Kimble Rendall, Hoodoo Gurus Co-Founder and Music Video Director, Dies Aged 67

Australian musician and director Kimble Rendall has passed away at the age of 67, it has been confirmed.

Rendall’s passing was officially announced on Sunday (April 20) by publicist and friend Melissa Hoyer, who described the late figure as a “musician, advertising guru, film director, husband, devoted dad & a very good friend to many.”

“One of the very, very good men – Kimble was married to the ‘first lady of music television’, the late Basia Bonkowski & carved out a huge reputation in music (he was in the XL Capris & the Hoodoo Gurus); a leading figure in the advertising world (what award didn’t he win?) and went onto became a mega successful film director,” Hoyer wrote.

“Thank you for being in our lives Kimble. You were a compassionate, constantly creative, funny, clever & perennially entertaining one-off … & the time had come to join your beloved Basia.”

Rendall was born in Sydney in 1957, and showed interest in the world of films at a young age. Completing a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Mass Media, he later trained as a film editor with the Australian Broadcasting Commission. 

In 1978, Rendall co-founded the Sydney punk outfit XL Capris alongside Tim Gooding, Johanna Pigott, and Julie Anderson. Their debut single, a cover of Tommy Leonetti’s “My City of Sydney,” was released the following year and has since become regarded as an influential snapshot of Australia’s then-burgeoning punk scene.

Rendall would depart XL Capris in 1980 and co-founded the Hoodoo Gurus alongside guitarist and vocalist Dave Faulkner, guitarist Roddy Radalj, and drummer James Baker the following year. While Rendall and Radalj would depart the group in 1982 before the release of 1984’s Stoneage Romeos debut, they would appear on the band’s debut single, “Leilani,” for which Rendall also directed the music video.

The Hoodoo Gurus would later top the Alternative Airplay chart in 1989 with “Come Anytime,” and hit No. 3 in 1991 with “Miss Freelove ’69.” In 2007, they were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in their native Australia. On February 1 of this year, Rendall reunited with his former bandmates in Brisbane to join them for a performance of “Hoodoo You Love” as part of their Back to the Stoneage Tour.

After departing the Hoodoo Gurus, Rendall concentrated on his directorial career, producing music videos for groups such as Cold Chisel, Mental As Anything, Paul Kelly, and Johnny Diesel & The Injectors. In 1987, he would be nominated for best video at the ARIA Award for his work on Boom Crash Opera’s “Hands Up in the Air.”

Elsewhere in his career, Rendall would also work on a number of high-budget films as a second unit director, working on titles such as The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions; I, Robot; and the Nicolas Cage films Ghost Rider and Knowing.

Rendall was also married to television presenter Basia Bonkowski from 1982 until her passing in 2022. Alongside presenting numerous music-based television programs, Bonkowski was also immortalized by Melbourne band Painters and Dockers, whose 1985 debut single “Basia!” was named in her honor. Together, they adopted two children, William and Camille.

News of Rendall’s death comes only days after the Hoodoo Gurus were also affected by the passing of their manager, Dominic “Mick” Mazzone OAM. Mazzone’s promotion to the top job came after longtime manager Michael McMartin stepped down from the role in February 2024, ultimately passing the following month.