Guitarist Eric McCusker, who joined in 1980, wrote many of the band's hits, and along with Wilson formed the core of the group.
According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, "by way of ceaseless touring and the release of a series of sophisticated pop rock albums, [the band was] one of the most popular acts in Australia during the early 1980s".
In September 1978, this line-up of Mondo Rock released their debut single, "The Fugitive Kind", on Oz Records[1] which peaked at number 49 on the Australian Kent Music Report.
[1][2] This line-up released their first major hit single, "State of the Heart" in October 1980, which peaked at number 6 on the Kent Music Report.
[1][3] Matthews left after the single appeared and was replaced by Andy Buchanan (ex-Darryl Cotton Band) who stayed long enough to drum on a few cuts.
In July 1982 the band released its third studio album Nuovo Mondo, on RCA / WEA, which peaked at number 7 in Australia.
[1][3] Christie left the group in September and subsequently formed an all-star band, The Party Boys; he was replaced on bass guitar by James Gillard.
[1][3][6] By 1983, the Mondo Rock line-up of Wilson, Black, Gillard, Hackett, and McCusker started recording their fourth studio album.
[1][3] The song is a provocative tale about the loss of virginity and was banned by many radio stations including Sydney's then top-rated 2SM – which was affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.
Black left the group later in the year, and was not immediately replaced, with Mondo Rock continuing as a four-piece band.
On 13 July 1985 Mondo Rock performed four tracks for the Oz for Africa concert (part of the global Live Aid program).
Wilson disbanded the group early the following year and recorded a solo album, The Dark Side of the Man, which included a top 40 single, "Bed of Nails", in June 1989.
[1][10][11] In 1990 Mondo Rock—officially now simply the duo of Wilson and McCusker, aided by session players—reconvened and recorded the group's sixth studio album, Why Fight It?, which was issued in November 1990.
In 2006 the line-up of Wilson, Black, Christie and McCusker appeared in the 2006 Countdown Spectacular concert series and performing a medley of "Cool World" and "Summer of '81" and a full version of "Come Said the Boy".