Hunters & Collectors

"Hunters and Collectors" were an eight member Australian rock collective formed in 1981 and disbanded in 1998. Their style evolved from early art-funk before a bass and drum dominated pub rock phase and finally guitar driven pop rock. Hunters and Collectors made their live debut on the 15th of May 1981 at the Seaview Ballroom in Melbourne. Quickly earning a reputation as the ‘next big thing’, the Hunna’s became renowned for their chaotic, intense tribal performances. They were signed up in Australia by Mushroom Records sub-label White, which they remained with throughout their career. Hunters and Collectors launched one final gruelling tour in 1998 aptly titled Say Goodbye. Their final public show was on the 22nd of March 1998 and their final, invitation only, gig on the 24th of March 1998, both in Melbourne. The band reunited in their 1998 line-up of Archer, Falconer, Howard, Palmer, Seymour, Smith and Waters, at the 2013 AFL Grand Final. They also headlined a series of A Day on the Green outdoor concerts in early 2014, and supported Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band during their tour of Australia on 15 and 16 February 2014 at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. On 12 April 2014 they performed their last concert for the reunion series at the Palais Theatre in St. Kilda. The band subsequently won the 2014 Helpmann Award for Best Australian Contemporary Concert.