Hunters & Collectors

Hunters & Collectors were a vital part of Australia’s ’80s New Wave scene, but over time they evolved into a national rock institution. Fronted by singer/guitarist Mark Seymour (brother of Crowded House’s Nick Seymour), the group came together as late-’70s schoolmates at the University of Melbourne. Through name changes and different iterations, they became Hunters & Collectors in 1981, releasing their self-titled debut LP the following year. For their first few albums, theirs was a dark, edgy mix of post-punk guitars, funky grooves and punchy horns. The band achieved modest Australian success in this period, but when they shifted to a poppier sound starting with 1986’s Human Frailty, they reaped the commercial rewards in a major way. The single “Throw Your Arms Around Me” would earn international renown, eventually being covered by Pearl Jam and others. Hunters & Collectors found continued acclaim and honours through the ’90s but split after 1998’s Juggernaut. They were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2005 and reunited in 2009 for a benefit concert, and they have since reconvened for sporadic tours.