Us Mob & No Fixed Address - Wrong Side of the Road (1981)

To smutne, ale społeczność Aborygenów w swojej ojczyźnie od dawna już nie jest w najlepszej kondycji. Na przestrzeni wielu lat znaczna jej część spychana bezceremonialnie przez białych kolonizatorów na społeczny margines powoli i nieubłaganie popada w marazm, beznadzieję i zapomnienie. Na całe szczęście nie stanowi to reguły i wciąż znajdują się liczni aborygeńscy artyści dumni ze swej narodowej tożsamości usiłujący zrobić wyłom w zaistniałej sytuacji. Tak właśnie było w przypadku muzyków z zespołów No Fixed Address i Us Mob, którzy za pomocą reggae oraz rocka próbowali wyrwać się z ogólnie panującej stagnacji i na swój sposób wyrazić protest przeciw powszechnie panoszącej się w Australii dyskryminacji i niesprawiedliwości wobec narodu Aborygenów. Muzycy obu grup zaprezentowali się osobiście ze swoją twórczością w interesującym niskobudżetowym filmie z 1980 roku Wrong Side of the Road (Po złej stronie drogi), który co ciekawe przed laty wyemitowany został również w polskiej telewizji.

No Fixed Address is an Australian Aboriginal reggae group formed in 1978. Led by Bart Willoughby, the band supported Peter Tosh on his 1982 Australian tour. After the success of the Peter Tosh tour No Fixed Address became the first Aboriginal band to travel overseas becoming cultural ambassadors for their people while touring the United Kingdom playing at nine cities including London, Bristol, Leeds, Plymouth and Manchester.

The band coalesced at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music in North Adelaide. The band were a very popular pub rock outfit among students and the alternative music scene, especially supported by community radio station 5MMM. The band made a movie "Wrong Side of the Road" with another CASM band, Us Mob. The movie dealt with the trials and joys of touring and the contrasting receptions they received in Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. With the recording of the soundtrack, No Fixed Address and Us Mob became the first contemporary aboriginal bands to be recorded. Following the release of the movie and its soundtrack album, No Fixed Address toured widely.

In 1982 the band were contracted to Rough Diamond Records, a subsidiary of Polygram Records and released their debut mini album From My Eyes. The album was launched at the Hilton Hotel by the Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke. Didgeridoo player, Billy Inda, made a guest appearance on folk rock band Goanna's single "Solid Rock" from their album, Spirit of Place – it peaked at No. 3 in October on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart - it is the first charting rock song to feature the didgeridoo.

In 2008 the band reformed and played at the Dreaming Festival & Tarerer Festival in Woodford, Queensland, where they released a limited edition CD copy of From My Eyes.

In 2011 No Fixed Address, along with Coloured Stone, were inducted into the Hall of Fame at the National Indigenous Music Awards. (wikipedia)

Us Mob were an early Aboriginal rock band from South Australia. The band was formed with the help of the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music in Adelaide.

Us Mob appeared in the film Wrong Side of the Road with fellow CASM band No Fixed Address The recording of the soundtrack made the two bands the first contemporary aboriginal bands to be recorded. Along with No Fixed Address they were nominated for the 1981 AFI Award for Best Original Music for the music from the film. They relocated to Sydney and broke up after their equipment was destroyed by a fire. The band were the subject of an ABC Message Stick documentary in February 2000. (wikipedia)