Shirl by Jeff Apter

Chippie, surfie, glam rocker in bib ’n’ braces, kids’ show host, DJ and straight-talking superstar Graeme Ronald Strachan was many things to many people, but from the time his surfer mates re-christened him to the day he died – aged forty-nine – in a helicopter crash, he was known by one name only: Shirl. Frontman for trailblazing Melbourne rockers Skyhooks, Shirl was the voice and face of such massive ’70s hits as ‘Horror Movie’ and ‘Ego is Not a Dirty Word’. And then there was his breakout solo ballad ‘Every Little Bit Hurts'.

Skyhooks blasted onto Australian television on the first day of colour transmission - their single ‘Living in the 70’s’, released in August 1974, preceded the release of the album in late October. In the midst of ten lively weeks, Shirl and Skyhooks became bona fide, homegrown superstars. ‘Living in the 70’s’ unleashed a new and original breed of Australian rock music, going on to sell 300,000 albums and lodging itself firmly at the number one spot on the Australian music charts for months. Cocky and ambitious, Shirl led the charge, pouting and strutting and sending his many female fans wild.

When Shirl’s desire for the rock-and-roll spotlight faded, the self-described ‘average suburban boy’ moved into other, equally successful ventures: host of the long-running Shirl’s Neighbourhood, presenter on home reno show Our House, as well as radio DJ. Shirl was a natural, no matter what field he worked in.

Written with the support of his family, Skyhooks bandmates and high profile friends such as ironman icon Trevor Hendy, NRL legend Gary Belcher and so-called ‘rival’, Daryl Braithwaite, Shirl: The life of legendary larrikin Graeme ‘Shirley’ Strachan is the first biography of a cut-the-crap, bullshit-free Aussie original.

Author: Jeff Apter

In a career spanning more than 20 years, Jeff Apter has written 15 commercially and critically acclaimed biographies, and has contributed to such publications as Rolling Stone (where he spent five years as Music Editor), GQ, The Bulletin and Vogue. Jeff’s books include the bestselling Together Alone: The story of the Finn brothers, Chasing theDragon: The life and death of Marc Hunter, and A Little Bird Told Me… with Kasey Chambers.

Shirl is available from Angus & Robinson's Bookworld. You can read more about the author on his official website.

Posted on April 01, 2013