No Secrets

Imagine stepping into a packed Australian pub in the mid-1970s and the late 1980s - the heyday of the pub-rock music scene - where the air was thick with the unmistakable scent of beer, sweat and pot, and the atmosphere was electrifying. Doc Neeson, charismatic lead singer of The Angels, famously captured this raw energy when he quipped, 'I know you're out there. I can smell you!'

Australian pubs were then the epicentre of a musical revolution soundtracked by a heady mix of growling guitars, thumping bass, pounding drums and adoring fans. This golden era gave birth to some of the country's most iconic and beloved rock music - and Graham 'Buzz' Bidstrup was at the heart of it all.

In No Secrets, Buzz recounts his journey from his first drum kit to becoming a powerhouse drummer, session musician, songwriter, producer and manager. An original member of The Angels/Angel City, GANGgajang and The Party Boys, he's also made music with a who's who of rock royalty including Jimmy Barnes, Mondo Rock, Australian Crawl, Richard Clapton, Don Walker's Catfish, Swanee, The Stetsons and even Tiny Tim. Buzz managed and produced albums for young artists like Nathan Cavaleri and Diana Anaid, The Numbers and The Riptides, and spent a life-changing thirteen years managing and producing the legendary Indigenous entertainer Jimmy Little AO.

Navigating the complexities of artist management, royalty disputes and the music industry's drug culture, No Secrets offers an insider's perspective on band dynamics and the realities of life on the road. From sharing the stage with mates to touring alongside David Bowie, The Kinks, and Cheap Trick, Buzz eloquently describes how the journey to stardom can often descend into struggles with egos, unfulfilled dreams and personal challenges.

About the Author

ARIA Hall of Fame member Graham 'Buzz' Bidstrup is a celebrated figure in the Australian music industry, with an extensive career as a songwriter, musician, record producer, session player and film music composer. His film credits include Sweet and Sour for the ABC, Heatwave, Starstruck and Mad Wax. As a founding member and drummer of the iconic band The Angels, Buzz helped define the group's sound during the late 1970s and early 1980s with his energetic performances and tight rhythms, and he co-wrote and co-produced their hit 'No Secrets'. Buzz also co-founded successful bands including The Party Boys, The Stetsons and GANGgajang, and contributed to hits such as GANGgajang's 'Sounds of Then (This Is Australia)'.

In the mid-1990s, Buzz managed the careers of Nathan Cavaleri and Diana Anaid. From 1999, he managed and worked as music director for iconic Australian Indigenous entertainer Dr Jimmy Little AO, helping to establish the Jimmy Little Foundation in 2006 and Uncle Jimmy Thumbs Up Ltd in 2008, and working with Jimmy until his passing in April 2012. Buzz remains an active CEO of the Thumbs Up! program, which has delivered arts-based health and community education to schools and communities across Australia since 2009. Buzz co-developed the Good Tucker App in 2018, which is now in use throughout many remote Indigenous communities.

Buzz continues to mentor young emerging artists as an APRA Ambassador while producing music for a range of solo performers and bands. He was a board member of the Australian Association of Artist Managers for ten years and is now a patron of the organisation.