Skyhooks were a rare combination of fan favourite, media darlings and respected musicians. They wanted to be noticed, and they were.The H Files brings you stories and recollections about Skyhooks from many different people, inside and outside the band. It is not a Skyhooks history lesson, more a homage to a very exciting era of music and a band that led the way with an original sound and look that captured the nation. 

In Part 5 you'll hear Ross Wilson, who saw the band in the very early days, signed Greg to a music publishing deal and then became the producer of the first three Skyhooks albums. Ross' memories take you inside the studio, on the road in the USA and more.  

3XY disc jockey Mark Irvine got teamed with Shirl in 1984 for a short term Rocktober on-air promotion that became a permanent pairing. They became a very successful radio team and a professional and personal partnership was formed.

Peter Green was a 70s Wollongong teenager who loved the music and that passion led him to Melbourne, where he is now official historian and the man behind the Official Skyhooks Facebook page and YouTube channel, plus curator of Skyhooks memorabilia.     

Musical excerpts in this episode 

Hey What's the Matter   featuring Steve Hill  live Benefit Concert 

Living in the 70's     Shirl solo Live soundcheck Melbourne Music Festival 1988

Love's Not Good Enough    From Ego is Not a Dirty Word 

Blue Jeans   from Straight in a Gay Gay World 

Women in Uniform  from Guilty Until Proven Insane

Jukebox in Siberia     The Latest and Greatest      

Ego is Not a Dirty Word    Ross Wilson featuring Bongo Starkie  Five Decades of Cool Palais Theatre 2009

Every Litte Bit Hurts    Shirley Strachan solo single 

Crazy Heart    from Straight in a Gay Gay World

3XY Shirl & Irvine Show    1988  courtesy of Ken Francis 

Love on the Radio    live from the In the Heat of the Night concert Myer Music Bowl Melbourne 1975

Let it Rock       Hits and Riffs 

Meglomania, Life in ther Modern World and Don't Take Your Lurex to the Laundromat    from ABC TV Special  Guilty Until Proven Insane 

The H Files with Kevin Hillier 

Post-production by Chris Gates

For Howdy Partners Media

www.howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts

© 2026