Tag Archives: 90s

Frank Bennett TV Special

Frank Bennett was the swingin’ guest on Rewind on the release of his Cash Landing album in 1999. What a guy, what a sound, what a suit!

An hour with Frank Bennett and friends

Frank’s career spans 2 albums, a cable TV show and live appearances across Australia since 1995. Even multi ARIA nominations didn’t slow him down.

Frank Bennett croons in his local supermarket
Frank Bennett croons in his local supermarket

Everything you ever wanted to know about the big band boy from Bankstown is on this hour special.

Frank Bennett appears
Frank Bennett appears through the door of gratuitous applause

Plus music clips from Nina Simone, Frank, Elvis, even Bob Downe with Pastel Vespa.

Bob Downe & Pastel Vespa sing
Bob Downe & Pastel Vespa turn up on the show for a sing song

Frank Bennett swings live

Frank Bennett Wikipedia page

Video – Rewind Volume 2, Kinselas nightclub.

Kinselas nightclub Sydney is the setting for this journey through the Rewind Volume 2 CD (disc one).

The renovations to the middle bar had the place looking as clean as it was ever going to be. So I’m sure you’ll enjoy the decor in between the music clips.

A show about a CD from Kinselas night club. How 2001 is that?

You’ll cop tracks from MC Hammer, Bananarama, Ce Ce Peniston, Beats International, Sunscream, Snap, Blondie, Kriss Kross, De La Soul and more. It’s a packed show.

Still from Dee Lite music clip
Love some Deee-Lite

Deee-Lite was Towa Tei and DJ Dimitry, with Lady Miss Kier cooing out front of a wicked bass groove produced by legendary 70s funkster Bootsy Collins & Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest. This track is from the World Clique album featuring a lot of faux fur.

Maynard's Rewind Volume 2 CD
Maynard’s Rewind Volume 2 CD
Kriss Kross
It’s wiggida wiggida wiggida wack

Kriss Kross are the winners of the stupidest street clothing look of the 1990s. These two thirteen year old kids Chris Smith and Chris Kelly wore their pants backwards. No wonder their follow up was called I Missed The Bus.

Maynard running in Kinselas nightclub Sydney
Gotta run, late for work

Maynard with Kylie Minogue interview 1997

Video – A Very Maynard Xmas 1998

But what would A Very Maynard Xmas look like?

In 1998 we found out when Foxtel’s Channel V assigned Mary Datoc and Maynard to dig up clips and music from around all Foxtel channels in a way that would never happen now.

All the Channel V presenters of the time turned up at Maynard’s for an afternoon and this show was the result.

Unseen since 1998 Planet Maynard presents A Very Maynard Xmas (an El Cheapo production)

Lunch with Lance Leopard

Time for a serious Oxford Street lunch with Lance Leopard, but not till after an even more serious viewing of Valley of the Dolls, a movie Lance agrees is a “great starting point for any camp movie collection’.

Join Maynard as he visits Lance Leopard, high in his ivory tower of scuttlebutt, where all secrets are hidden and revealed, overlooking the inhospitable wilds of Darlinghurst.

Topics covered in this show include, Delilah, The Gibson Brothers, Madonna’s movie career, Jane Fonda, Liberace, Marilyn Monroe on the piano, Bill Collins, Village People, Claire de Lune, Joe Hasham and ABBA.

Lance declares two “stupid films” that should never have been made. While Maynard gets the best scene from Tank Girl wrong.

And the next time someone you know isn’t getting what you are saying, just do what Lance does, and ask them; “can you hear the drums Fernando?”.

Lance did have a few other things he wished to be quoted on;

“I’m glad you’re working hard on this show Maynard, I’m as lazy as Dean Martin.”

“I thought the Madonna film Body of Evidence was a great film in a genre I’ve made up called faux Hitchcock.”

“Madonna can act, when she’s directed well and she’s not the leading character.”

“My favourite Bond film is Moonraker, it’s James Bond in space AND Shirley Bassey belts out the theme song.”

“I ironed Neil Tenant’s pants once backstage because the Pet Shop Boys wardrobe assistant had gone missing at The Phoenix Bar on ecstasy or something. I blame the gays.”

“I have long arms, so it never looks like I’m taking a selfie. It looks like I’m just waving.”

“I’ve been called a gay icon, and I’ve been called worse.”

“Now a new audience has rediscovered me, I’m trapped with my quiff, my perfect eyebrows and my matte complexion.”

” Now that I’m older, I’ve realised timing and lighting is EVERYTHING.”

Enjoy your lunch with Lance, see you at the buffet….

Maynard’s 1989 interview with Jackie O’Sullivan of Bananrama during their Australian tour

Madonna in Lance’s favourite scene from Dick Tracey, love that dialogue.

Lunch with Lance. Lance Leopard enjoys some Valley of the Dolls Karaoke.
Lance Leopard enjoys some Valley of the Dolls Karaoke.

Lance Leopard changes his spot

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.”

Archive of Lance Leopard columns from Cotton Ward

Short films starring Lance Leopard

Interview with Lance Leopard opening night of “Australia in the 80s” Powerhouse Museum.

Maynard touches Morrissey’s shirt sleeve at Sydney Opera House

See why Lance & Maynard so impressed with Bob Downe’s makeup.

The Megamen (with Lance Leopard on syn drums) Brisbane Telethon 1983 “Designed For Living”.

One of Lance Lepoard’s dance floor favourites Stacey Q – We Connect

Maynard interview with Stacey Q 2016

Maynard with Lance Leopard in his Ivory Tower, Darlinghurst, 2018
Maynard with Lance Leopard in his Ivory Tower, Darlinghurst, 2018

Bachelors from Prague, perpetual cool

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)

Bachelors from Prague Facebook page

The Killjoys for breakfast

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.

The Killjoys official website

The Killjoys Bandcamp page

Voice of the Beehive, Sydney, 1992

Voice of the Beehive played toured Australia in 1992 and rocked my world during their Sydney shows in 1992.

Voice of the Beehive sisters Tracey Bryn & Melissa Brooke Belland, as well as Daniel “Woody” Woodgate (Madness) blew into the Triple J studios one Friday afternoon. Wearing fairy outfits and waving magic wands with Woody sporting a huge grin, I knew this interview was going to be fun. It was. The songs I Walk The Earth, Perfect Place, Don’t Call Me Baby, Adonis Blue and their power pop cover of I Think I Love You are some of my favourite pop songs of the late 80s/early 90s.

Voice of the Beehive played Enmore Theatre and the northern beaches while in Sydney in 1992 and I never have found out the secret about the possible surfer guy or why Woody always has a clean white t-shirt on tour.

Voice of the Beehive on Wikipedia.

Voice of the Beehive on Myspace.

Have some fun with Melissa & Tracey as the show off their fashion and dance moves 1988 style.

Voice of the Beehive join a top lineup to play Indie Daze in London, October 4.

Tracey Bryn, Melissa Belland, signed I Think I Love You CD single
Tracey Bryn, Melissa Belland, signed I Think I Love You CD single

Cliff Richard interview 1991

The unedited interview sounds from Maynard and Cliff Richard squashed together in a small hotel room with producer Chris Norris during Cliff Richard’s 1991 Australian tour. Cliff answers questions from listeners honestly about his music, make-up, miming and celibacy.

What is his favourite song? Hint: It’s not the same as Maynard’s.