On March 12 2026 the founding members of Australian Crawl filed an application to the Australian Federal Court challenging Bill McDonough’s acquisition of Australian Crawl trademarks. Bill McDonough acquired these trademarks in 1990 for “Entertainment services including artists’ agencies, sound recording, radio and television programme production, theatre or cinema productions and amusement centres and parks” in class 41, and in 1994 in for “Clothing, footwear and all goods” in class 25.
There was never any consultation or agreement with any members of Australian Crawl in relation to registering the trademarks. As such, the founding members do not recognise Bill’s ownership of these assets.
Scot Crawford (Manager and Representative) today said, “This action is not about stripping Bill of these trademarks. This is about the original members having access to trademark registration individually or in partnership.”
James Reyne stated: “In 1978 I formed the band with Simon Binks and Brad Robinson. We subsequently asked our friend Paul Williams to join on bass guitar, and my brother, David Reyne, to play drums. This was the original Australian Crawl lineup.”
Simon Binks today said: “James, Brad and I formed Australian Crawl in 1978. In 1983 the then members of Australian Crawl unanimously voted Bill out of the band.”
A TIMELIME OF AUSTRALIAN CRAWL:
1978: Australian Crawl form. The band plays its first gig in October.
The lineup:
James Reyne (lead vocals, harmonica)
Simon Binks (guitar)
Brad Robinson (guitar)
Paul Williams (bass)
David Reyne (drums)
1979: David Reyne leaves the band and is replaced by Bill McDonough.
Australian Crawl release their debut single, ‘Beautiful People’ (written by James Reyne & Mark Hudson).
1980: Australian Crawl release their debut album, The Boys Light Up. Produced by LRB’s David Briggs, the album stays in the charts for two years, peaks at number four, and goes four-times platinum.
Lineup:
James Reyne (lead vocals, harmonica)
Simon Binks (guitar, backing vocals)
Brad Robinson (guitar, backing vocals)
Paul Williams (bass, backing vocals)
Bill McDonough (drums, percussion, backing vocals)
Geoff Cox (drums, percussion)
The album features three singles: ‘Beautiful People’ (written by James Reyne & Mark Hudson), ‘The Boys Light Up’ (written by James Reyne) and ‘Downhearted’ (written by Sean Higgins, Guy McDonough & Bill McDonough).
Guitarist and singer Guy McDonough joins Australian Crawl.
1981: James Reyne wins Most Popular Male Performer at the Countdown Rock Awards.
Australian Crawl’s second album, Sirocco – named after Errol Flynn’s yacht – is the band’s first number one album, spending six weeks on top. Produced by Peter Dawkins, three singles are released: ‘Things Don’t Seem’ (written by Guy McDonough & Sean Higgins), ‘Errol’ (written by James Reyne & Guy McDonough) and ‘Oh No Not You Again’ (written by Guy McDonough).
Lineup:
James Reyne (lead vocals, piano)
Guy McDonough (lead vocals on three tracks, guitar)
Simon Binks (lead guitar)
Brad Robinson (guitar) Paul Williams (bass)
Bill McDonough (drums, percussion)
1982: Australian Crawl win Most Popular Group at the Countdown Rock Awards, while James Reyne wins Most Popular Male Performer for the second year running.
Australian Crawl’s third album, Sons of Beaches, becomes the band’s second number one album, spending five weeks on top. Produced by Mike Chapman, the album features three singles: ‘Shut Down’ (written by Bill McDonough), ‘Daughters Of The Northern Coast’ (written by James Reyne & Guy McDonough) and ‘Runaway Girls’ (written by Guy McDonough).
Lineup:
James Reyne (lead vocals)
Guy McDonough (lead vocals on three tracks)
Simon Binks (lead guitar)
Brad Robinson (guitar)
Paul Williams (bass)
John Watson (drums, percussion)
Bill McDonough (drums, percussion, backing vocals)
1983:
The band unanimously vote Bill McDonough out
Drummer John Watson joins the band.
Release of the Semantics EP featuring ‘Reckless’ (written by James Reyne). Produced by Mark Opitz, the EP goes to number one, the band’s biggest hit single.
Lineup:
James Reyne (lead vocals, keyboards, guitar)
Guy McDonough (vocals, guitar)
Simon Binks (lead guitar)
Brad Robinson (guitar, keyboards)
Paul Williams (bass)
Graham “Buzz” Bidstrup (drums, keyboards)
The band also re-records six songs for the international release of the Semantics album – ‘The Boys Light Up’ (written by James Reyne), ‘Errol’(written by James Reyne & Guy McDonough), ‘Indisposed’ (written by Brad Robinson, James Robinson, James Reyne & Bill McDonough), ‘Things Don’t Seem’ (written by Guy McDonough & Sean Higgins) and ‘Unpublished Critics’ (written by James Reyne & Paul Williams).
Australian Crawl release their first live album, Phalanx, featuring a cover of ‘Louie Louie’. The album reaches number four.
Lineup:
James Reyne (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica)
Guy McDonough (lead vocals one track, guitar)
Simon Binks (lead guitar, vocals)
Brad Robinson (guitar, vocals)
Paul Williams (bass, vocals)
John Watson (drums)
Australian Crawl tour the UK with Duran Duran, where Geffen Records release Phalanx as Australian Crawl: Live.
1984: Australian Crawl sponsor the Bells Beach Surf Classic. It’s the Rip Curl/Australian Crawl Bells Beach Surf Classic.
James Reyne wins a Logie for Most Popular New Talent at the TV Week Logie Awards.
Australian Crawl win Most Popular Group at the Countdown Rock Awards.
Guy McDonough dies of viral pneumonia.
The first Australian Crawl best-of, Crawl File, is released and peaks at number two.
1985: James Reyne and Brad Robinson help organise the EAT Concert, at Melbourne’s Myer Music Bowl, which raises money for East African famine relief.
Paul Williams leaves the band.
Australian Crawl play at the Oz For Africa concert – part of Live Aid – performing ‘Reckless’ (written by James Reyne), ‘Two Can Play’ (written by James Reyne & Simon Hussey) and ‘The Boys Light Up’ (written by James Reyne).
Australian Crawl release their final studio album, Between A Rock And A Hard Place, on the band’s own label, Freestyle Records. It peaks at number 11. Produced by Adam Kidron, the album features the singles ‘Two Can Play’ (written by James Reyne & Simon Hussey), ‘If This Is Love’ (written by James Reyne), ‘Trouble Spot Rock’ (written by James Reyne) and ‘Two Hearts’ (written by James Reyne & Simon Hussey).
Lineup:
James Reyne (lead vocals, guitar)
Simon Binks (lead guitar)
Brad Robinson (keyboards, clavinet, synthesizer)
John Watson (drums, timbales, marimba)
Additional musicians:
Harry Brus (bass) Mark Greig(guitar)
1986: Australian Crawl play their final Melbourne show, at the Myer Music Bowl on January 27. The band’s final show is at the Perth Entertainment Centre on February 1. A live album, The Final Wave, is released in October.
Lineup:
James Reyne (lead vocals, harmonica)
Simon Binks (lead guitar, backing vocals)
Brad Robinson (guitar, keyboards)
John Watson (drums)
Harry Brus (bass)
Mark Greig (guitar)
