GANGgajang, the iconic Australian band, has etched its indelible mark on the country’s music landscape, captivating audiences for four decades with their unique blend of rock, pop, and nuanced storytelling.

Formed in 1984, GANGgajang‘s distinctive sound and thought-provoking lyrics have made them a beloved and enduring presence in the Australian music scene.

GANGgajang’s roots trace back to an early 1980s song writing session, when former singer of The Riptides Mark “Cal” Callaghan, and Angels rhythm Chris Bailey and Graham ‘Buzz’ Bidstrup together with singer Kayellen Bee, wrote several songs for the ABC series “Sweet and Sour”. Their debut single Gimme Some Lovin’ was born from these sessions and was released in late 1984.

A year later, with the addition of The Aliens’ Geoffrey Stapleton, and guitarist Robbie James this eclectic mix of talents and backgrounds contributed to the creation of a sound that transcended traditional genres. GANGgajang reflected a new attitude: that music was all about ‘the song’ and that a good song could be played solely on an acoustic guitar. Thus, they became the ‘GANG’ that made the ‘gajang’: the sound of a guitar being strummed.

GANGgajang eponymous debut album was released in late 1985, featuring the legendary hit single Sounds of Then (This is Australia). This song, with its evocative lyrics and catchy melody, took on a life of its own as it resonated with the Australian people, encapsulating the essence of their homeland. It is a testament to the band’s ability to connect with their audience on a deeply emotional level and to convey a sense of national identity and nostalgia, that has seen the song reach anthem status and continue to connect with new generations of fans to this day. The debut album contained the singles, Gimme Some Lovin’, Giver of Life and House of Cards, and quickly climbed the charts to become part of the music revolution reinventing the Australian sound.

The albums that followed: gangAGAIN, Lingo and Oceans and Deserts, showcased their musical versatility and further defined GANGgajang’s unique sound. They won global audiences, most notably in Brazil, where the huge surfing community went crazy for the GANG. The band toured Brazil three times playing to packed venues, with one of the highlights being an outdoor concert to 20,000 fans on Rio’s Copacabana Beach. Add to this GANGgajang’s soundtrack to Quiksilver’s 1986 cult surf movie “Mad Wax” and it’s no wonder the group was crowned ‘The World’s Best Band’ for two years in a row by the Professional Surfers Association of America.

True to their ‘GANG’ philosophy, this ‘informal body of friends’ has continued to work together for 40 years, while also pursuing their myriad of separate interests: touring and recording with other artists including the reformed original Angels line-up, a resurfaced Riptides, Yothu Yindi, Jimmy Little, Jimmy Barnes, The Stetsons, Absent Friends, The Dukes and Wendy Matthews, to name but a few. The branches of the GANGgajang family tree do indeed span far and wide.

November 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the debut album and a few special performances are planned to celebrate this milestone.