Mondo Rock

After ruling Australian radio with his '50s-influenced act Daddy Cool, Ross Wilson formed the more chameleonic Mondo Rock in 1976, initially as an outlet for his solo work. Despite frequent lineup shifts, the band transitioned naturally into the ’80s, with quirky New Wave gems like “Cool World” and “Summer of ’81” now resembling a missing link between Split Enz and Huey Lewis. As Wilson again reached back to the toothy riffs and honking harmonica of early rock ‘n’ roll, 1986’s “Primitive Love Rites” became Mondo Rock’s most successful single overseas. With guitarist Eric McCusker increasingly featuring as a key songwriter, Wilson stocked the rest of the band with top-tier session players for 1990’s swan song Why Fight It?. Though the title track flexed contemporary production and pulsing synthesisers, the album’s sharp guitars remained distinctly timeless—and the choruses effortlessly bright and bubbly.