The Warumpi Band burst onto the Australian music scene in 1984 with the release of their first album Big Name, No Blankets. The band, which had formed in 1980, included George Rrurrambu Burarrwanga, Dennis Minor, Sammy Butcher, Gordon Butcher and Neil Murray. The Warumpi Band became known for their bluesy rock and for singing in both English and First Nations languages, their music having strong social and political themes. Formed in Papunya, 260km west of Alice Springs, the name of the band relates to a honey-ant Dreaming site near Papunya. The band spent its early years touring regional and remote communities and stations in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. After releasing their first album the band began to tour nationally and internationally. The Warumpi Band supported Midnight Oil on tours throughout Australia, helping to cement them and their music in the Australian pub rock lexicon. While still a member of the Warumpi Band, Murray wrote and released the song 'My Island Home', which he wrote about his bandmate Rrurrambu's love for his country Elcho Island. The song became a hit in the 1990s when covered by Christine Anu, who sang it in English.
