What a difference an art director makes.

It's the mid-80's and colour is king. Billabong is leading the way with fluoro corduroy and bright, multi-coloured panelling. Hot Tuna, a fringe-dwelling company that had been trading since the late-60's, buy some page space and submit an entry.

See Simon Anderson and Ces Wilson mingle in the melaleuca bushes, wearing indifferent expressions and an article or two of HT's latest. Simon is also sporting an old pair of Adidas trainers that look comfortable and sensible. Fitting footwear for an arvo session at the Newport Arms or the local RSL.

Ces has his collar up. And that's as edgy as this ad gets.

Not five years later and Hot Tuna have a new team of surfers and a new look happening. Richard Marsh, Rob Bain and Beau Emerton appear in a series of ads that include very little surfing but lots of full-bodied women, feathers and the odd safety pin. Cameos are made by Neil Purchase Jr with a finger up his nose, and Richie Lovett in the buff. Times they are a changin'.

Hot Tuna are still around...somewhere. Apparently they're big in England, but they're almost entirely absent here in Australia. Shame about that.