Tag Archives: Planet Maynard

George Hrab – Bond, Bee Gees & Baths

George Hrab has been a favourite of mine to interview since first meeting him in 2010 at TAM (The Amazing Meeting) Australia.

George is the fun filled science communicator-adjacent, overly-talented musician from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

I have known George for 10 years, but only met him 3 times. So of course we are best friends.

This 30 minutes has the usual wide ranging and seemingly random topics. Expect bathroom etiquette, attractive women wanting to kill you, and trombones.

From humble beginnings overcoming the shame of Moonraker being his first James Bond film, to performing around the world solo, with a string quartet or his usual 9 piece funk band The Philadelphia Funk Authority.

Whenever there’s a “big blow” on, I try to be in the bath.

George Hrab, Hydro Enthusiast
George Hrab in snappy 3 piece suit
George scubas up well folks.

I am comfortable with my role as the brain sorbet of the science communication community.

George Hrab, the popular palate cleanser.
Pick Up The Pieces
George performing Small Comfort live with string quartet at QED in Manchester, England.
Geo’s regular fireside acoustic one man Jam.

George & Maynard get together backstage in Las Vegas after working 48 hours straight in 2012.

George Hrab’s wonderful world online

Maynard & George Hrab 2010
Maynard & George Hrab 2010
The scene George & Maynard reference at end of show.

Tom Jones – the legend and his pants.

Maynard interviews the mighty Tom Jones for radio Triple J in 1988, just before Tom released “Kiss” in Australia, and then for 2SER, backstage at Sydney Entertainment Centre after his 1995 concert.

Hear the legend, his voice, and his secret of long lasting pants.

I get my trousers specially made. So busted pants for me are now a thing of the past.

Tom Jones 1988
Maynard with Tom Jones 1988
Maynard with Tom Jones, Southern Cross Hotel, 1988

I’ve never taken myself too seriously. If I’m going to do an up tempo song, I’ll have fun with it.

Tom Jones 1988
Just Help Yourself to some Tom 1968.

Tom Jones turned 80 this month……

Maynard with Tom Jones 1995
Maynard with Tom Jones backstage Sydney Entertainment Centre, 1995.
“Think I better dance now!” Kiss 1988
John Ottway front cover of his version of Green, Green, Grass of Home.
John Otway front cover of his version of Green, Green Grass of Home.

Video – Olivia Newton John – off her skates.

Olivia Newton John was in Brisbane in 1999 and Maynard renewed his acquaintance with her for an hour, talking about her music and movie career.

Starting with Sam (1977), then Grease (1979), on to Xanadu (1980) and then to her getting Physical (1981).

Spend an hour with Livvy.

It was the 20th anniversary of the Grease movie and soundtrack, and she discussed her nervousness at auditioning for the role of Sandy for Alan Carr, even though he had specifically asked her to take the role, after meeting her at a dinner party at Helen Reddy’s Los Angeles home.

Olivia Newton John sings Xanadu on Countdown 1980

In this show you’ll be transported (on roller skates) by Olivia performing songs from the movie Xanadu on the grand final of the Countdown Xanadu Dance contest.

Maynard reads from the book of Grease to Olivia Newton John 1999.

The show starts with her early sound, and takes you through her pop and movie career, then goes full circle back to her latest Country release.

Doing the mark of Xanadu with Olivia Newton John 1990. Triple J.

Olivia Newton John Wikipedia

Some of the other Rewind shows here (there are even more if you look)

Rewind Rude show Channel V

If you want rude video clips you can’t tell your Mum about, this is the music video show for you.

Bums, boobs and bad habits are on show in this rude show from 1999 on Channel V.

It’s a Rude Show

From Betty Page to Duran Duran, Sir Mi-A-Lot to Latex, there’s something for no one on Maynard’s naughty journey through pop.

Madonna in hallway on Maynard rude show video special
What’s Madonna doing in that hallway?

Some of the other Rewind shows here (there are even more if you look)

Latest Madd Club livestream

Maynard looking shocked by rude video clip
You’ll be clutching your pearls by the end of the show as well.

Bunga Bunga 61 – Tim Ferguson & Maynard

Bunga Bunga 61 has Tim Ferguson & Maynard discovering a powerful medical phenomenon, Herd Humility.

Kitler reaps his revenge upon Tim for showing him far too much affection.

Maynard asks to you two questions you have to answer, before you are allowed out of lockdown.

Maynard’s Madd club show, last one Friday at 8:30pm

Video – Maynard guest DJ on Neil Humes Funky Friday livestream.

A crossover DJ livestream. After finishing his One man Madd Club show, Maynard walked to Neil Hume’s place (does Maynard seem like the kind of person that would be allowed in an Uber?)

Neil livestreams every Friday night from 9pm with the help of his Russian Blue, Catrouska. She even makes a cameo in this show.

This show has Batman, Henry Mancini & some poor dance moves from Maynard.

Video – Maynard Madd Club livestream – May 22

The fifth One Man Madd Club live stream went off with some trouble due to Facebook blocking. But after I rang the Facebook after-hours number and did my fantastic Mark Z voice, they gave me the keys to Facebook.

Lots of outfits you haven’t seen previously here. My favourite comment on the show was “more costume changes than Liberace”. High praise indeed. Although the lack of a belt caused a wardrobe malfunction that wasn’t seen.

Here’s the show in its entirety. Enjoy, and tune in on Friday at 8:30-9:00pm.

Coming to you from a world of wonk

Madd Club Facebook page going back to 1990

Last week’s Madd Club livestream

Kylie Minogue & Maynard on a bed in Double Bay for an hour 1997

Bunga Bunga 60 – Tim Ferguson & Maynard

Bunga Bunga 60 has Tim & Maynard keeping Australia up to date on the things that count. Distracting zombies with online streaming and the fate of that possum in Maynard’s shed.

They take Crankmail on Bond, boobs, and a rather feisty Dachshund from Perth calls into the Alan Jones show to counter the issues brought up last time by Tim’s cat.

It’s not a bit of wood or an owl.

Maynard’s Madd club show, every Friday at 8:30pm

To The Batpoles podcast

Rewind 1978 show Channel V

It’s 1978 on Rewind

Maynard decided to take a look at 1978 in this Rewind show from Foxtel’s now axed Channel V music network.

With the help of our volunteer from the viewing audience and two hangers-on near the couch we bring you the year that was 1978, from the point of view of 1999.

Top 25 songs from Australian chart 1978

Some of the other Rewind shows here (there are even more if you look)

One Man Madd Club, livestream 1st May

Boney M on Rewind 1978 special
Of course Boney M had to be on. It’s a 1978 show.

Kylie Minogue with Maynard Channel V 1997

Kylie Minogue on Rewind with Maynard 1997

1997 was a great year for Kylie Minogue, living in the busy Kylieworld of Pop.

Kylie Minogue thinking 1997
Kylie Minogue thinking about the Kylieworld of 1997

Living in the land of Britpop, Kylie had been working on her Impossible Princess album for two years.

“Kylieworld” was the way she described her publicity schedule, level of fame and the concept of never really having to work again if she didn’t want to.

I asked her about her relationship with her record company (Deconstruction in the UK) and the future opportunities of working in the US.

She spoke about having a family (decades away), what music she’d enjoyed lately (The Verve) and about being turned away from a Club with Nick Cave the week before (they weren’t).

Kylie also gave definitive rulings on: “What to look for at a potential boyfriend’s place?”, “Favourite track of Impossible Princess?” and of course “Your favourite music clip up to now?”.

Revisit 1997’s Kylie Minogue. I’d even wear that shirt again.

Kylie Minogue with Maynard on bed for interview 1997
Kylie Minogue with Maynard trying to look like he knows what he’s doing, 1997.

Maynard at Kylie Minogue’s first Sydney concert in 1989

Did It Again. Second single off Impossible Princess, it hadn’t been released at time of this interview.