Black Alice was originally called Gypsy. The band was popular in Perth playing AC/DC covers live as good as the originals. When the band's management, Focus Promotions took Sydney record producer Gary Keady to see Gypsy live to assess if they were a recording proposition Keady immediately recognised the potential.

He arranged for his friend Steve James to fly out from London and they recorded the album 'Endangered Species' in Singapore.

It was then it was decided to change the name of the band to 'Black Alice' which was meant to be burnt out Alice Springs after a nuclear attack. Keady took the album to London and got a distribution deal for it with Street-Tunes. When the band couldn't make it to London for a photo shoot, Keady had to stand-in himself for the band on the front cover. Kerrang! wrote up Black Alice after reviewing the album Endangered species as the best thing out of Australia since AC/DC.

Much to Keady's and others disappointment the band decided to split up several months later in 1984 without realizing their potential and failing to support or promote the European record release.

Later in 1984 still believing in the talent of Hartley, Keady starred him in his short film 'Knightmare' he both wrote and directed, that went of to obtain critical acclaim and launch the feature film project Sons of Steel.