen to their music.
Aussie band Hoodoo Gurus has lashed Pauline Hanson and her One Nation party for using one of their hit songs without permission. (Getty)
“We were disgusted to hear that one of our songs was played by a bunch of wannabe fascists yesterday,” the band’s statement read.
“Like most Australians, we have always been appalled by Pauline Hanson and the toxic nonsense she spouts.
“This is our message to her and her followers: don’t play our music, don’t listen to our band, do not pass go!
“We want nothing to do with you. In fact, we wouldn’t p–s on you if you were on fire.”
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“We were disgusted to hear that one of our songs was played by a bunch of wannabe fascists yesterday,” the band’s statement read. (Facebook/HoodooGurus)
Faulkner told the ABC in a separate interview that the band were “upset” with what had happened, and that he personally had written the statement in response.
“We don’t want anyone else’s grubby hands all over our work and putting words in our mouths – we don’t associate ourselves with stuff like that,” he said.
Many artists have written similar responses to politicians using their music without permission.
Sabrina Carpenter recently slammed the White House for using one of her songs in a social media post about Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) raids.
”This video is evil and disgusting,” Carpenter wrote on X, responding to the post. “Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
Australian artists such as Jimmy Barnes, Icehouse and the Living End have also shared their fury after their songs were broadcast at anti-immigration rallies last August.
Band members Brad Shepherd, James Baker, Clyde Bramley and David Faulkner in 1982. (The Age)
Hoodoo Gurus was founded in Sydney in 1981 by Dave Faulkner, James Baker, Rod Radalj and Kimble Rendall.
They initially performed under the name Le Hoodoo Gurus and became known for the unique sound they created by having three guitarists and no bass player.
Rendall left the band in 1982, shortly before they released their first single, Leilani, under their former band name.
Radalj left the group soon after and was replaced by Brad Shepherd.
Early success
The new line-up of Baker, Bramley, Faulkner and Shepherd recorded the band’s debut album, Stoneage Romeos, in 1984.
It featured a new recording of Leilani, as well as three other singles including, I Want You Back, My Girl and Tojo.
The album was named Best Debut Album at the 1984 Countdown Awards and reached gold record status in Australia.
Baker left the band in 1984 and was replaced by Mark Kingsmill.
International success
Stoneage Romeos was also released in the US, resulting in their first US tour.
Their second album, Mars Needs Guitars! was released in 1985.
It contained the hit songs, Bittersweet and Like Wow – Wipeout.
They went on to tour the US and Europe, where they performed sell-out shows at London’s Hammersmith Palais and were special guests of The Bangles for two months.
They released their third studio album in 1987.
Blow Your Cool! went to No. 2 on the Aussie charts, and included their biggest hit, What’s My Scene.
An image from the music video for Hoodoo Gurus hit song What’s My Scene. (YouTube/@Hoodoo Gurus)What’s My Scene
The song went to No. 3 on the Aussie charts and remains popular today, having garnered more than 40 million streams on Spotify.
In 2018, it was ranked 67th on Triple M’s Most Australian songs of all time.
It was used by the NRL as the theme for the 2003 to 2007 seasons, using a clever play on words, That’s My Team.
The song’s writer, Faulkner, rearranged the song and talked the band into recording the track.
Faulkner was a long-time supporter of the Cronulla Sharks, and band members donned Wests and Cronulla jerseys for the promo.
They performed the reworked song on the 2006 and 2007 Grand Final editions of Nine’s The Footy Show, and at the 2007 NRL Grand Final.
Dave Faulkner performs before the NRL Grand Final in 2007. (Getty)
They band later recorded a CD of the song to raise money for two breast cancer charities set up in memory of footballers’ wives, Kim Walters and Joanne Mackay, who succumbed to the disease.
More albums
Their Blow Your Cool tour took them to 19 countries, while a show in New York City was broadcast on MTV.
Their fourth album, Magnum Cum Louder, followed in 1989 and included the song Come Anytime.
They kicked off the new decade with the 1991 album, Kinky, which contained the singles Miss Freelove ’69, and 1000 Miles Away.
The early 90s saw some of their biggest success in the US, and included another album, Crank, which went to No. 2 on the ARIA charts.
It was followed by Blue Cave in 1996.
Hoodoo Gurus reunited in 2007. (Redferns)Break up
Faulkner announced in January 1997 that the band would disband following a farewell tour that took them across Australia and to Brazil for a concert in front of 40,000 people.
The tour coincided with the release of the double compilation album Armchair Gurus/Electric Chair.
A live album Bite the Bullet was released in 1998.
A career-spanning compilation album Ampology was released two years after they split.
Back together
Following the success of the What’s My Team campaign, the band released a new album, Mach Schau, in 2004, and headlined that year’s Big Day Out before embarking on a tour.
In 2007, Hoodoo Gurus was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
National and international tours followed, including a performance at the 2008 Glastonbury Festival in the UK.
They also performed at the 2009 for Sound Relief concert in Sydney for victims of the Victorian bushfires and Queensland floods.
Cancer diagnosis and retirement
The band announced they were working on a new album due for release in 2009 but it was delayed.
Then in August of that year, Shepherd revealed he had been diagnosed with cancer and was recovering from surgery – five years after he battled melanoma.
Their ninth studio album Purity of Essence was released in 2010.
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Hoodoo Gurus on stage at the Glastonbury Festival in 2008. (Getty)
In 2012, they embarked on a tour to celebrate 30 years since the release of Leilani.
They continued to tour over the next few years before Kingsmill announced his retirement in 2015.
Rocked by tragedy
Hoodoo Gurus was rocked by double tragedy in 2025.
First, their manager Dominic ‘Mick’ Mazzone died, then three days later, it was announced founding member James Baker had passed away. He was 71.
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