BOOK REVIEW: NO SECRETS by Graham ‘Buzz’ Bidstrup

Shane | 5 August 2026 | Reply

BOOK REVIEW: NO SECRETS by Graham ‘Buzz’ Bidstrup
Harper Collins Australia, September 2025
Rrp $35.99
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
88%

Graham ‘Buzz’ Bidstrup’s memoir is a treat for fans of The Angels, the pivotal Oz rock band he joined in 1976, not long after they had evolved from first The Moonshine Jug & String Band to The Keystone Angels and then to the name we know and love them by to this day (well, apart from when they were called Angel City overseas for legal reasons, but that’s another story).

It was during his tenure that The Angels made their first four albums and became one of the premier pub rock drawcards on countless laps around the country, not to mention overseas jaunts, but it was whilst touring America that he decided to leave the band due to rising tensions, often revolving around songwriting credits and royalties.

Bidstrup pulls no punches here, explaining both the good and the bad from his perspective, and if he ever paints any former band members in a negative light, it’s important to remember that The Angels mainstays – singer Doc Neeson RIP, guitarist brothers Rick & John Brewster – have all had their say in their own books.

Where No Secrets (incidentally, named after the Angels single Bidstrup co-wrote with Neeson) really shines is in exploring the drummer’s far-reaching legacy through his work playing with other bands, notably Gangajang and The Party Boys; session work for a who’s who of Australian talent including the likes of Swanee, Mondo Rock, Australian Crawl, Jimmy Barnes and many more; production work for acts such as Sunnyboys, James Blundell, Riptides to name just a couple; managing acts including Diana Ah Naid and Jimmy Little (with whom he co-created the Jimmy Little Foundation and the healthy living Thumbs Up! Program); as well as soundtrack work, including TV series Sweet & Sour and films Starstruck & Heatwave.

It all adds up to a life well lived and a legacy that is undeniable, making No Secrets a fascinating page turner with – as the title implies – plenty of insider knowledge included.