Skyhooks guitarist remembered as the last link to the band’s classic era
Bob “Bongo” Starkie, the celebrated guitarist of iconic Australian rock band Skyhooks, has died aged 73 after a battle with leukemia. His family confirmed he passed away peacefully on November 29, surrounded by loved ones, noting that “music was in his blood till the very end.”
Starkie’s death marks the end of an era for one of Australia’s most influential bands. The group that reshaped Australian music with its fearless glam-rock attitude, satirical lyrics, and theatrical stage presence.
A Defining Force in Skyhooks’ Glory Era
Born Robert John Starkie on 26 July 1952, Bob joined Skyhooks in August 1973, stepping in for his brother, original guitarist Peter Starkie. His arrival — alongside Red Symons — helped forge the unmistakable twin-guitar sound that propelled the band’s meteoric rise. Symons had been visiting him in hospital who faded out of skyhooks while Starkie kept it alive till he could, and had in fact last month cancelled 50th anniversary shows for the band’s seminal debut album, Living in the 70’s, due to his ill health.
Skyhooks exploded into national consciousness with their debut album Living in the 70’s (1974), which dominated the Australian charts for 16 consecutive weeks. Their follow-up, Ego Is Not a Dirty Word (1975), also landed at No. 1, cementing the band as cultural disruptors during a time when mainstream Australia was still relatively conservative.
Known for their flamboyant makeup, outrageous stage costumes and razor-sharp social commentary, Skyhooks became a lightning rod for youth culture. Several tracks from Living in the 70’s were famously banned from commercial radio for their frank references to sex and suburban life — yet those very songs gained cult status and helped shape the identity of triple j (then 2JJ), which launched its first broadcast by playing “You Just Like Me ’Cos I’m Good in Bed.”
Starkie’s guitar work underpinned many of the band’s most enduring hits, including “Horror Movie,” “Living in the 70’s,” “All My Friends Are Getting Married,” and, later, the comeback smash “Jukebox in Siberia.”
His stage persona, “Bongo,” was known for playful theatrics, striking facial makeup and costumes that became synonymous with the band’s live shows.
Keeping the Skyhooks Flame Alive
After Skyhooks originally disbanded in 1980, Starkie remained deeply connected to the group’s legacy. He returned for multiple reunions in the ’80s and ’90s and later created “Bongo Starkie’s Skyhooks Show,” touring the country with reimagined performances of the band’s hits.
He also contributed to Melbourne’s live-music scene beyond Skyhooks, including running the venue The Jump Club during the 1980s, which supported emerging local acts.
Skyhooks were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1992, a testament to their cultural impact — an honour Starkie proudly shared with his former bandmates.
Illness and Final Months
Starkie was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia in early 2025, forcing him to cancel a planned 50th-anniversary tour celebrating the album Ego Is Not a Dirty Word. Fans had eagerly anticipated the shows, which would have reunited Starkie with audiences who grew up on Skyhooks’ irreverent anthems.
Despite undergoing treatment, Starkie remained hopeful he would return to performing. His family said he continued listening to music and working on ideas, even during his illness.
His passing follows those of other Skyhooks members:
Graeme “Shirley” Strachan (2001) died in a helicopter
Steve Hill (2005)
Peter Starkie (2020)
With Bob’s death, the classic Skyhooks lineup is now gone — a solemn milestone for Australian music.
A Legacy That Transformed Australian Rock
Bob “Bongo” Starkie leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond his guitar riffs. Skyhooks helped define a new Australian identity in rock music — bold, local, cheeky, theatrical and unapologetically rebellious. They pushed boundaries, sang about real suburbs and real lives, and gave a generation permission to speak loudly and live loudly.
Starkie’s musicianship and showmanship shaped the band’s unique sound and presence, influencing countless artists who followed. Decades later, Skyhooks’ albums still sit in the DNA of Australian rock culture.
As news of his passing spreads, fans and fellow musicians are remembering a pioneer — a guitarist who wasn’t just part of a band, but part of Australia’s cultural fabric.
Bob Starkie is survived by his family, who remember him as a loving father, grandfather, partner and lifelong musician.
credit photos Skyhooks FB
