New Race

New Race was a unique, short-lived musical collaboration formed in 1981, bringing together pioneering figures of the Detroit proto-punk scene with members of the influential Australian band Radio Birdman. The project served as a fascinating convergence of "teachers" and "students," with ex-Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton and ex-MC5 drummer Dennis Thompson joining forces with Radio Birdman's Deniz Tek, Rob Younger, and Warwick Gilbert.

Deniz Tek, a Michigan native who had relocated to Australia in the early 1970s and infused the local music scene with his passion for high-energy Detroit rock, initiated the formation of New Race. Following the dissolution of Radio Birdman, Tek reached out to Asheton and Thompson, inviting them to Australia to form an ad-hoc touring group. The band embarked on a six-week tour across Australia in 1981, performing in smaller venues.