It was with sadness I heard of the passing of Paul Gray. He was a great Musical Director across many genres and his work when on tour (with many unexpected challenges) always pulled a potentially difficult show into a good evening of entertainment.
His work with Waa Waa Nee is also an Australian pop legacy, that on the Totally 80s tour across Australia was very welcome every night.
He was always busy on tour, it was tough to find time for him to chat. He is here in this show from the 24 minute to 29 minute point of this show. Talking about the tour and the other 1980s bands that were the contemporaries of Waa Waa Nee. Recorded backstage during the Totally 80s Newcastle show at The Civic Theatre.
Lance Leopard is a gay icon and legendary gossip columnist from the glamorous 1990s of the Oxford Street strip, and beyond. Join us in Lance Leopard’s new spot. An ivory tower high above the fray, overlooking Darlinghurst, where secrets are both hidden and revealed.
During his tenure as chief gossip and stirrer of The Scene in his weekly columns in The Star Observer, Capital Q, Out Biz and more, he dished the dirt and smeared the eyeliner without fear or favour.
Lance even has celebrity advice for Dannii Minogue (a child superstar), Cybill Shepherd (selfish bitch) and his Mum (Ikeep my manners around her and try and teach her a few).
Join us for drinks won’t you?
I present short history of quotes from Lance Leopard;
“I can admit it now because I’m retired”
“People “remember” me doing all sorts of things. It might not have been me they actually remember. It could have been Sexy Galexy for all I know.”
“The more you do something, the better you get at it. Or else you’re always dreadful and no one will tell you.”
“Brisbane is like Baltimore, it’s one of those nutty little towns that just has its own thing.”
“I don’t know if I should say this.”
“If people are complaining there isn’t a scene. They can go out there and make one.”
“I liked it when my columns were in magazines people had to actually buy. I made more of an effort then.”
“Everybody has an opinion now days. But if it’s not an informed opinion, it’s a lousy opinion, and who needs to hear it?”
When asked at what point in history Lance would have liked to have lived;
“I would have picked the good years of Versailles. Before everybody got angry and started demanding cake.”
On the world of gossip a learned Lance quotes Ru Paul;
“What people say about you behind your back is none of your business.”
Collette had a huge hit in Australia in 1989 with her cover of the Anita Ward disco classic Ring My Bell which was co-produced by Pee Wee Ferris and Kirk Godfrey.
Far from a one hit wonder, Collette Roberts had 2 other charting singles off her first Raze The Roof album and a reasonable amount of nightclub plays for Upside Down & This Will Be (Everlasting Love)Â from her second album Attitude in 1991.
Always a fun, yet strangely controversial guest on the breakfast show, here we are from December 1990.
Collette spoke with me in studio 217 at JJJ in William St, Kings Cross about her last single “Who Do You Think You Are?” and her new single “Upside Down”. Also discussed were hooded tops, deep house & Fiji. I’ve thrown in some Xmas ID’s and a safe sex message to give you that early 90s feel.
Two interviews with Melbourne’s Bachelors from Prague, 1989 & 1990. Henry Maas & Andrew Philipp are both up early (twice) to talk about The Energetic Cool and Great albums.
Despite my not really being able to describe their sound or genre accurately, Henry and Andrew are very patient with me. Even going so far as to give me a job offer.
All the important issues are covered, the size of their dressing room, why they don’t wear bright colours and is their manager Mario Macaroni a fictional character?
We even namecheck a few long gone venues like The Harbourside Brasserie and IDs.
Thankyou to Bachelors from Prague for all the very cool good times.
And they are back,so go see them! (and their dressing room)
The Killjoys from Melbourne were always one on my favourite bands from that city. Although musically the opposite of bands like The Bachelors From Prague and certainly TISM, they carried a similar fun loving spirit about their music and live they were always, well, a delight.
On 5th July 1991 I recorded this for the Triple J breakfast show and it has gone unheard since then.
The Killjoys formed in 1987 and at this time in 1991 their album Ruby won an ARIA award for Best Independent Release. If you are a keen scuba diver, you may be able to find that award at the bottom of Darling Harbour near the wharf, as it was dropped accidentally overboard, shortly after it was awarded to the band, while they were on their way to a post awards party. The Killjoys even hired a diver to look for the ARIA award next day.
It has yet to be found.
Get together with Caroline Schwerkolt, Craig Pilkington (who went onto The Blackjacks), Anna Burley and Will Larsen (up the back playing a hell tambourine) to hear One & Only and the sweet Calling Me On.
Start saving up for a vibraphone, because after hearing The Killjoys, you’ll want your own.
AND the best news is that they are back together and you can experience them again.
The Killjoys recording session engineers at Triple J for this were Geoff Overmyer & Chris Norris.
Dave Mulligan brought Dave’s Dud Discs into my life originally in 1986 on Radio Stupid, the Saturday morning show on 2SER-FM. “Rare ungroovy” would be the best way to explain the collection of over 10,000 7″ singles that are in Dave’s collection.
These segments are from the Triple J breakfast show 1988 & 1990 and you will hear these previously unheard discs from the 50s & 60s, perhaps for good reason.
Asiatic Flu – The Uptowns
Taxtime – Cab Calloway (Mr Minnie The Moocher)
The Ballad of the Green Hornet
I Just Can’t Wait – Noel Harrison
The Joker Went Wild – Brian Highland
I’m Gonna Be Warm This Winter – Connie Francis
Boeing Boeing – Roger Miller
It’s Summertime USA – The Pixies Three
Ain’t Too Proud To Beg – The Temptations
Ain’t No Surf in Portobello – The Valves
The Rockin’ Teenage Mummies – Ray Stevens
Desafinardo – Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd
Just What I Always Wanted – Mari Wilson
Louie Louie – The Surfaris
Isn’t This Just Like Empty Vee? – The Atavistics
