Nick Barker played in a string of Melbourne bands through the 80s before he formed Nick Barker & the Reptiles - most notably the cult Melbourne band The Wreckery. However it was with The Reptiles where Nick saw significant mainstream success, having a string of hits, the biggest their version of Cockney Rebel's "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" which reached the Australian Top 30 in 1989, and was followed by two albums which cemented their place in the Australian Top 40 charts - 'Goin' to Pieces' and 'After the Show'.

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Nick had a string of successful solo singles as well, with 'Time Bomb' making the Triple J Hottest 100 in 1994 at #20.