A very different Ian “Molly” Meldrum will host the nostalgic Countdown Spectacular 2 tour this month. The Aussie music guru will be clean and sober.
Molly decided to quit drinking following a series of embarrassing incidents, and the deaths of close friends Billy Thorpe, Lobby Lloyd and Lynne Randell.
These gaffs included a drunken spat with radio breakfast DJ and Australian Idol judge, Kyle Sandilands, last month. Molly was in England covering the Princess Diana tribute concert when he fired some explosive barbs at the shock jock.
“You have no talent and you’re fat,” he said during the morning broadcast. “Why don’t you get off television? Your advice on Australian Idol means sweet jack s..t.”
Kyle shot back that Molly was a “drunken tragedy.”
Molly has no regrets about his comments, but concedes he should never have done an interview during a party.
“I only lost the plot by going to a party and doing a live interview while I was there,” he told The Sunday Telegraph.
“Kyle is always accusing people of being fat, and this and that, and I thought: ‘Who is he to be making these calls?’ If it had been anyone else, I’d feel terrible, but with Kyle … if you give it, you can take it.”
Molly says he is looking forward to overseeing the Countdown Spectacular 2 with a clear head. He will join a host of local and international stars on the tour, including Rick Springfield, Samantha Fox, Richard Clapton, and Kate Ceberano.
“There are vodka police everywhere. I’ll be seeing Countdown from a whole different spectrum,” he joked. “Sober.”
While skeptics may question Molly’s resolve, he certainly seems committed to a new healthier life. He’s now working with a personal trainer, and has even installed a home gym. Here at Oz Music Scene we wish him all the very best!
Image source: Jeanie Mackinder @ Wikimedia Commons
