The Hitmen were formed in November 1977 in Sydney by Warwick Gilbert to maintain the core unit of Radio Birdman and its fan base during Deniz Tek's absences from RB.
"[3] They played cover versions of material by Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Blue Öyster Cult, Ted Nugent, Lou Reed and original country rock tracks written by Masuak, including "Death by the Gun".
[1][2] Following the demise of Radio Birdman, Kannis and Masuak reformed the Hitmen in July '78 with Ivor Hay on drums (ex-the Saints) and Phil Sommerville on bass guitar.
[1][2] By that time Hay was replaced by Geoff Peterkin (ex-Ol' 55) until August when Mark Kingsmill joined on drums (ex-the Hellcats, the Other Side).
[1][2] In December 1980 the band entered the studio to record their debut self-titled album, which was released in the following July, with Mark Opitz as producer (AC/DC, the Angels, the Reels).
[1][2] Susan Moore of The Australian Women's Weekly described the group as "keeping the riotous rock flag flying with a crystal clear production...
"[5] Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, opined that the album and lead single, "I Don't Mind" (June 1981), were "excellent slices of melodic hard rock.
"[1] Whilst signed to WEA and MMA management the group toured with international acts Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Stranglers and Steppenwolf.
[1][2] Early in 1982 the group left WEA and signed to RCA Records: they released their second album, It Is What It Is (November 1982), which was produced by Bruce Brown and Russell Dunlop.
"[1] When Iggy Pop toured Australia in June 1983, Radio Birdman's singer, Rob Younger, was asked to provide his opening act.
[1][2] By June 1984 Kannis had recovered sufficiently for the Hitmen to reform with Kingsmill, Masuak and Robertson joined by a new member, Richard Jakimyszyn, on guitar (ex-Lime Spiders, New Christs).
In 2017 the Hitmen regrouped for a national tour to promote their compilation album, Solid as a Rock, Kannis, Jukic, Robertson and Murray Shepherd were joined by Vince "the Wiz" Cuscuna on guitar (ex-the Psychotic Turnbuckles).