|
Click
here to go back to the Howzat! archive
FOR A ROCKER
Forty years ago this week, AC/DC were on the back of a flat-bed
truck, travelling down Swanston Street, shooting the classic
clip for It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n'
Roll). Everyone's got a Bon Scott story. Michael Gudinski's
very first tour was with Bon. Still a teenager, Michael
accompanied The Valentines as they ventured to Adelaide
at the end of the '60s. "Let's just say it opened my eyes,"
he writes in the foreword of the new Bon book, Live Wire.
Tragically, Bon died 36 years ago this month - with AC/DC
on the verge of conquering the world. Bon's life is celebrated
in the stage production Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be, starring
Nick Barker, at the National Theatre in St Kilda this weekend
(26, 27 & 28 Feb). And what a life! From playing drums in
Perth band The Spektors, to the bubblegum pop of The Valentines,
hippie rock of Fraternity and then the seminal Australian
rock of AC/DC. Nick was initially reluctant to take the
role when the producers approached him in 2011. "Bon Scott
is an incredible singer, like Little Richard," he says.
"The guy could effortlessly hit those high notes. But you
can make good rock 'n' roll songs your own. I'm not impersonating
Bon - I sing 'em my way." Nick fondly recalls going with
his mum to pick up his older sister when she was seeing
AC/DC at Glen Waverley High in April 1975. "I just remember
this cacophony coming out of the school gym." But for Nick,
the "defining moment" was seeing Bon sing Baby, Please Don't
Go on Countdown, dressed as a blonde schoolgirl and smoking
a cigarette. "Bon is a genuine Australian folk hero, like
Ned Kelly," notes Nick, who often meets men brandishing
Bon tattoos. Bon would have turned 70 this year. On his
birthday, 9 July, Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be will be staged
in Bon's hometown of Fremantle. Meanwhile, Nick's band,
The Heartache State, is playing at The Flying Saucer Club
on 23 April.
LOVE & HATE
We love Dave Graney. The man himself says he's "a rank detester,
a super loather, a champion raspberry blower, a righteous
disliker". Dave is launching his new single, I'm A Good
Hater, on Friday, 26 Feb at the Sooki Lounge in Belgrave.
HOT LINE
"You can stick your 9-to-5 livin' and your collar and your
tie" - AC/DC, Rock 'n' Roll Singer.
CHART WATCH
Flume slips to number two after one week on top, while Hilltop
Hoods jump from 25 to nine, and Tim Minchin's Cardinal Pell
song comes home at 11.
Never Be Like You FLUME (number two)
1955 HILLTOP HOODS (nine)
Come Home (Cardinal Pell) TIM MINCHIN (11, debut)
Cheap Thrills SIA (19)
Keeping Score LDRU (21)
Remind Me CONRAD SEWELL (28)
Hoops THE RUBENS (29)
Youth TROYE SIVAN (30)
My Sunshine MASHD N KUTCHER (38)
The Molly soundtrack spends a second week at number one.
Molly Soundtrack VARIOUS (number one)
Synthia THE JEZABELS (four, debut)
This Is Acting SIA (eight)
Bloom RÜFÜS (10)
Triple J Like A Version Vol. 11 VARIOUS (21)
Currents TAME IMPALA (24)
Adam Brand And The Outlaws ADAM BRAND AND THE OUTLAWS (28)
Dream Your Life Away VANCE JOY (29)
Hits'n'Riffs SKYHOOKS (32)
The Very Best INXS (35)
Sometimes I Sit And Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit COURTNEY
BARNETT (36)
HOWZAT! PLAYLIST
I'm A Good Hater DAVE GRANEY
Kick Drum JADE ALICE
As Long As I Breathe HENRY WAGONS
Cool Breeze SAL KIMBER
Whatever Makes You Happy JOHN FLANAGAN
Click
here to go back to the Howzat! archive
|
