Celebrating The Life Of Bob “Bongo” Starkie

Bob “Bongo” Starkie, guitarist in the groundbreaking Australian band Skyhooks, didn’t want a funeral. Instead, he wanted a big party.

In October last year, Bongo’s Skyhooks Show had been booked to play at Archies Creek Hotel. Unfortunately, the gig was cancelled when Bongo’s health deteriorated, and he died of leukemia on November 29. 

Archies Creek, in South Gippsland, will now host the celebration of Bongo’s remarkable life. The event, on Sunday, February 8, has taken its title from Skyhooks’ 1977 single:

Party To End All Parties.

“We are so grateful to the team at Archies Creek who have offered the venue for Dad’s memorial,” said Bongo’s daughters, Indiana and Arabella.

“He never wanted a funeral, he just wanted a big party, so all his friends, family and fans could come together and celebrate a life well lived, full of music and adventure.”

Bongo, bass player Greg Macainsh and drummer Freddy Strauks were the only band members to play on every Skyhooks release, including five studio albums and 14 Top 40 singles.

Bob Starkie was dubbed “Bongo Starr” by his Hooks bandmate Red Symons.

“That was a joke that was largely lost on most people,” Red explains, “because nobody could remember that Ringo Starr was Richard Starkie – hence Bob Starkie is Bongo Starr.”

It was Bongo who kept the band’s legacy alive with his much-loved Skyhooks Show.

Away from the Hooks, Bongo had a successful stint in advertising, composing jingles for Four’n Twenty Pies, Allens Lollies and Vaseline. But he didn’t enjoy working on his own. “I missed playing in a band, the live thing.”

Bongo recorded the first demo of James Reyne’s Reckless and ran one of Melbourne’s most popular venues, The Jump Club in Collingwood, for five years.

The day after selling the Club, Bongo flew to Rio, where he befriended the Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs.

“I went to Brazil to find God,” Bongo recalled. “I found Ronnie Biggs.”

The duo became great friends. “He was like a second dad. He had an amazing sense of freedom. A will to live.”

Bongo and Ronnie Biggs even bought a house together, on an island south of Rio.

“No one led a life quite like Bongo,” smiles Skyhooks archivist Peter Green. “In fact, it was like he led many lives.”

Bongo was listening to his favourite artist, Chuck Berry, when he died at the age of 73.

Peter Green was devastated by Bongo’s passing, but he is looking forward to the Archies Creek event. “This will be a nice moment for fans, friends and family of Bob’s to catch up and celebrate his remarkable life.

“Tickets are complimentary – not even a booking fee – and our good mate Ross Wilson will be putting together the music on stage.”

Ross Wilson discovered Skyhooks and produced their first three albums, Living In The 70’s, Ego Is Not A Dirty Word and Straight In A Gay Gay World.

Party To End All Parties, Celebrating the life of Bob “Bongo” Starkie. Sunday, February 8, 2pm at Archies Creek Hotel.

A ticket link can be found at the Official Skyhooks Facebook page.