The Hitmen
It all began in Australia back in 1975 when Johnny Kannis and Chris Masuak
were playing together in a band called The Jackals. Masuak went on
to join the legendary Radio Birdman, as did bassist Warwick
Gilbert.
Meanwhile, Kannis continued playing the pub circuit in Sydney -
with a band whose line-up seemed to change weekly - and recorded
an obscure solo single, King Of The Surf.
When Radio Birdman disbanded after their abortive English tour,
Masuak joined The Hitmen, whose line-up at that stage also
included former Saints drummer Ivor Hay. The band continued
working the pub circuit and signed with WEA, recording a single, Didn't
Tell The Man, which gained solid airplay and respectable
sales.
The Hitmen supported The Stranglers, The Members, Cold Chisel
and Tom Petty on concert tours and recorded a second single, the
Gilbert composition I Want You, complete with galvanizing
KISS-style riffs.
In July 1983, lead vocalist Johnny Kannis suffered horrific
injuries in a car accident. His condition was so bad that
ambulance drivers thought he was going to die before he reached
hospital.
Johnny had massive internal injuries, multiple fractures and a
smashed hip. But after more than 12 months of treatment and
therapy he returned to the rock scene for a farewell Hitmen tour,
and later played with The Johnny Kannis Experience.
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