1984 was a critical year for the Australian rock resistance. The music biz suits of the day, Dave Faulkner remembers with amusement, "were all busy trying to find the new Thompson Twins. " Alas, plenty were found, and just as promptly lost in the fast lanes of ‘80s pop fashion.

It was down a darker alley that more enduring sounds and styles were being nurtured for future generations. The Stems, the Scientists, the Lime Spiders, the Johnnys and their left-field ilk were all preparing works that would inspire countless unborn bands, both here and overseas.

A mighty fringe and winkle-picker ahead of the pack was the Hoodoo Gurus. Deep in Sydney's so-called paisley underground, they made a debut album that recalled the truly timeless craft of the greatest rock bands of all time. It was STONEAGE ROMEOS: eleven exquisitely turned tunes about teenage hearts in deadly peril, spiced with serious thwack and twang and a healthy dose of wry sci-fi intrigue.

Front and back, the singles would be indestructible classics of the ‘80s underground: "Leilani"/ "Leilani Pt 2"; "Tojo"/ "(Let's All) Turn On"; "My Girl"/ "Be My Guru"; and "I Want You Back"/ "Hoodoo You Love".
Today, the rest remains as thrilling as the first time the Gurus planted their stomping riffs and ingenious hooks into the formative grey matter of a nation.

Hence STONEAGE CAMEOS , a labour of love hatched in the hearts of Executive Producers Jason Evans and Wally Meanie in the autumn of 2005. In a radical twist on the tribute album phenomenon, it was they who chose not just the bands, but the specific track each would record.
"The idea came," says Jason, "over a few beers, as the best ideas do. We were talking about the best Australian debut albums. The Sunnyboys, The Saints, then I thought - Stoneage Romeos! Someone could put together a whole tribute to that album. Then I started to hear the bands in my head &…"

Via Wally's phonebook and crucial powers of persuasion, said bands began cramming Melbourne's Sing Sing South Studios in March, each given one day to record under the estimable auspices of Producer Andy Baldwin.

Some were reliving seminal moments from their youth. Many were repaying a priceless debt of inspiration. A few wound up imbibing judicious quantities of celebratory elixir. All of them were cranking up their gear and sharing an unspoken appreciation of the finest common threads of their craft.

The results are as much a testament to the rude health of the reigning rock underground as they are to the Hoodoo Gurus' original masterpiece.

Elusive supergroup the Wrights - members of Jet, the Pictures, the Living End, Dallas Crane and Spiderbait - fire the all-for-one opening salvo. The Spazzys pick up the gauntlet, stick it in a fuzz box and set fire to it. Even are, as ever, the faithful classicists with knobs on, while Dan Kelly opts for a radical, polar opposite take.

QUAKE at the full-bore blast of Dallas Crane and Spiderbait. MARVEL at the eerie, djembe-in-a-bucket visitation of the Blackeyed Susans. FEAR the Living End and You Am I as they take jealous ownership of their prey. SEE Rocket Science's shocking B-movie flashback. HEAR Grinspoon become the ultimate rock'n'roll suicide missionaries.

But wait! There's more: three ROMEO-era B-sides retooled by homo-exotic disco bunnies the Sailors, Bo Diddley-fancying cowpunks the Drones, some wannabes calling themselves the Persian Rugs - plus a sweet, wafer-thin slice of post-coital refreshment from Spiderbait.

Listen to the sounds, feel the booming independent pulse, and check out the sartorial staples of rock's true believers. STONEAGE ROMEOS echoes as loud and true as ever.

"Obviously this is an incredible compliment," says Faulkner. "That album is part of my past but it's also part of my present. That stuff is always with me."

Yeah, we know what he means.

HOODOO YOU LOVE? Track by track testimony

The Wrights – (Let's All) Turn On

"Dave Faulkner actually dropped by and did some backing vocals for us, which was a bit of a proud moment. He didn't say ‘Hang on, what the fuck have you done to my song?' so I'd consider that the ultimate compliment." (Davey Lane)

The Spazzys – I Want You Back

"The Hoodoo Gurus are Australian rock heroes and we worship them. It was an absolute privilege to do I Want You Back, we reckon it's the best song on the record. I just hope they like it." (Lucy)

Even – Arthur

“I bought a fringe jacket and teased my hair like Dave Faulkner. I tried to learn Brad Shepherd's solos. The Gurus led by example and made everyone feel welcome. They had the songs and having the songs is what matters in rock'n'roll.” (Ashley Naylor).

Dan Kelly & the Alpha Males – Death Ship

"The first big concert I ever saw was the Hoodoo Gurus at Brisbane Entertainment Centre. ‘ Leilani' was the first single I ever owned. Dave Faulkner's range is phenomenal as a singer. I'd kill for that."

Dallas Crane – Dig It Up

"Bands like us can only hope their music can withstand two decades, and that people will be excited enough about it to round up a bunch of artists to pull together a tribute record. " (Dave Larkin).

Spiderbait – My Girl

"We saw the Hoodoo Gurus for the first time on Rock Arena. The song was My Girl. This cool bunch of ‘60s-rock-styled dudes playing such a beautiful, classic pop song. We loved it. Then we went outside and kicked the footy. Everyone remembers the Stoneage Romeos summer."

The Blackeyed Susans – Zanzibar

"Dave Faulkner saved my life one night when I was a young Perth punk in the ‘70s. I remember being petrified, a bunch of us surrounded by skinheads downstairs, then suddenly Flick comes charging down the stairs and chased ‘em away. I've always felt some debt to him for that." (Phil Kakulas)

The Living End – Leilani

"When it comes to the Gurus, to me it doesn't matter what the song is. But we got lucky with ‘Leilani'. I got an email from Brad afterwards and he was totally stoked. When I was 14, that would have blown my mind." (Andy Strachan)

You Am I – Tojo

"I've stolen enough from Brad Shepherd over the years. It's time I gave something back." (Tim Rogers)

Rocket Science – In the Echo Chamber

"Stoneage Romeos truly was an oasis in a desert of noise. On one hand, it was all beautifully crafted, classic pop music, and on the other, it could suddenly transform into wailing, cacophonous, rock 'n' roll noise. What more could you want?" " (Dave Gray)

Grinspoon – I Was a Kamikaze Pilot

"Stoneage Romeos was an album full of rock/pop masterpieces. At the time, most Australian bands were looking overseas for direction and inspiration and I believe this record did much to rid us of what was becoming a musical cultural cringe." (Pat Davern)

The Sailors – Leilani Pt 2

"I listened to Stoneage Romeos incessantly in early high school. It was wonderful to hear a local band playing songs with a nice swampy punk edge. The only way to do justice to ‘Leilani Pt 2' was to give it the royal disco treatment." (Leon Stackpole)

"Hoodoo Gurus? Never heard of ‘em. We just liked the song."

"All the chicks I would have liked to have fucked at high school listened ‘What's My Scene'. It kinda shat me, until i heard the Gurus' earlier garage stuff and then I got it. They were spot on." (Gareth Liddiard)