Sunnyboys Keep Shining As They Celebrate Their 40th Anniversary

It isn't easy to adequately summarise the 40-year journey taken by iconic Aussie rockers Sunnyboys; even guitarist Richard Burgman had a hard time of it.

“There's lots of things that comes to mind,” he begins.

“Forty years of it is an extraordinary thing anyway; that such a thing should be possible first of all is amazing.

“We never expected or suspected something like that would be possible, we never did, and that it is and that it has come to this is something we're actually very happy about, and I'm looking forward to celebrating that. It's really hard to put it into words, actually.”

In their time, Sunnyboys have put an indelible mark on Australian music and remain a beloved favourite for fans old and new alike. With the late-2019 release of their 'Sunnyboys 40' retrospective collection, Sunnyboys are back on tour during February to celebrate.



Reflecting on the generation of bands and musicians that set the standard for Aussie rock, Richard says fortune has shone brightly on Sunnyboys. “There's so many great musicians we grew up with in the late '70s and early '80s who are contemporaries of ours who are still playing and recording,” he says.

“There are some still doing really well, some of them are not and we've lost so many along the way, which is the other side of the coin of life, it is what happens and we have to live with that.

“You've got to celebrate the moments that you have and make the most of the relationships that you have; you've got to be involved and engaged and keep your head up. That's what it is and if we're lucky enough to do that, we're about as lucky a group of people as you can get.”

Though luck only accounts for so much in the music industry, it's not an overstatement to suggest much of Sunnyboys' extended standing comes down to the timelessness of the music they created in the mere 12 years they were actually in existence.

“Those songs related to people when we were young and those songs relate to people now,” Richard agrees.

“The way we played back then was all-out – we would play as hard and as fast and with as much intensity and joy as we could. Given our advanced stages, we try to do the same thing now.”

Forty years may have aged their bodies, but it has done little to quell the spirit Sunnyboys bring to their performances.

For the upcoming 'Sunnyboys 40' album tour, Richard says he's looking forward to reliving four decades of friends, fans and frenetic rock. “We're not trying to say 'look at us, look at us',” he says.

“What we like to do is go out onstage and say 'ok everybody, it's a big-smile time'. Let's have some fun, let's just enjoy this; celebrate the moment, celebrate the people you're with and make sure you make the most of your day.”

Sunnyboys 2020 Tour Dates

Fri 7 Feb - Torquay Hotel (VIC) - sold out
Sat 8 Feb - Forum Melbourne
Fri 14 Feb - The Tivoli Theatre (Brisbane)
Sat 15 Feb - Twilights @ Taronga (Sydney)
Fri 21 Feb - Aussie World (Sunshine Coast)
Sun 23 Feb - Miami Marketta (Gold Coast)