Black Eyed Bruiser

The song "Black Eyed Bruiser" by Stevie Wright from his 1975 album of the same name is a gritty slice of Australian hard rock that carries some fascinating trivia. The track’s riff is a reimagined take on The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me,” giving it a raw, familiar edge that hooked listeners. Produced by Harry Vanda and George Young, the song showcases Wright’s vocal style, which some have likened to Bon Scott of AC/DC. In 2006, Australian rock band Rose Tattoo covered “Black Eyed Bruiser,” breathing new life into the track and introducing it to a fresh audience. The song was a highlight of Wright’s live performances, including his iconic 1974 concerts at the Sydney Opera House, where he was backed by Vanda, Young, and Malcolm Young of AC/DC—a rare reunion of former Easybeats members. However, the album’s recording was marred by Wright’s escalating heroin addiction, which his manager Michael Chugg revealed to Vanda and Young during a session, highlighting the personal struggles that overshadowed the album’s production.

Despite its quality, "Black Eyed Bruiser" didn’t replicate the commercial success of Wright’s earlier hit “Evie” from his debut album Hard Road. The title track and its follow-up single “Guitar Band” were well-received, with “Guitar Band” reaching No. 13 on the Australian charts and No. 8 in Melbourne. Fans on platforms like Rate Your Music praise the album’s stronger tracks, noting its stylistic variety, from the hard-hitting “Black Eyed Bruiser” to the organ-driven “My Kind of Music” and the politically charged “The People and the Power.” However, the lack of a massive hit like “Evie” and Wright’s personal struggles contributed to the album’s failure to chart in the Top 50, marking the end of his collaboration with Vanda, Young, and Albert Productions.

Stevie Wright, born Stephen Carlton Wright on December 20, 1947, in Leeds, England, began his musical journey after migrating to Australia at age nine. His family settled in Melbourne before moving to Sydney’s Villawood Migrant Hostel, where Wright, then a teenager, met his future Easybeats bandmates. In 1964, at just 16, he co-founded The Easybeats, Australia’s answer to the British Invasion, earning the nickname “Little Stevie” for his youthful energy and small stature. As the band’s lead singer, Wright co-wrote and fronted hits like “She’s So Fine,” “Sorry,” and the international smash “Friday on My Mind,” which hit No. 1 in Australia in 1966 and cracked the Top 20 in the U.S. and Canada. His dynamic stage presence, complete with backflips and high-energy antics, drew comparisons to the Rolling Stones and The Beatles, cementing his status as Australia’s first international pop star. After The Easybeats disbanded in 1969, Wright pursued a solo career, releasing Hard Road in 1974 before the challenges of addiction curtailed his momentum.

Official online presence for Stevie Wright is limited due to his passing in 2015, and no active official website exists. However, fans can explore his legacy through various platforms. His music and story live on via fan-driven spaces like the Stevie Wright and The Easybeats Facebook group, where enthusiasts share memories, photos, and discussions about his work. Another fan hub is the Milesago website, which offers detailed biographies and career insights. Social media accounts directly tied to Wright are absent, but The Easybeats’ official Facebook page occasionally posts tributes to Wright’s contributions. For broader context, fans can check Albert Music’s artist page for The Easybeats, which includes references to Wright. His influence is also celebrated on X, where fans and music historians post tributes and share rare clips under hashtags like #StevieWright.