"thirsty's calling" was issued in australia on virgin records, and on red flame in the united kingdom. mcfarlane declared "[it] drew favourable reviews, although the fickle uk music press tended to harp on about the birthday party comparisons. even such ludicrous descriptions as 'garage jazz-punk' only hinted at the band's powerful sound." they toured europe and the united states before returning to australia in november of that year. there they supported public image limited on their 1984 tour of australia, along with local punk band box of fish. turner left the group to reform fungus brains. he would later become a founding mainstay of dirty three.