Warumpi Band

Origin: Papunya, Northern Territory, Australia
Genre/styles: Country, Rock

Warumpi Band sing in Luritja and English. The band was active from 1980 to 2000.

Members included (changed frequently): Brian Butcher, Gordon Butcher (*), Sammy Butcher (*), Murray Cook, Bill Heckenberg, Bill Jacobi, Dennis Minor (*), Alan Murphey, Neil Murray (founder *), George Rrurrumbu, Kenny Smith, Hilary Wirri, George Burrarrawanga. (*) = original members
The name comes from the honey-ant dreaming site located near the Aboriginal settlement of Papunya (240 kilometres west of Alice Springs).

Discography

Jailanguru Pakarnu (7”)

Released	1983
Tracks	Jailanguru Pakarnu (Out from Jail)

The Warumpi Band wrote, recorded and released this as the first rock song in an Aboriginal language (Luritja).

Blackfella/Whitefella (7”)

Released	1985
Tracks	Blackfella/Whitefella Fitzroy Crossing

Big Name No Blankets

Released	1986
Tracks	Waru (Fire) Blackfella/Whitefella Breadline Nyuntu Nyaaltjirriku (What Are You Going To Do) Animal Song Warumpinya (Papunya) Wiima Tjutja (All The Kids) Fitzroy Crossing Sitdown Money Mulga & Spinifex Plain Gotta Be Strong

This is Warumpi Band’s debut (long play) album.

Sit Down Money (7”)

Released	1986
Tracks	Sit Down Money

No Fear (7”)

Released	1987
Tracks	No Fear

My Island Home (7”)

Released	1987
Tracks	My Island Home

Go Bush

Released	1988
Tracks	No Fear Jailanguru Pakarnu (out from jail, rerecorded) Yolngu Boy Secret War My Island Home Didjeridoo Blue Kintorelakutu (Towards Kintore) Tjiluru Tjiluru (Sad and Lonely) My Countryside Falling Down From the Bush

The track “My Island Home” was covered by Christine Anu in 1995 and also recorded by Tiddas for the soundtrack to the feature film Radiance.

From mid 1987-1992 the Warumpi Band took a break while the band’s Aboriginal members honored family and tribal commitments.

Too Much Humbug

Released	1996
Tracks	Wayathul Stompin Ground Makes You Feel Never Change Djulpan Stars Cold Weather Marrayilyil Joining My Life Koori Man Holdin You In My Arms We Shall Cry Blackfella Whitefella (remake)

The Stompem Ground Festival 2000 in Broome (October) was their last gig. After it Neil Murray retired. Neil Murray also wrote two books, ‘Sing For Me Countryman’ and ‘One Man Tribe’.

Stompin Ground (7”)

Released	1996
Tracks	Stompin Ground