The Hitmen

{{Short description|Australian rock band}} {{About|the Australian band|the British band|the Hitmen (British band)}} {{For|the production wing of Bad Boy Records|Bad Boy Records #The Hitmen}} {{Other uses|Hitman (disambiguation)}} {{COI|date=June 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Use Australian English|date=March 2012}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Hitmen | image = | image_size = | image_upright = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = | background = group_or_band | alias = {{flatlist| * Johnny and the Hitmen * Hitmen DTK }} | origin = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | genre = {{flatlist| * Hard rock * punk rock * indie rock }} | years_active = {{flatlist| * {{start date|1977}}–{{end date|1984}} * {{start date|1989}}–{{end date|1992}} * {{start date|2007}}–present }} | label = {{flatlist| * WEA * RCA * ABC * Survival * Zeus * Savage Beat / Shock }} | website =  | current_members = * Johnny Kannis * Tony "the Kid" Robertson * Murray Shepherd * Tony Jukic * Vince Cuscuna * Malcolm Paynter (Honorary Member) | past_members = see Members }}

'''The Hitmen''' are an Australian hard rock band formed in November 1977 by long-term members, Johnny Kannis on lead vocals and Chris Masuak on lead guitar as '''Johnny and the Hitmen'''. The group went through numerous line up changes in its first run from 1977 to 1984. They regrouped under a new name, '''Hitmen DTK''', between 1989 and 1992. They have issued three studio albums, ''Hitmen'' (July 1981), ''It Is What It Is'' (November 1982) and ''Moronic Inferno'' (November 1991). The Hitmen reformed in 2007; Masuak left in 2015.

== History ==

===1977–1983: early years, ''Hitmen'' and ''It Is What it Is''=== The Hitmen were formed in November 1977 in Sydney by Warwick Gilbert to maintain the core unit of Radio Birdman and its fan base during Deniz Tek's absences from RB. The line-up was Charlie Georgees on guitar (ex-Hellcats), Warwick Gilbert on bass guitar (also in Radio Birdman), Johnny Kannis on lead vocals, Ron Keeley on drums and Chris Masuak on lead guitar (both also in Radio Birdman).<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> Kannis and Masuak had been bandmates in the Jackals from 1974 to 1975 alongside Rubin Acosta, Archie Archilles, Alf Azzopardi and Steve Willman.<ref name="Holmgren"/>

According to Kannis, the Jackals were "a school band that Chris Masuak and I started while we were in year 10 [with a] Maltese rhythm section."<ref name="Kannis"/> They played cover versions of material by Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Blue Öyster Cult, Ted Nugent, Lou Reed and original country rock tracks written by Masuak, including "Death by the Gun".<ref name="Kannis"/> Masuak joined Sydney-based punk rockers Radio Birdman in October 1976 alongside Gilbert and Keeley.<ref name="Holmgren"/><ref name="McFarlane RB"/> Kannis was that group's MC and he formed the new group, as Johnny and the Hitmen, "for a series of fun gigs" between Radio Birdman commitments.<ref name="McFarlane"/>

Radio Birdman started a European tour early in 1978, and Kannis formed a new line-up of Johnny and the Hitmen with Georgees, Clyde Bramley on bass guitar, Alan Brown on drums, Steve Harris on keyboards, Angie Pepper on vocals and Lynne Phillips on vocals.<ref name="McFarlane"/> Prior to Radio Birdman's European tour Johnny Kannis recorded three tracks with Radio Birdman members Ron Keeley, Warwick Gilbert and Chris Masuak plus Charlie Georges at Trafalgar Studios and released two as a solo Johnny Kannis 7" single, "King of the Surf" backed by a cover version of the Drifters' 1964 single, "Under the Boardwalk", as Kannis' solo effort in November 1978.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> Following the demise of Radio Birdman, Kannis and Masuak reformed the Hitmen in July '78 with Ivor Hay on drums (ex-the Saints) and Phil Sommerville on bass guitar.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> In September Gilbert was asked join on guitar.<ref name="McFarlane"/>

The Hitmen were signed to WEA in March 1979 and released their debut single, "Didn't Tell the Man", in July of that year.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> By that time Hay was replaced by Geoff Peterkin (ex-Ol' 55) until August when Mark Kingsmill joined on drums (ex-the Hellcats, the Other Side).<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> Soon after Sommerville left, Gilbert switched back to bass guitar and Tony Vidale joined on guitar.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> A second single, "I Want You", appeared in March 1980.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/>

In December 1980 the band entered the studio to record their debut self-titled album, which was released in the following July, with Mark Opitz as producer (AC/DC, the Angels, the Reels).<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> Vidale had been replaced on guitar by Brad Shepherd (ex-Fun Things, 31st) during the recording sessions – Shepherd re-recorded the guitar parts.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> Susan Moore of ''The Australian Women's Weekly'' described the group as "keeping the riotous rock flag flying with a crystal clear production... The songs are well-crafted although it's the overall onslaught that's the most memorable; the direction is decisive and determined. And there's a lucid layering of instrumentation – each component rubbing shoulders comfortably."<ref name="Moore"/> Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, opined that the album and lead single, "I Don't Mind" (June 1981), were "excellent slices of melodic hard rock. Opitz had achieved a full-throated production sound in the studio that did justice to the band's fierce live reputation."<ref name="McFarlane"/>

Whilst signed to WEA and MMA management the group toured with international acts Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Stranglers and Steppenwolf.<ref name="McFarlane"/> Conflict of direction prior to the debut LP's release prompted WEA to withdraw promotion for its release and drop the band from the label, which led to Gilbert's departure from the band in 1981. Gilbert was replaced by Tony Robertson (ex-Credits, Wasted Daze, 31st).<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> Early in 1982 the group left WEA and signed to RCA Records: they released their second album, ''It Is What It Is'' (November 1982), which was produced by Bruce Brown and Russell Dunlop.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> Shepherd had already left, a month earlier, to join Hoodoo Gurus and the Hitmen continued as a quartet.<ref name="McFarlane"/> According to McFarlane "[they] continued to draw big crowds on tour, but could not sell records. Consequently, RCA dropped The Hitmen and the band went into hibernation."<ref name="McFarlane"/>

When Iggy Pop toured Australia in June 1983, Radio Birdman's singer, Rob Younger, was asked to provide his opening act.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="McFarlane tNC"/> Younger formed the New Christs with three of the Hitmen: Kingsmill, Masuak and Robertson, as well as Kent Stedman on guitar (also in the Celibate Rifles).<ref name="McFarlane tNC"/> Kannis formed a soul music band, Johnny Kannis and the Night Train, during this hiatus. The line-up alongside Kannis was Harris and Phillips from an early version of the Hitmen, together with Michael Buckley on drums (ex-the Radiators), Rohan Cannon on guitar (ex-Rupert B, Earthlings), Don Raffael on saxophone (ex-Rupert B, the Party Boys), Paul Reed on bass guitar and Mick Thornton on trumpet (both ex-Rupert B).<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> In July 1983 Harris, Kannis and Phillips were all injured in a car accident while on tour; Kannis was hospitalised for months and that group broke up.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/>

===1984–1989: first reformation and ''Tora Tora DTK''=== By June 1984 Kannis had recovered sufficiently for the Hitmen to reform with Kingsmill, Masuak and Robertson joined by a new member, Richard Jakimyszyn, on guitar (ex-Lime Spiders, New Christs).<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> While on tour they recorded a live album, ''Tora Tora DTK'' (November 1984), at the St George-Budapest Soccer Club and Family Inn by ABC Mobile with Ian Davies and Masuak producing.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/><ref name="Tora DTK"/> Soon after the tour Kingsmill, Masuak and Robertson all joined the Screaming Tribesmen and the Hitmen disbanded.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/><ref name="McFarlane ST"/>

===1989–1991: second reformation and ''Moronic Inferno''=== Kannis and Masuak re-formed the group as the Hitmen DTK in April 1989 with a new line-up: Gye Bennetts on drums (ex-Terminal Twist, Johnny Kannis Explosion), Brad Ferguson on bass guitar (ex-Voodoo Lust) and Matt Le Noury (a.k.a. Matt Nasty) on guitar (ex-Vampire Lovers, Flying Tigers).<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> They issued a four-track extended play, ''U.E.L.A'' (initialism for '''U'''topian '''E'''motional '''L'''ove '''A'''ura) via Survival Records in November 1989, which was produced by Masuak.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> During 1990 they toured Australia co-headlining with Voodoo Lust, and Peter Wells' group, Heart Attack, as support.<ref name="McFarlane"/>

The line-up of Hitmen DTK changed with Kannis and Masuak joined by Shane Cooke on bass guitar (ex-Vampire Lovers, Four Horsemen), Gerald Presland on drums and Bob Sattler on guitar (ex-Johnny Kannis Explosion, Roddy Ray'da and the Surfin' Caesars).<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> They recorded a studio album, ''Moronic Inferno'' (November 1991), in Austin, Texas, with Andy Bradley and Masuak co-producing.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> To launch the album, the band performed four Sydney dates in November with guest guitarist Deniz Tek. In 2024, the first of these shows, recorded at Newtown, was released as a live album titled ''Tonight We Ride!'' by Vicious Kitten Records. In December of 1991 they toured Australia opening for US rock group, Dark Carnival (see Ron Asheton), but they broke up early in the following year.<ref name="McFarlane"/>

===2007–present=== The Hitmen reformed in 2007, with Kannis, Masuak and Robertson joined by Tony "Juke" Jukic on guitar (ex-Johnny Kannis Explosion, Oblivian) and Murray "Muzz" Shepherd (Brad Shepherd's older brother) on drums (ex-Screaming Tribesmen, Lime Spiders); they undertook a set of Australian shows.<ref name="Barman"/> Re-issues of ''Hitmen'' (November 2007),<ref name="Rabid"/> ''It Is What It Is'' (2007) and ''Tora Tora DTK'' (2009) occurred via Savage Beat/Shock Records: each with detailed liner notes and extra discs of bonus material. A one-off gig on 23 February 2008 with former Dark Carnival and Destroy All Monsters singer-visual artist, Niagara, at The Crest Hotel, Sylvania, was recorded and released as ''St Valentine's Day Massacre'' in October 2009 via Savage Beat/Shock Records in Australia and US label, Steel Cage, around the world.<ref name="Deming"/> The band gigged solidly with a national tour with Niagara undertaken in April 2010.

The Hitmen marked their 30th anniversary with a one-off show at the Sandringham Hotel, Newtown, in Sydney on 21 May 2010. Another retrospective collection, ''Dancin' Time'', of studio and live material was released in November of that year. The band went into hiatus when Masuak moved to Spain in 2015. Kannis finished recording his solo single which was produced by fellow Hitman, Jukic, at the Alchemy Music Group Studios.

In 2017 the Hitmen regrouped for a national tour to promote their compilation album, ''Solid as a Rock'', Kannis, Jukic, Robertson and Murray Shepherd were joined by Vince "the Wiz" Cuscuna on guitar (ex-the Psychotic Turnbuckles). They continued to tour during 2018.<ref name="Suburban"/>

==Members==

===Timeline=== <div class="left" > <timeline> ImageSize = width:900 height:500 PlotArea = left:110 bottom:120 top:0 right:30 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1977 till:30/12/2016 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:2018

Colors = id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:keyboards value:purple legend:Keyboards id:lines value:black legend:Studio albums

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:2

ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1977 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:2011

LineData = at:01/01/1978 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1979 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1980 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1981 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1982 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1984 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1988 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1991 color:black layer:back at:01/01/1992 color:black layer:back at:01/01/2009 color:black layer:back at:01/01/2006 color:black layer:back

BarData = bar:Kanis text:"Johnny Kannis" bar:Pepper text:"Angie Pepper" bar:Phillips text:"Lynne Phillips" bar:Masuak text:"Chris Masuak" bar:Cuscuna text:"Vince Cuscuna"

bar:Georges text:"Charlie Georges" bar:Vidale text:"Tony Vidale" bar:Shepherd2 text:"Brad Shepherd" bar:Jakimyszyn text:"Richard Jakimyszyn" bar:Sattler text:"Robert Sattler" bar:Jukic text:"Tony Jukic"

bar:Gilbert text:"Warwick Gilbert" bar:Somerville text:"Phil Somerville" bar:Bramley text:"Clyde Bramley" bar:Robertson text:"Tony Robertson"

bar:Banesevic text:"Peter Banesevic"

bar:Keeley text:"Ron Keeley" bar:Brown text:"Alan Brown" bar:Hay text:"Ivor Hay" bar:Kingsmill text:"Mark Kingsmill" bar:Peterkin text:"Geoff Peterkin" bar:Bennetts text:"Gye Bennetts" bar:Shepherd text:"Murray Shepherd"

bar:Harris text:"Steve Harris" PlotData= width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:Bennetts from:01/01/1989 till:31/12/1989 color:drums bar:Bramley from:01/01/1978 till:31/12/1978 color:bass bar:Brown from:01/01/1978 till:31/12/1978 color:drums bar:Cuscuna from:01/01/2016 till:end color:guitar bar:Georges from:01/01/1979 till:31/12/1978 color:guitar bar:Gilbert from:01/01/1977 till:01/01/1978 color:bass bar:Gilbert from:01/01/1981 till:31/12/1981 color:bass bar:Harris from:01/01/1978 till:31/12/1978 color:keyboards bar:Harris from:01/01/1978 till:31/12/1978 color:guitar width:3 bar:Hay from:01/01/1978 till:01/01/1979 color:drums bar:Jakimyszyn from:01/10/1984 till:31/12/1984 color:guitar bar:Jukic from:01/01/2007 till:end color:guitar bar:Kanis from:01/01/1977 till:end color:vocals bar:Keeley from:01/01/1977 till:31/12/1977 color:drums bar:Kingsmill from:01/01/1979 till:31/12/1984 color:drums bar:Masuak from:01/01/1977 till:31/12/2015 color:guitar bar:Pepper from:01/01/1977 till:31/12/1978 color:vocals bar:Peterkin from:01/01/1979 till:31/12/1979 color:drums bar:Phillips from:01/01/1978 till:31/12/1978 color:vocals bar:Robertson from:01/01/1982 till:31/12/1986 color:bass bar:Robertson from:01/01/2007 till:end color:bass bar:Shepherd from:01/01/2007 till:end color:drums bar:Somerville from:01/01/1978 till:01/01/1979 color:bass bar:Vidale from:01/01/1979 till:01/01/1981 color:guitar bar:Sattler from:01/01/1987 till:25/12/1991 color:guitar

bar:Shepherd2 from:01/01/1981 till:01/01/1983 color:guitar

</timeline> </div> {{Div col|colwidth=32em}} *Peter Banesevic : Guitar *Gye Bennetts : Drums (1989) *Clyde Bramley : Bass (1978) *Alan Brown : Drums (1978) *Charlie Georges : Guitar (1977–78) *Warwick Gilbert : Bass, Guitar (1977–78, 1981) *Steve Harris : Keyboard, Guitar (1978) *Ivor Hay : Drums (1978–79) *Richard Jakimyszyn : Guitar, Vocals (1984) * Tony Jukic : Guitar (2007–present) *Johnny Kannis : Vocals (1977–present) *Ron Keeley : Drums (1977) *Mark Kingsmill: Drums, Vocals (1979–84) *Chris Masuak : Guitar, Vocals (1976–2015) *Angie Pepper : Vocals (1977–78) *Geoff Peterkin : Drums (1979) *Lynne Phillips : Vocals (1978) *Tony Robertson : Bass, Vocals (1982–86, 2007– ) *Brad Shepherd : Guitar (1981–82) * Murray Shepherd : Drums (2007– ) *Phil Somerville : Bass (1978–79) *Tony Vidale : Guitar (1979–81) *Robert Sattler : Guitar (1987–91) *Vince Wiz Cuscuna:Guitar (2016–) *Gerard (Sundance) Presland *Drums 1990–1993 (moronic inferno)

==Discography==

===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | AUS <ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=139}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''Hitmen'' | * Released: July 1981 * Format: LP * Label: WEA (600097) | align="center" | 67 |- ! scope="row" | ''It Is What it Is'' | * Released: November 1982 * Format: LP * Label: RCA (VPL1 0403) | align="center" | 81 |- ! scope="row" | ''Moronic Inferno'' | * Released: November 1991 * Format: LP, CD, Cassette * Label: Zeus Records, Shock (Z 58 CHEVY CD) | align="center" | - |- |}

===Live albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of albums ! Title ! Album details |- ! scope="row" | ''Tora Tora DTK'' | * Released: November 1984 * Format: LP, Cassette * Label: ABC Records (L-38240) |- ! scope="row" | ''St. Valentine's Day Massacre'' (with Niagara) | * Released: 2009 * Format: CD, DD * Label: Savage Beat!, Shock (SAVAGE009) |- ! scope="row" | ''Live Action'' | * Released: November 2015 * Format: DD * Label: Laneway |- |}

===Compilation albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of albums ! Title ! Album details |- ! scope="row" | ''78-82'' | * Released: 1988 * Format: LP, CD, Cassette * Label: Survival Records (SRCD 04) |- ! scope="row" | ''Dancing Time '78-'79'' | * Released: November 2010 * Format: 2x CD, DD * Label: Savage Beat! (SAVAGE011) |- ! scope="row" | ''Kicks Right Now: Demos & Out-Takes'' | * Released: November 2015 * Format: DD * Label: Laneway |- ! scope="row" | ''Solid as a Rock: The Best of The Hitmen'' | * Released: March 2017 * Format: CD, DD * Label: |- |}

===EPs=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of EPs ! Title ! Album details |- ! scope="row" | ''U.E.L.A.'' | * Released: 1989 * Format: CD, Cassette * Label: Survival (6554166) |- ! scope="row" | ''Six Pistols'' | * Released: 2018 * Format: CD, Vinyl * Label: Alchemy (AMG0181) |}

=== Singles === {| class="wikitable" !rowspan="2"|Year !rowspan="2"|Title !colspan="1"|Peak chart positions !rowspan="2"|Album |- ! scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | AUS<ref name=aus/> |- |1979 |"Didn't Tell the Man" / "I Am the Man" |align="center"|75 | |- |1980 |"I Want You"" |align="center"|98 | ''Hitmen'' |- |1981 |"I Don't Mind"/"Rock & Roll Soldier" |align="center"|— | ''Hitmen'' / ''Tora Tora D.T.K.'' |- |rowspan="2"|1982 |"Everybody Knows"/"Dancin' Time" |align="center"|— |rowspan="2"| ''Tora Tora D.T.K.'' |- |"Bwana Devil"/"Didn't Wanna Love You" |align="center"|— |- |1991 |"Surfing in Another Direction" |align="center"|— | ''Moronic Inferno'' |}

== References ==

{{Refbegin}} ;General * {{Cite encyclopedia | last = McFarlane | first = Ian | authorlink = Ian McFarlane | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop | title = Whammo Homepage | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20040405231007/http://www.whammo.com.au/index.asp | url = http://www.whammo.com.au/index.asp | archivedate = 5 April 2004 | accessdate = 23 June 2017 | year = 1999 | publisher = Allen & Unwin | location = St Leonards, NSW | isbn = 1-86508-072-1 }} Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality. ;Specific {{Refend}} {{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="McFarlane">McFarlane, [https://web.archive.org/web/20040607221552/http://whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=904 'The Hitmen'] entry. Archived from [http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=904 the original] on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 23 June 2017.</ref>

<ref name="Holmgren">Australian Rock Database entries: * The Hitmen/Hitmen D.T.K. (1977–84, 1989–92): {{Cite web | url = http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/h/hitmen.html | title = The Hitmen/Hitmen D.T.K. | publisher = Australian Rock Database | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | first2 = Didier | last2 = Georgieff | first3 = Henry | last3 = Weld | first4 = Craig | last4 = Regan | first5 = Gye | last5 = Bennetts | access-date = 15 July 2024 | archive-date = 30 December 2003 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20031230000924/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/h/hitmen.html | url-status = usurped }} * Johnny Kannis (1977–84, 1989–92): {{Cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040303222230/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/k/kannisjohnny.html | url = http://hem.passagen.se:80/honga/database/k/kannisjohnny.html | title = Johnny Kannis | publisher = Australian Rock Database | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | archivedate = 3 March 2004 | access-date = 23 June 2017 | url-status = usurped }} * Chris Masuak (1977–84, 1989–92): {{Cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20031229222957/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/m/masuakchris.html | url = http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/m/masuakchris.html | title = Chris Masuak | publisher = Australian Rock Database | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | archive-date = 29 December 2003 | access-date = 23 June 2017 | url-status = usurped }} * Brad Shepherd (1981–82): {{Cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040102015059/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/s/shepherdbrad.html | url = http://hem.passagen.se:80/honga/database/s/shepherdbrad.html | title = Brad Shepherd | publisher = Australian Rock Database | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | archive-date = 2 January 2004 | access-date = 23 June 2017 | url-status = usurped }} * Deniz Tek (1991): {{Cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040310061054/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/t/tekdeniz.html | url = http://hem.passagen.se:80/honga/database/t/tekdeniz.html | title = Deniz Tek | publisher = Australian Rock Database | last1 = Holmgren | first1 = Magnus | first2 = Tony | last2 = Whyte | archive-date = 10 March 2004 | access-date = 23 June 2017 | url-status = usurped }}</ref>

<ref name="Kannis">{{cite web | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160816044959/http://www.radiobirdman.net/kannis.htm | url = http://www.radiobirdman.net/kannis.htm | title = Johnny Kannis Story | last = Kannis | first = Johnny | publisher = Radio Birdman Official Website | archivedate = 16 August 2016 | accessdate = 24 June 2017 }}</ref>

<ref name="McFarlane RB">McFarlane, [https://web.archive.org/web/20040809222147/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=667 'Radio Birdman'] entry. Archived from [http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=667 the original] on 9 August 2004. Retrieved 23 June 2017.</ref>

<ref name="Moore">{{cite news | url = http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57125265 | title = TV and Entertainment World – Moore on Pop | last = Moore | first = Susan | newspaper = The Australian Women's Weekly | volume = 49 | issue = 8 | date = 29 July 1981 | accessdate = 24 June 2017 | page = 169 | via = National Library of Australia }}</ref>

<ref name="McFarlane tNC">McFarlane, [https://web.archive.org/web/20040803173138/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=525 'The New Christs'] entry. Archived from [http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=525 the original] on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 25 June 2017.</ref>

<ref name="McFarlane ST">McFarlane, [https://web.archive.org/web/20040803170101/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=356 'Screaming Tribesmen'] entry. Archived from [http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=356 the original] on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 26 June 2017.</ref>

<ref name="Tora DTK">{{Cite AV media notes | title = Tora Tora DTK | others = The Hitmen | date = November 1984 | first = Fletski | last = Lenny | page = 3 | type = album insert | publisher = ABC Records (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)) | id = L-38240 }}</ref>

<ref name="Deming">{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/st-valentines-day-massacre-mw0001777374 | title = ''St. Valentine's Day Massacre'' – Niagara & the Hitmen | Songs, Reviews, Credits | last = Deming | first = Mark | publisher = AllMusic| accessdate = 27 June 2017 }}</ref>

<ref name="Rabid">{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/hitmen-2007-mw0001218719 | title = ''Hitmen'' [2007] – Hitmen | Songs, Reviews, Credits | last = Rabid | first = Jack | publisher = AllMusic| accessdate = 27 June 2017 }}</ref>

<ref name="Barman">{{cite web | url = http://i94bar-dev.info/ints/hitmen.html | title = The Barman talks to the Hitmen about their 2007 reunion at the I-94 Bar | last = The Barman | date = 1 November 2007 | work = I-94 Bar | accessdate = 27 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527191434/http://i94bar-dev.info/ints/hitmen.html|archive-date=2016-05-27|url-status=unfit}}</ref>

<ref name="Suburban">{{cite web | url = http://www.thesuburban.net/events/concerts_gi.html | title = Concerts: Hitmen DTK | date = June 2017 | work = Suburban.Sydney | accessdate = 27 June 2017 }}</ref>

}}

==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.hitmendtk.com/index.html}} * [http://www.divinerites.com/b_hitmen.htm Discography] at Divine Rites *[http://australianrockshow.libsyn.com/episode-78-johnny-kannis-interview 2017 Johnny Kannis Interview - Australian Rock Show Podcast]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hitmen, The}} Category:Australian punk rock groups Category:Australian indie rock groups Category:Musical groups established in 1977 Category:Musical groups from Sydney