The Australian stage has lost one of its greats. Musical theatre star Rob Guest died last night at the age of 57.
He suffered a massive stroke on Tuesday night, and was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital suffering bleeding from the brain. He never recovered.
The English-born entertainer started his career as a pop star in New Zealand in the 70s before moving to Las Vegas in the 80s. But it was in Australia where he made his home. He came to play Jean Valjean in Les Miserables in 1991 and never left.
But he will be remembered most fondly as The Phantom of the Opera, a role he played a world record 2289 times over a nine-year period.
Before he passed away, Rob was playing The Wizard in the Melbourne production of Wicked.
Rob Guest is survived by his partner Kellie Dickerson and teenage children Christopher and Amy. He will be sorely missed.
Augie March are back again, and it’s been worth the wait. Their new song “Pennywhistle” is a jaunty little ditty which gets better with every listen. Glenn Richards is in fine voice here, and you’ll soon find yourself singing along. The film clip is also brilliant. If this doesn’t put a smile on your face this Humpday, nothing will!
Congratulations to RuinGloria! The Sydney rockers just signed deals with American labels Red Dragon Booking and Maelstrom Music PR.
This awesome achievement will see the lads heading to Los Angeles in the New Year. Once there they’ll woo crowds with a 63-date three month tour to support their latest single “I’m Pretty Sure My Ex-Girlfriend Is a Vampire.”
But before wowing the United States, they’ve got a couple of local dates. Make sure you head out to check out Australia’s latest success story!
3 October 2008 – Caringbah Bizzos, Sydney
18 October 2008 – Sonar @ Luna Park, Milsons Point
14 November 2008 – Frogstomp, Windsor
Olivia Newton-John showed she’s still got it last night, leading a star-studded bill for a charity concert at Sydney’s State Theatre.
“It’s a bit of a dream to be on stage with someone who’s had such an impact on the musical world,” said Guy Sebastian who did his best John Travolta on the night, joining Livvy for a duet of Summer Nights.
“And I can’t believe she is 60 years old – she’s beautiful and still an amazing performer.”
Some of the artists – including James Reyne, Melinda Schneider, and Chantelle Delaney – walked the Great Wall of China with Olivia earlier this year. Others including Todd McKenney, Kate Ceberano, Christine Anu, and Ian Moss were old friends.
All money raised from last night’s performance was donated to the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre Appeal.
You might remember me raving about the Howie Day shows I saw a few months ago. I became a fan of this talented American singer songwriter when he released his debut album in 2000, and it was worth the wait when he finally toured here with Whitley eight years later.
The positive response Howie received on his first trip has encouraged him to embark on his own headline tour! If you didn’t catch him the first time, don’t make the same mistake again. This man is one of the most amazing performers I’ve seen. Add the appeal of some intimate venues and you’ve got the recipe for some unmissable shows. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Catch Howie at the following venues later this year!
27 November 2008 – The Troubadour, Brisbane
28 November 2008 – Annandale Hotel, Sydney
29 November 2008 – Jive, Adelaide
30 November 2008 – Queenscliff Music Festival
3 December 2008 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
4 December 2008 – East Brunswick Club, Melbourne
If you’ve ever fancied yourself as Angus Young or Brian Johnson here’s your chance. An AC/DC version of the Rock Band game will be released around the world. AC/DC Rock Band Track Pack will allow players to experience full live Acca Dacca tracks with Rock Band, Rock Band 2 or other compatible music game peripherals.
Like the band’s Black Ice album, the game will be available exclusively through Wal-mart stores in the US. But that’s not all. Wal-Mart will set up special AC/DC sections in their stores to sell the band’s CDs, DVDs, T-shirts, and other merch.
But we’re not going to miss out here in Oz. The game will hit US stores in November, with Europe, Australia, and New Zealand to follow in December.
Here’s the complete track listing! AC/DC Rock Band Track Pack Song List
AC/DC’s Back in Black has been named the most influential Australian album of all time. The rock classic took top honours in the poll voted on by a GQ magazine panel.
Acca Dacca’s international smash edged out the disco stylings of Saturday Night Fever, The Bee Gees triumphant soundtrack.
Iconic albums from The Saints, The Birthday Party, and The Easybeats rounded out the top five.
These sort of lists always generate controversy and conversation, but I think the panel’s done a pretty good job. I don’t agree with everything that made the cut, but I think it’s a really great representation of the different facets and changing times of Australian music. I’m really surprised that The Whitlams and John Farnham didn’t rate a mention, especially considering Rick Springfield did, but no list is perfect, is it?
The list will be published in GQ’s 2008 Music Issue, which hits newsstands on Wednesday. Until then, take a sneak peek at the full top 50!
GQ’s 50 Most Influential Australian Albums of All Time
Back in Black – AC/DC
Saturday Night Fever – The Bee Gees
I’m Stranded – Saints
Junkyard – The Birthday Party
Absolute Anthology – Easybeats
Since I Left You – The Avalanches
East – Cold Chisel
Blood Red River – Scientists
Crowded House – Crowded House
Young Modern – Silverchair
The Good Son – Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
Kylie – Kylie
Diesel and Dust – Midnight Oil
Kick – INXS
Radios Appear – Radio Birdman
Quasimodo’s Dream – Reels
Tribal Voice – Yothu Yindi
Hourly Daily – You Am I
Liberty Bell and the Black Diamond Express – Go Betweens
Gossip – Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls
Starfish – The Church –
Dead Can Dance – Dead Can Dance
Love Buzz – Hummingbirds
True Colours – Split Enz
Magic Box – The Loved Ones
Calenture – Triffids
Girls on the Avenue – Richard Clapton
The Honeymoon Is Over – The Cruel Sea
It’s a Man’s Man’s World – Renee Geyer
Doughboy Hollow – Died Pretty
Sad and Dangerous – Dirty Three
Divinyls – Divinyls
Sunset Studies – Augie March
Flash and the Pan – Flash and the Pan
Spirit of the Place – Goanna
The Night of the Wolverine – Dave Graney and the Coral Snakes –
Mars Needs Guitars – Hoodoo Gurus
Human Family – Hunters and Collectors
Primitive Man – Icehouse
Highlights of a Dangerous Life – The Johnny’s
Grand Slam – Spiderbait
The Pleasure of your Company – Models
Business as Usual – Men at Work
Unit – Regurgitator
Savage Garden – Savage Garden
Working Class Dog – Rick Springfield
Aztecs Live! At Sunbury – Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs
Leaves Me Blind – Underground Lovers
Countdown Silver Jubilee – Various Artists
Cannot Buy My Soul (A Kev Carmody Tribute) – Various Artists
Teen heart-throb Tom Williams‘ winning run on Australian Idol came to an end tonight. The 16-year-old cutie pie found himself in the bottom three with Teale Jakubenko and Madam Parker.
Teale had a really solid night, and Madam Parker simply suffered from poor song choice. Tom on the other hand hasn’t had a good week yet. It looks like the audience agreed because he got the vote. I’d like to think my vote for Teale contributed in some small way.
Next week the Idols will grab their platforms and flares for Abba night. Those restrictive themes are always a bit scary, but I think these guys have the skills to pull out some surprisingly wonderful performances. We’ll see!
EMI Australia has become the first local record label to open an online store. Musicheadmp3.com offers around 500, 000 tracks from the EMI back catalogue to digital downloaders.
“Our goal is always to offer consumers the best possible digital music experience – in all senses of the word,” affirmed EMI Australia Chairman, Mark Poston.
“EMI was the first of the majors to provide DRM-free downloads and I see this as a further extension of our commitment to making the music from our extraordinary artists readily available (and legally) – to Australian consumers whenever and wherever they want it.”
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi Oi Oi! It was all about patriotism on Australian Idol tonight as our newest talents paid tribute to our local legends. This week’s guest mentor was one of our finest, ex-Savage Garden frontman Darren Hayes.
Thanh Bui kicked it off with John Farnham’s “You’re the Voice.” I’ve always thought Thanh sounded a lot like Farnsy, and I thought this would be a great track to help him break away from the boy band mould. In the verses I felt like he didn’t quite sing with the authority the song called for, but in the choruses he soared. He’s got so much potential, and I just hope he gets the time on the show to realise all of it.
If they were still handing out touchdowns on Idol, Chrislyn Hamilton would have scored another with her take on Tina Arena’s “Chains.” As everyone else seemed to, I had my reservations about this one. I felt like she just hadn’t lived enough to perform this song effectively. Boy was I wrong. I got chills and a little teary watching her. She committed to this 100% and gave it her all. Wow and double wow.
Tom Williams came out next with Evermore’s “Light Surrounding You.” I will say this: it was better than last week. Having said that, I still hated it. It was just so boring. While there were some nice notes in there, there were also some clangers. I wasn’t engaged in any way, shape, or form. It all just operated on one level and I was glad when it finished so we could get on with the show.
I’m not quite sure what it is about Teale Jakubenko. When he stands behind a microphone I am so engaged, but then he steps away from it and he loses me a bit. Maybe he starts to think too much about performing rather than actually doing it. And I really don’t think the song helped him either. It’s a fantastic song, but one that spends a lot of time operating on one level. Personally I felt dropping to his knees at the end was complete cheese. But like Thanh, he’s really growing and that’s exciting. His voice especially is only getting stronger.
I’ve been saying all week that I really hoped one of our soul girls tackled Renee Geyer’s “Heading in the Right Direction.” I’m glad the one who did was Roshani Priddis. I loved what she did with it, the way she slowed it down and stripped it back and let the lyrics really shine. I was captivated from start to finish and I believed every word she sang.
Wes Carr rocked the pants off The Easybeats’ “Friday on my Mind.” Every week he just delivers a solid, confident performance and it’s a joy to watch. It looks like Wes enjoyed performing this one as much as I enjoyed watching it!
I was going to be disappointed if Luke Dickens didn’t bring out a little Barnesy. I was pleasantly surprised that the number he chose was Cold Chisel’s “Flame Trees.” It’s such a beautiful song, and I think Luke did it justice. To think that he went from being so sick he couldn’t talk to singing this well is phenomenal.
Sophie Paterson is back! I think that having Darren Hayes as a mentor couldn’t have come at a better time because he brought back the vulnerable quirky girl that we all originally fell for. I’m not a fan of “Don’t Hold Back” by The Potbelleez, but I loved this stripped back ballad version. I agree with Darren: if she’d done it up tempo I would have hated it. Instead I was mesmerised from start to finish, for not the first time tonight!
Mark Spano busted out a little more John Farnham: this time “Age of Reason.” In an Australian hit show too much Farnsy is never enough. It was good, but not great and I can’t exactly put my finger on the reason why. He sang well, he performed well, but ultimately it was forgettable. I’m still a fan, but with so many great people in the comp he really needs to lift his game.
Madam Parker closed the show with The Veronicas’ “Hook Me Up.’ It just didn’t work. The vocals were shaky and she just looked a bit lost out there. Even if she had nailed the vocals this isn’t really one of those songs that allows you to show off. It’s all about attitude, and Madam just didn’t bring any. I guess I admire her trying to step out of her comfort zone, but I also wonder whether she just didn’t have enough knowledge of Aussie music to pick the right song.
I’m almost ready to give away picking who’s going because I never seem to get it right! Again, I really think Tom’s time is up but I know to never underestimate the power of those squealing kiddies. Given that I think perhaps Teale or Thanh’s time might be up.
