The Saints

In 1975, Hay switched to bass and Jeff Wegener joined on drums. This line-up played one gig for the Communist Party at the Brisbane Trades Hall before Wegener left and Hay switched instruments again (this time to drums). 

Doug Balmanno took over on bass, followed in quick succession by Kym Bradshaw. The Saints were born.

The band recorded a howling milestone single called (I'm) Stranded, releasing it on their own independent label (it was later re-issued by EMI), and copies found their way to England where the single received rave reviews.

In mid-1977 the band moved to the UK, where it became apparent that they and their label had different ideas as to how they should be marketed. EMI planned to sell The Saints as a typical punk band, complete with ripped clothes and spiky hair. The Saints insisted on maintaining a more downbeat image.

The band recorded one album in Australia (also called I'm Stranded) and two in England - Eternally Yours and Prehistoric Sounds . One single - This Perfect Day - showed potential of a commercial breakthrough when it made Number 34 in the UK. Further movement up the charts was frustrated by EMI's failure to press enough copies of the record to satisfy demand

They played shows in the UK with The Ramones, Talking Heads and many new English bands. In England, Bradshaw was replaced by Alistair Ward but with the band suffering lack of support from their record company, they called it a day late in 1978 (with Hay joining The Hitmen, Ward joining The Damned and Kuepper forming The Laughing Clowns).

Bailey reunited with Hay in November 1979 under The Saints banner and toured Australia during 1980. The re-formed Saints issued an EP called Paralytic Tonight, Dublin Tomorrow containing four songs by Bailey.

By 1982, the group were touring Australia with Janine Hall on bass, Iain Shedden on drums,  and Laurie Cuffe and Chris Burnham (ex-Supernaut) on guitars. Bailey released his first solo album, Casablanca, in 1983. The Saints' latest album, A Little Madness to Be Free, was released in July, spawning the popular single Ghost Ships.

Regular line-up changes ensued, with Ivor Hay returning for All Fools Day (1986). The album reached the Top 30 in Australia and included the Top 30 single, Just Like Fire Would. By 1994, Bailey had moved to Sweden but continued recording and performing as The Saints with various backing musicians, moving eventually to the Netherlands.