Entertainment
19 November, 2025
He’s a son of a beach
AUSTRALIAN Crawl founding member Bill McDonough will return to Far North Queensland later this month for two special events featuring a book signing of his biography ‘Sons of Beaches’ and appearances alongside tribute band Reckless.
Mr McDonough told the Douglas Gazette he wrote Sons of Beaches to “set the record straight” after years of what he described as misinformation about the band.
“There was just so much nonsense, a pack of lies… so Sons of Beaches in terms of the Australian Crawl part of the book sets the record straight,” he said.
Reflecting on the band’s early years, he recalled a tight-knit group bonded through school, sport and a shared sense of humour
“We were a band of brothers … all for one, one for all,” he said.
“But like a lot of bands, as soon as there’s fame and fortune, people change.”
Mr McDonough said he was enjoying reconnecting with fans after being away from the stage for decades.
“People are really keen to talk to me, which was surprising. People really want to meet an original member and get their take on what was happening, how it really was,” he said.
He praised Reckless, who will perform at both events, for keeping the band’s energy alive.
“Australian Crawl had a unique sound… our songs reflected our lifestyle,” he said.
“I think we had a lot in common with the people who became our audience.”
The drummer will share stories from Sons of Beaches, including tales from his life with his brother Guy and their years of touring.
While audiences often ask about bandmate James Reyne, Mr McDonough said he aimed to keep responses “diplomatic” and focus on anecdotes from the road.
He said he was grateful still to see strong support for Australian Crawl across generations.
“We’re doing about 35 million streams on the internet per annum… and a large proportion of that demographic is the under 35 audience,” he said.
“We’re actually gaining an audience that wasn’t even born when we made the record.”
Mr McDonough will appear at Ellis Beach Bar and Grill on Saturday 29 November 2025 and at the Port Douglas Yacht Club on Sunday 30 November 2025.
Fans can meet him at the merchandise stall for book signings and official Australian Crawl T-shirts.
Tickets are available through the venue’s website or at the door.
Read More: Port Douglas
