current_members associated_acts years_active alias label article_title past_members background genre origin name
michael weiley the numbers shock poets 1981 -- 1994 , 1996 -- 2003 , 2006 -- present -- 1983 , 1984 -- 1991 , 1992 v. spy v. spy the drug grannies the spies green powderworks tronador wea sony music festival warner spy vs spy -lrb- australian band -rrb-
 craig wheeler danny bryan bloxom mark cuffe cliff grigg marcus phelan paul group_or_band ska , pub rock sydney , australia spy vs spy
spy vs spy -lrb- australian band -rrb-

spy vs spy , also known as v. spy v. spy , the drug grannies and the spies , are an australian ska/pub rock band from sydney formed in 1981 .
they became known for tackling political issues through their music , including racism , homelessness and contemporary drug culture .
they were named after a comic strip , `` spy vs. spy '' in the us `` mad '' magazine .
the band 's initial line-up was the trio of craig bloxom on bass guitar/lead vocals , cliff grigg on drums/percussion and mike weiley on lead guitar/vocals .
spy vs spy 's early music was ska-influenced indie rock , exemplified by their debut single `` do what you say '' on the independent green label in april 1982 .
they released an ep `` four fresh lemons '' in august .
their music became more straight forward hard rock for their pub audiences .
the band broke up in early 1983 only to reform mid-year , by which time they were using the name v. spy v. spy to avoid legal problems with `` mad '' magazine .
they were eventually signed to midnight oil 's label powderworks and managed by oils manager , gary morris .
their first full-length album `` harry 's reasons '' was released in march 1986 and produced by leszek karski .
they switched labels to wea and had their highest charting success in february 1987 with their single `` do n't tear it down '' on the australian singles chart and the associated album `` a.o. mod .
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peaked at no. 12 on the australian albums chart .
spy vs spy 's follow-up album , `` xenophobia '' was released in march 1988 peaked at no. 15 in australia .
it was produced by karski and guy gray and released by wea in 14 countries .
their 1989 album `` trash the planet '' peaked at no. 22 on the aria charts .
none of their subsequent releases reached the australian top 40 .
the band split and reformed a number of times but still developed a strong following in brazil .
