No Fixed Address
Birth Place
Adelaide, South Australia
Genres
Reggae, Rock

No Fixed Address  Biography

No Fixed Address is an Australian Aboriginal reggae rock group formed in 1979. The band members came from Koonibba Mission, Ceduna. The band was led by Bart Willoughby (lead vocals and drums) together with Ricky Harrison (rhythm guitarist and principal songwriter), Leslie Lovegrove Freeman (lead guitarist) and John Miller (bass). All the members were related through family ties.

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. In 1979, the band played its first large concert at the National Aboriginal Day held at Taperoo, South Australia. In 1980 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.

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. The video for the single, “From My Eyes” was filmed at Hanging Rock, Victoria and the Old Melbourne Gaol. The band toured Australia in 1982, in support of Peter Tosh. Following the success of the Peter Tosh tour, the band became the first Aboriginal band to travel overseas, touring Great Britain, playing at nine cities including London, Bristol, Leeds, Plymouth and Manchester.

Didgeridoo player, Billy Inda, made a guest appearance on folk rock band Goanna’s single “Solid Rock” from their 1982 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. The 1984 video for “We Have Survived” was filmed at Palm Beach and Botany Bay in Sydney. The song has become an unofficial anthem for many of Australia’s indigenous peoples. Returning to Australia Willoughby joined his cousin (Bunna Lawrie)’s band, Coloured Stone in 1984.

In 1987 Willoughby reformed the band and they toured Europe, including a number of eastern bloc countries, appearing at the East Berlin Festival. In late 1988 Willoughby joined Yothu Yindi and as result the group disbanded again.

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. Also in 2008 the band’s song “We Have Survived” was added to the National Film and Sound Archive’s Sounds of Australia registry.

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

On 29 September 2016 the band performed at the Lomond Hotel in Brunswick East, Melbourne. At the event Willoughby mentioned that the band may be doing further shows.