rockinluke

The book "keep Rockin" written by Lynn Thorpe the widow of Australian rocker Billy Thorpe and Dino Scatena who is an freelace writer from Melbourne covering the music and pop culture was released just last Wednesday. This book celebrates the life, legend and the legacy of Australian rock singer Billy Thorpe and it has interviews with people like Ray Columbus(the Invaders), Little Pattie, Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, 2 of the Original Aztecs members Tony barber and Vince Melouney, 3 of the Sunbury Aztecs Paul Wheeler, Warren "the Pig" Morgan and Gil Matthews, Max Merritt, Mick Fleetwood( Fleetwood Mac) who played with Thorpie in the Zoo an group in the USA in the early 90's, Steve Neale an pianist from the Brisbane rock group the Planets in the late 50's & early 60's, Mary Schneider (country singer and mother of Melinda), actor Jack Thompson, Olivia Newton John, Jimmy Barnes and others and this books covers of his life from emigrating to Australia in 1...

From This Side Of things is the autobiography of legendary Australian singer-Songwriter Brian Cadd which was released last week. In this book Brian tells the stories of His upbringing in Western Australia where he won an TV talent quest at the age of 12 and worked on an Children's TV program as a pianist, Tasmania and Melbourne where he played jazz with the Beale Street Jazz Band and the Castaways who would become the Jackson Kings. Having success with both the Groop and Axiom as well as his solo success in Australia , working in the USA & europe for over 20 years and being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007 which he was inducted by jimmy barnes. It's an excellent and an AWESOME book which Brian tells an lot of great stories about his life and career as well as working with people like Johnny Hallyday, Ronnie Burns, the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Bootleg Family Band, Rusell morris, Glenn Shorrock and many others. For a man who has written songs for people like ...

The Searchers the British 60's rock group known for the hits like Sweets For My Sweet, Sugar and Spice, Don't Throw Your Love Away, Needles & Pins, When You Walk In the Room, Take Me For What i'm Worth etc are coming back to Australia for another tour which will happen in January-February. The Line Up of the group are- Original founding member John McNally on guitar and vocals, Frank Allen member since August 3rd 1964 on bass guitar and vocals, Spencer James member since 1985 on lead vocals and guitar and since February this year Scott Ottaway on drums. The group puts on an great show doing their hits as well as other people's stuff as well as having an great sense of humor and if you want to see the group GO & SEE THEM which it will be worth while. The group are still touring the world and still going strong. Dates for the Australian tour are- Ryde Eastwood Leagues Club January 28th Club Forster January 29th Illawarra Masters Builders Club February 2nd Souther...

In November Australian legendary singer-songwriters Brian Cadd known for hits like "let Go", Ginger Man, Every Mother's Son, A Little of SUnshine, Arkansas Grass(with Axiom), Such A Lovely Way and Woman You're Breaking Me(with the Groop) as well as writing hits for acts like The Masters Apprentices, John Farnham, Ronnie Burns, Paul Jones(manfred Mann) and others and Russell Morris known for hits like "the Real Thing", Sweet Sweet Love, Wings Of A Eagle, mr America, Rachel and others are touring Queensland and if you want to see them Go & See them as they put on an great show which they perform the songs they made famous back in the 60's & 70's. Dates for the Queensland tour- November 18th Joe's Waterhole Eumundi November 19th Hinterland Hotel Nerand November 20th Greenbank RSL November 21st Victoria Point Sharks Club

It's finally here after all this time which it's been 3 years since Billy Thorpe passed away and after all the effort of getting it done the album "TANGIER" is finally out. The recording of this album began after going to Morocco in 2000 for his wife's 50th birthday and he felt connected spiritually and had spent seven years writing and recording the songs of the project and also it was in the raw stage with the half the vocals done when he passed away on February 28th 2007. With the help of music promoter Michael Chugg and Amanda Pelman who was one of the producers with Billy Thorpe on the Long Way To The Top concert in 2002 they resolved to continue it with the financial backing provided by Chuggie and Daniel Denholm who has produced acts like the Cruel Sea, Powderfinger and Megan Washington for the challenging task to eventually finish the album in keeping with Thorpie's vision so it's now finally here everyone. It's an BRILLIANT and an AWESOME al...

This book" hey you in the Black T-Shirt" written by Australian music promoter Michael Chugg was released a few weeks ago with Iain Shedden. He tells the story of his upbringing in Tasmania where he started running dances in Launceston which he also managed local bands, moved to Melbourne in the late 60's where he worked for Consolidated Rock agency as well as being one of the organisers of the legendary Sunbury Rock Festival in 1972, worked for Frontier and Let it Be agency and has ran the Chugg Entertainment since 2000 where he has brought out people like like Robbie Williams,Elton John, Bob Dylan, Keith URBAN, coldplay and others as well as being of on the promoters of the very successful Long Way to the Top concert tour in 2002 which had Australian performers of the 50's,60's & early 70's. It's an great book to read and Chuggie tells a lot of great stories including working with people Like Frank Sinatra, Billy Thorpe, AC/DC, Pearl jam, Guns'n...

On Sunday october 10th we had an 5th Crossroads reunion @ South Bank and despite the wet weather we had that day it was an GREAT DAY as 15 people turned up which among them were Colleen and David Birrell who were the cornerstone of Crossroads when we were there and it was great to see them again as it was the first time in 5 years which they have'nt change much. I have been putting this thing together since 2006 as it was to get together with the friends from the crossroads period from 1998-2004 until the changes occured and it's been successful catching with the people who were part of the Crossroads period. on the day we met @ South Brisbane train station, went to south Bank food court for lunch where I had chicken and chips for lunch , chatted with the others, walk around the Markets, had afternoon tea and went to train station as gradually people were going home by 3pm. the people who turned up were- me Anita Garnett Karen Buss Colleen and David Birrell Justin Brooke Laura ...

On Saturday Went to see the movie "Eat Pray Love". Elizabeth Gilbert(Julia Roberts) is an writer who is feeling dissatisfied with her life and her marriage to Steven(Billy Crudup) which they get divorced and also get friendly with an actor named David(James Franco) who is into Indian religion. Liz is feeling that she needs an change of life and goes away for an year on an journey of self discovery that takes her to Italy, India and Indonesia where she would meet interesting people like Richard an Texan (Richard jenkins), Sofie (Tuva Novonty), Felipe (Javier Bardem) and other characters and it gets very interesting throughout the film. It's an excellent film and Julia Roberts is excellent,brilliant and superb as Elizabeth Gilbert as well as excellent acting by Crudup. Javier Bardem, Tuva Novonty, Richard Jenkins, Viola Davis as Delia who is Elizabeth's best friend, Sophie Thompson and others. it's based on the autobiography by Elizabeth Gilbert which i have not re...

On Sunday October 3rd I went to South bank Cinema to see the movie "dinner for Schmucks. Tim Conrad (Paul Rudd) is an mild level financial executive who desperately seeks promotion and negotiates with Swiss businessman Martin Mueller (David Walliams) over special novelty lamps. Lance Fender (Bruce Greenwood) is impressed with Tim invites him to his place for dinner which he must find and bring someone with special talent which they will earn an trophy. Tim's girlfriend Julie(Stephanie Szostak) lands an deal with Kerian Vollard (Jermaine Clement) an eccentric artist and tim proposes to her but a few times before she turns him down. Tim accidentally hits Barry Speck (Steve Carrell) the next day when he tries to retrieve an dead mouse on the road and Barry who is an IRS worker and taxidermies mice which he arranges them into elaborate dioramas. After witnessing Barry's bizarre behaviour Tim realizes that he has found the right loser for dinner and it's gets interesting t...

Last Friday October 1st I went to see legendary Australian rock group from the 70's & 80's The Radiators @ kedron-Wavell and it was the 2nd time I saw them live which the first was at the Countdown Spectacular 2 on Tuesday August 21st 2007. The group with original members Brian Nichol, Fess Parker and Geoff Turner are still touring around. the show @ Kedron-Wavell was supposed to start @ 8pm actually started @ 8.30pm and it was'nt a packed as it should have been but it was LOUD,ROCKIN & FANTASTIC. The group did their famous hits as well as album tracks and those who were there had an great time including me and the show lasted for an hour and 30 minutes. After the show I waited to see who would come out and I met Fess and Geoff which I got autographs and photos. If you want to see them live check them out as they put on an great show. Set List- What's Up I wish i was 17 How Does It Feel No Tragedy Bring On the crazy Roomful of Diamonds Armchair Unsophisticated...