Following acclaimed compilations like "Boogie!", "Dirty Jeans" and "Down Under Nuggets" and deluxe reissues of classic albums and material by Sunnyboys, Archie Roach, Frente! and the early Bee Gees, Warner Music’s hertitage imprint Festival Records continues its excavation of great Australian music with a number of releases focussing on Melbourne’s influential ‘70s scene, to be released on October 3.

“(When The Sun Sets Over) Carlton: Melbourne’s Countercultural Inner City Rock Scene Of The ‘70s” is a deluxe 2CD set that documents the arts and politics-infused rock scene that gave Australia cultural icons like Paul Kelly, Joe Camilleri, Stephen Cummings, Jane Clifton, Peter Lillie, Ross Wilson, Ross Hannaford, Greg Macainsh, Red Symons and Shirley Strachan, as well as author Helen Garner.

The Australian underground music scene has been rocked by the sudden passing of Tumblweed bass-player Jay Curley. At 8am today, the band made a statement via its Facebook page: 

"It is with deep sadness that we inform everyone of a great loss in the Tumbleweed family. Our brother, friend and bass player Jay Curley passed away suddenly in his home yesterday. We are still shocked at the news of his death. We hope that people will remember him for his music, his big heart and his total dedication to rock and roll."

Hot on the heels of the Perth show and a day after the Sydney gig, there's a Brisbane benefit for Lime Spiders vocalist Mick Blood happening in Brisbane.  

"Bloodstock" is being held at Roma Street's Beetle Bar on Sunday, September 28th from 1pm and features the talents of friends and former bandmates.

You can catch Screamin' Stevie, Dr. Bombay, The Busymen, The Counterfeit Umbrellas, The Pretty Fingers, Hill 60, Team Utopia and Brisbane's own Burlesque beauty, Miss Red Devotchkin, from 1pm.

Tickets are available at the door for $10. All proceeds will go directly to Mick's Support Act fund.

Mick is recovering in a Newcastle hospital after a pub altercation left him with brain damage.

Bloodstock on Facebook

www.supportact.com.au

Former Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers bass-player Billy Rath has died after a long illness.

Rath had been in ill-health for some time and left a hospice to be at home with his family in Boston.

Rath replaced Richard Hell in the Heartbreakers in 1976, recorded their debut album “LAMF” and remained in the ranks for the band’s innumerable reunion appearances.

He was briefly a member of Iggy Pop's touring band before disappearing from the music scene in the 1980s.

Clean and sober, he studied psychology and theology, worked as a drug counsellor and lived in Massachusetts. In 2010, he formed Billy Rath’s Street Pirates, a line-up of which he was still playing with and recording until falling ill.

Rath’s passing leaves guitarist Walter Lure as the sole surviving member of the classic Heartbreakers line-up.

Band leader Deniz Tek has responded to fan commentary about Chris Masuak's omission from the touring line-up of Radio Birdman. In a brief Facebook posting this afternoon, Tek said:

"Thank you, all those giving your support ! We are totally stoked to be able to go out and play again. To those disappointed with the lineup change, I understand - and yes, it will be different without Chris. The decision to go on without him was not taken lightly. We will not discuss the reasons for it in public."

Chris Masuak's exclusion from the Radio Birdman Australian tour has prompted an immediate reaction from fans with expressions of disbelief on social media and the launch of an online petition. 

The petition is live here. 

In other news, supports have been announced for all shows except Adelaide with Hard-Ons and HITS on most bills: 

Friday 31st October, 2014 – NEWCASTLE – Hard-Ons and Hurricanes
Saturday 1st November, 2014 – SYDNEY – Hard-Ons and HITS
Sunday 2nd November, 2014 – MELBOURNE - HITS
Monday 3rd November, 2014 – MELBOURNE - HITS
Friday 7th November, 2014 – BRISBANE - HITS
Saturday 8th November, 2014 – ADELAIDE - tba
Sunday 9th November, 2014 – PERTH – The Volcanics