sentences:  The Hitmen were formed in November 1977 in Sydney as a hard rock group by Charlie Georgees on guitar (ex-Hellcats), Warwick Gilbert on bass guitar (also in Radio Birdman), Johnny Kannis on lead vocals, Ron Keeley on drums and Chris Masuak on lead guitar (both also in Radio Birdman).Kannis and Masuak had been bandmates in the Jackals from 1974 to 1975 alongside Rubin Acosta, Archie Archilles, Alf Azzopardi and Steve Willman.According to Kannis the Jackals were "a school band that Chris Masuak and I started while we were in year 10 [with a] Maltese rhythm section."