Gaslight Radio were an Australian indie rock band founded by brothers and songwriters, Martin (guitar, keys, percussion) and Rory Cooke (vocals, guitar) who were joined later by Simon Piper (drums) and Phil Roubin, briefly on (bass guitar) in Burleigh Heads, Queensland in 1995. They released three studio albums, Hitch on the Leaves (September 1998), Z-Nation (2003) and Good Heavens Mean Times (July 2006), before disbanding in 2009.

History

Gaslight Radio formed in Burleigh Heads, Queensland in 1995 as an indie guitar pop group by the Cooke brothers, better known by various media outlets, as "the boys from Burleigh Heads." The Cooke brothers grew up in a housing commission suburb, Burleigh Park, which later became part of Burleigh Heads. Rory later explained why he took up song writing, "If someone is in their bedroom with their headphones on, trying to drown their parents' fighting, that's when music can mean the most."

They recorded their second five-track EP, ...Our Dolelove (June 1997), Phil Roubin departed the band, prior to their relocation from the Gold Coast to Melbourne.

Gaslight Radio's debut, Hitch on the Leaves (September 1998), was released to critical acclaim: McFarlane described it as "a fine example of indie guitar-pop,"

In December 1999 they issued a six-track EP, Sleeveful of Slight, via Silvertone Records, "With a new bass player and drummer installed, the band recorded new material." Five of its tracks were recorded in October with Tim Whitten producing.

A six-track EP, Chapter 6: The Hard Luck Knights, was released in 2002 via Love + Mercy / Inertia Records. Oz Music Projects Jasper Lee opined "[it] follows nicely onto their last release, the 7" Sleeveful of Slight and is broken down into two single tracks and four demo recordings... Not much to fault here, it's very much a Gaslight Radio disc, with their sound relatively intact through the years in the musical wilderness." Lee opined "the band have added several members to their ranks, the sum total of their parts being a fuller version of their earlier incarnation. The ever-languid vocals of Rory Cooke still glide through the band's defining jangly indie rhythms with a seemingly enhanced vigour."

Gaslight Radio shared the stage with The Breeders, Teenage Fan Club, Sparklehorse, Pavement, Spoon, Pulp, Yo La Tengo, The National and many others, while playing Big Day Out's, Livid Festival, Homebake and the Meredith Festival, to where a young film maker was documenting the bands rise to fame.

Gaslight Radio gave Garth Davis, (Lion, academy award nominee) his first shot at filming the bands hit single, Is By Bus in 1997.

The film clip for “Change the Ending” was directed by Ryley Brown: DOP Cameraman for the Hollywood blockbuster, Zero Dark Thirty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJus32tA85o&list=RDmJus32tA85o&start_radio=1

Stephen Malkmus (founder of Pavement) was seen wearing his Gaslight Radio t - shirt on his US shows.

https://tineye.com/search/832c2b6ac8445116ff3fbc66b4c272b4a7ab140f?sort=score&order=desc&page=1

Gaslight Radio gave Garth Davis, (Lion, academy award nominee) his first shot at filming the bands hit single, Is By Bus in 1997.

In August 2007, New Zealand group Cut Off Your Hands, performed "Is by Bus", on Triple J's Like a Version program. In 2009 Gaslight Radio disbanded with Rory and Martin Cooke pursuing their own projects: Forty Thousand Sisters for Martin, and the Eliza Band for Rory. Latter day members of Gaslight Radio included Nick Treweek (2nd drummer), Matt Davis (keys), Emily Fullerton (keys), Alex Jarvis (guitar), Peter Mclean (guitar), Michael Regan (bass) and Cameron Teys (drums). Matt Bailey (keys).

In June 2015 Emporio Armani choose "Change the Ending" from Gaslight Radio's album, Good Heavens Mean Times, for an ad campaign.

Martin Cooke has a new project called, Singer Mattress Cat. His LP, Subtropical Personality (December 2025), is a homage to his former government housing suburb of Burleigh Park.

As quoted in the Herald Sun, Cooke says: "Gaslight Radio were never about the awards, the industry schmoozing; always about the art, and it's great that people are rediscovering us."

https://themusic.com.au/news/armani-choose-melbourne-bands-song-to-soundtrack-new-campaign/qS26vby_vqE/25-06-15

Discography

Albums

  • Hitch on the Leaves (September 1998)&nbsp;– Lonely Guy Records / MDS <small>(GUY004)</small>
  • Z-Nation (2003)&nbsp;– Love + Mercy/Inertia <small>(Briar004)</small>
  • Magic Castle Broke Songs (compilation album, August 2004)&nbsp;– Independent <small>(GR001)</small>
  • Good Heavens Mean Times (July 2006)&nbsp;– Love + Mercy <small>(Briar013)</small>

Extended plays

  • Torchin' Towns, Hankerin' Homes (August 1996)&nbsp;– Lonely Guy Records <small>(GUY001)</small>
  • ...Our Dolelove (June 1997)&nbsp;– Lonely Guy Records / MDS <small>(GUY002)</small>
  • Is by Bus (November 1997)&nbsp;– Lonely Guy Records / MDS <small>(GUY003)</small>
  • Sleeveful Of Slight (December 1999)&nbsp;– Silvertone Records <small>(SILV002)</small>
  • Chapter 6: The Hard Luck Knights (2002)&nbsp;– Love + Mercy/Inertia <small>(Briar001)</small>
  • One Kid (2004)&nbsp;– Independent

Singles

  • "Guillotine Sun" (2009)

References

  • archived on 28 August 2007.
  • "Gaslight Radio LinerNotes" archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved on 27 August 2017.
  • "Gaslight Radio – Rediff Pages" archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved on 27 August 2017.
  • "Gaslight Radio – Z-Nation" archived from the original on 4 February 2005. Retrieved on 27 August 2017.
  • https://flavorwire.com/151955/fandom-hall-of-fame-musicians-wearing-other-musicians-t-shirts
  • https://marlonwinterbourne1.bandcamp.com/album/merry-go-round-on-the-moon