22 Dreams

(for gav's little songy mag)            I’d seen Tex Don & Charlie perform a few times prior to their Factory Theatre gig in Marrickville last week; twice in 1993 when they’d just formed, and again to a packed house at the Hopetoun in Surry Hills in 2003.  Fourteen years later, the group had sold out the larger Factory Theatre over three consecutive nights, confirming their enduring popularity and appeal as they tour Australia for the first time in over a decade. Something of a mini-super group, the band comprises of Tex Perkins (Cruel Sea, Beasts of Bourbon), Charlie Owen (Divinyls, Beasts of Bourbon), and Don Walker (Cold Chisel, Catfish), with extra musicians guesting on double bass, drums, and at this recent gig a pedal steel guitar.  Tex Don & Charlie weren’t particularly popular to begin with.  Being a huge Don Walker fan I didn’t miss the opportunity to see them live as soon as they started gigging to...

(This review is to be published in a local magazine, the Songsmith. I hope it attracts attention to the album. Cheers, r.) When Cold Chisel disbanded in 1983, most of its members fashioned either solo careers or stints with other bands. It was only the band’s principal songwriter, keyboardist Don Walker , who retired from the scene completely. Walker was to spend those four or five years after Chisel’s demise travelling throughout Australia and Europe and taking care of other personal matters, in his own words, “detoxing” from the music industry. He finally came to back to music in 1988 to record a new album under the moniker Catfish . Chisel guitarist Ian Moss, producer/guitarist Peter Walker, harmonica player David Blight, and drummer Ricky Fataar were some of the album’s guest musicians. The album was titled Unlimited Address and was released in 1989. It seems an absurdity that one of Australia’s most gifted songwriters, responsible for penning those anthems such ...

(To be published in the Songsmith) On Wednesday 11 March I attended a book talk at Gleebooks on Glebe Point Road in Glebe. Don Walker, former Cold Chisel keyboard player and songwriter, was interviewed by published author James Bradley on his inaugural new book, Shots. I was delighted to attend and listen to Don discuss his book and how it came to be written. Don also elucidated on his relationship with Cold Chisel and on the craft of songwriting in general. It is accepted without question that Don Walker is one of Australia’s greatest songwriters, and for me to see and hear my hero talk to James Bradley at Gleebooks that night was a marvellous and thrilling experience, doubly so for the fact that prose writing is of increasing interest to me, so much so that I plan to write a book during my time off in May - July. This talk has certainly been an inspiration as far as my propitious endeavour is concerned. Entry to the event was $10 and complimentary beer and wine was served. Unsurpris...

(posted on myspace) I've posted a new song on MySpace...well, the song's not so new but it's a new addition for the 'space' anyway. Don Walker's Blues recorded by the band some five years ago. I play piano and sing lead vocal. Gav plays electric lead guitar, Mark w. plays bass and Pete Thompson's on drums. I've aped the style of Don Walker for this pithy dedication, Don being one of my biggest musical influences. The song came to my head one winter's night in 1993 as I was waiting for a connecting bus at Central. The song was completed soon after. I gave a copy to Don on tape after a Catfish concert. Don was also pleased by a very, very complimentary retrospective review I did of Cold Chisel's first album back in 1999. This is what he emailed to his publishers: ">Dear Jimi, Could you let Ross B_______ know that Bob Aird, the head of Rondor Music who publish my songs, sent me a copy of his retrospective review of the first CC album. It w...

An article on Chisel I got published in 2003 by Ross B ©2003 Cold Chisel have reformed once again, to headline a series of ‘Ringside’ concerts Elvis-style at the Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, amongst other dates & venues including one of their favoured stomping-grounds, Newcastle. The date is 3 June 2003 and that’s exactly thirty years ahead of the time this 5-piece formed in Adelaide, Australia. Since forming as ‘Orange’ in Adelaide 1973 – to change their name to ‘Cold Chisel’ at the end of that year – the band have endured only one line-up change, and that’s when founding member / bassist Les Kaczmarek was replaced in 1975 on bass by Phil Small. And along with Jim Barnes (vocals), Ian Moss (guitar), Steve Prestwich (drums), & Don Walker (keyboards), these guys set out to become an enduring Australian success story. What’s particularly astonishing about Chisel’s formation is the fact that, aside from founding member / bassist Les Kaczmarek and his replacement Phil Small, non...