The Urban Guerillas

The Urban Guerillas
Vanguard, Sydney circa 2010
Background information
Origin	Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Genres	Pub rock, punk
Years active	1981–present
Labels	Watchful Eye
Website	urbanguerillas.com
Members	Ken Stewart (guitar / vocals) Michael Elsley (drums / vocals) Phil Paviour (bass / vocals)

The Urban Guerillas are an Australian pub rock band. Originally formed in Adelaide, the band is currently based in Sydney.

A tough, punk-influenced band with a fiercely independent streak, The Urban Guerillas was formed in Adelaide in 1980 as a trio with Ken Stewart (guitar/vocals), Terry Burgan (bass/vocals) and John Martin (drums). Terry and John had recently moved to Adelaide from Whyalla. After playing their relentless, driving brand of original pop / punk rock music around Adelaide for a little over two years and releasing two independent cassettes, the band moved to Sydney and seamlessly slotted into the live pub circuit.

In 1983 they went into Studios 301 to record and released the song 1984 on their own label, The single sold in enough quantities to attract the attention of George Wayne from Triple J who invited the band into the Australian Broadcasting Corporation studios to play live to air. In 1984 they recorded a more pop-oriented single, She's Probably, produced by Adelaide guitarist Mal Eastick from Stars (Australian band) and producer of the Andy Durant Memorial Concert. This single won numerous favourable reviews around the country and gave the band a boost around Sydney before a membership reshuffle took some time to consolidate the new four-piece line up.The band resurfaced nationally in 1986 with their Borrowed Time EP and an appearance on a nationally televised talent quest Star Search (Australia). During this time the Urban Guerillas played regularly at the Sandringham (Sando) and until Roaring Jack entered the scene, had held the over-the-bar record of takings at the famous inner west hotel. (The Roaring Jack crowd consistently managed to out-drink the Urban Guerillas punters). The band toured nationally in 1986 mostly headlining but also playing some notable supports with The Saints,The Hitmen, the New Christs and Spy vs Spy. In 1987 the band released their signature tune Here Come the Americans. An anthem against the Americanisation of Australian culture. Using a war analogy for the cultural invasion gave the song a literal interpretation that resonated with the peace movement. The song gave the Urban Guerillas a provocative edge and the renewed attention from the media delivered access to the suburban venues. Through various line-up changes the band experimented and consistently fronted up as an energetic and formidable live performance unit until the end of 1987, when after much touring and having all their gear stolen, the Guerillas had imploded.