Warumpi Band () were an Australian rock band which formed in the outback settlement of Papunya, Northern Territory, in 1980. The original line-up was George Burarrwanga on vocals and didgeridoo, Gordon Butcher Tjapanangka on drums, his brother Sammy Butcher Tjapanangka on guitar and bass guitar, and Neil Murray on rhythm guitar and backing vocals. Their songs are in English, Luritja and Gumatj. Their key singles are "Blackfella/Whitefella" (1985), "Sit Down Money" (1986), "My Island Home" (1987) and "No Fear" (1987). The group released three albums, Big Name, No Blankets (1985), Go Bush! (1987) and Too Much Humbug (1996). From late 1987 to mid-1995 the group rarely performed as Murray focused on his solo career. In early 1995, Christine Anu (former backing singer in Murray's touring group, The Rainmakers), issued a cover version of "My Island Home". Warumpi Band regrouped before disbanding in 2000.

History

1980–1987: Career beginnings and peak

The Warumpi Band were formed in 1980 in Papunya – an outback settlement about north-west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory – as a country and Aboriginal rock group. Over the years, many different people played in the band at various times.

Warumpi Band built up a loyal following in Sydney's northern beaches pub rock scene, and played as a support act to Midnight Oil.

Gordon Butcher Tjapanangka was also an artist, woodcarver, and Land Council representative for the Western Area. Died early 2020.

Later releases

In 2015, Festival Records released the Warumpi Band 4 Ever box set, containing the band's three albums plus bonuses across two CDs.

In November 2021, Love Police Records & Tapes released Warumpi Rock: Papunya Sessions 1982, a set recorded on two-track cassette in the living room of a local teacher and is the earliest known recordings of the band.

In film and theatre

In 2013, Screen Australia released the documentary Big Name, No Blanket about the band.

A rock 'n' roll theatre show performed by Ilbijerri Theatre titled Big Name, No Blanket premiered at the Sydney Festival in January 2024. The show is written by Andrea James, assisted by Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher as story and cultural consultant, and co-directed by Rachael Maza and Anyupa Butcher (Sammy's daughter, who works at Ilbijerri – from 1980 in Papunya through the highs and lows of their career. In October 2024 a slightly scaled-down version of the show was undertaking a tour of 16 prisons, including some maximum-security lockups, supported by the Balnaves Foundation. Maza said "It's not a deeply political work. It's just a huge celebration of blackness in all its glory, of what Warumpi represents – whitefellas and blackfellas celebrating Australia's black story. It's such a powerful message if we’re trying to think about a way forward". Baykali Ganambarr plays Sammy Butcher. The show also featured in the Adelaide Festival in March 2025.

Discography

Studio albums

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of studio albums, with selected details

! scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Title

! scope="col" style="width:21em;"| Album details

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! scope="row" | Big Name, No Blankets

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  • Released: 1985
  • Label: Powderworks Records <small>(POW 6098)</small>
  • Formats: CS, LP

|-

! scope="row" | Go Bush!

|

  • Released: April 1987
  • Label: Parole Records <small>(C 38707)</small>
  • Formats: CS, LP

|-

! scope="row" | Too Much Humbug

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  • Released: April 1996
  • Label: CAAMA Music <small>(CAAMA 259)</small>
  • Formats: CS, LP

|}

Compilation albums

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of compilation albums, with selected details

! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Title

! scope="col" style="width:25em;"| Album details

|-

! scope="row" | Warumpi Band 4 Ever

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  • Released: October 2015
  • Label: Festival <small>(FEST601040)</small>
  • Formats: 2xCD
  • Note: compilation album

|-

! scope="row" | Warumpi Rock: Papunya Sessions 1982

|

  • Released: November 2021

See also

  • Luritja people
  • Luritja dialect
  • Gumatj language

References

;General

  • Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.

;Specific

  • Warumpi Band on Neil Murray's official website
  • "Mates, Mabo and Warumpi", Neil Murray interview by Sally Mitchell, GreenLeft Online, 24 July 1996
  • Listen to an excerpt of 'Jailanguru Pakarnu' on australianscreen online
  • 'Jailanguru Pakarnu' was added to the Sounds of Australia registry in 2007 by National Film and Sound Archive