The 12th Man

The 12th Guy was the alias of Australian humorist and sometimes sports journalist Billy Birmingham. Given birth to in 1953, Birmingham 1st attracted widespread interest in 1983 because the article writer behind performer Austen Tayshus’ humor strike Australiana. Around once, he started developing the 12th Guy idea, which capitalized on his consummate skill as an impressionist to lampoon the hyperbole of professional sports activities, specifically cricket. (Actually the name is really a mention of the nonplaying reserve on the cricket part.) Regularly focusing on famed Aussie cricket commentators including Richie Benaud, Expenses Lawry, and Tony Greig, the 12th Guy LPs (you start with 1984’s IT ISN’T Simply Cricket) essentially comprise some prolonged satiric narratives purporting to provide a behind-the-scenes go through the Nine Network’s broadcasts. Birmingham typically plays all of the functions, outsourcing a small number of woman character types to different stars. In 1992 Birmingham obtained a hit solitary using the 12th Man’s “Wonderful,” featuring support vocals by Aussie rockers Jimmy Barnes and John Farnham. The track was also re-recorded that same 12 months for the smash full-length Still the 12th Guy. Despite six consecutive number 1 attempts, Birmingham hinted at retiring the 12th Guy idea after 2001’s two-disc THE ULTIMATE Dig? He however returned in past due 2006 with Boned!, which debuted atop the Aussie graphs thanks partly towards the single “Wonderful 2006.”