Rob Hirst knows he’s dying, but he doesn’t let it get in the way of kicking back. Hirst – for five decades the co-founder, drummer and driving force of Midnight Oil – is enjoying a sunny afternoon in Sydney, relaxing on an old-school banana lounge, soaking in Vitamin D. But even when he’s putting his […]
Rob Hirst: Feeling good, for 100 years or more Read More »
Paul Kelly is 70, and he has never been bigger. He has just headlined his first arena tour. The shows sold out. In an industry as ageist as Australian music, it’s a remarkable career trajectory. There’s been no sudden revival of interest, nor a belated rediscovery of his vast catalogue. Slowly, over a career spanning 50
Paul Kelly: Seventy Not Out Read More »
You’ve played many prestigious venues in your career. How do you feel about gracing the Sydney Opera House stage? It’s on a lot of people’s bucket list, so I’m very excited. I’ve been doing this show [Don’t Tell Anybody The Secrets, based on Williams’ memoir] at different venues. When I play, I always tell a
Lucinda Williams: 10 chaotic questions Read More »
In 1984, Paul Kelly packed up his few belongings, borrowed his father-in-law’s Holden and made the 13-hour drive from Melbourne to Sydney. He had barely a dollar in his pocket and no place to lay his head. Don Walker, who was taking a breather from the music business after the breakup of Cold Chisel, offered him
Paul Kelly’s Post at 40 Read More »
At first, all is darkness. There is a hiss of cymbals, followed by a rude bang, thump and wallop. The lights go up. We see the late Australian music mogul Michael Gudinski, sitting at a drum kit, pounding the skins arrhythmically with his hands, making a point at his default setting: maximum volume. “Well, you can
Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story Read More »
From around 1984, after the release of their perfectly titled debut single Out Of The Unknown, Died Pretty were the inner-city Sydney group to see. “They were a dangerous band,” Paul Kelly wrote in his memoir, How To Make Gravy. “Some nights they fell in a heap. Other nights they were incandescent.” And a big part of Died
Ron S Peno 1955-2023 Read More »