Get ready Melbournians – PURE GOLD LIVE is coming back right at you! After three massive sold out Melbourne shows across the previous few years, GOLD104.3 and Empire Touring are thrilled to announce the next of the PURE GOLD LIVE concert series. PURE GOLD LIVE has become a trusted concert experience that takes you on a musical journey back in time, as it continues to deliver your favourite bands and artists from decades ago.
PURE GOLD LIVE will be a stellar three hours, full of hits & performances from 18 of Australia’s most well-loved 70s, 80s and 90s acts. PURE GOLD LIVE saw its first incarnation in Sydney in 2014, which was presented by ARN’s Sydney station WSFM and is today, one of the most popular and successful live shows in the country. The concerts continue to play in all states and sell-out everywhere they go.
GOLD104.3 is excited to be the presenting partner for PURE GOLD LIVE, which will be hosted by Jo Stanley and Anthony “Lehmo” Lehmann from Jo & Lehmo for breakfast on GOLD104.3.
It is with great pleasure we can now announce the super acts for 2018…
UNCANNY X-MEN formed in Melbourne as a guitar pop band in 1981 and worked the pub rock circuit. Original line-up included Chuck Hargreaves on guitar, Steve Harrison on bass guitar, Brian Mannix as lead singer, Nick Manthandos on drums and Ron Thiessen on guitar. Mannix became known for his mischievous and comical send-ups of other artists. The band was signed by Mushroom Records early in 1982 and released their debut EP Salive One in November, which peaked at #15 on the Kent Music Report. They toured Australia in support of US rock act Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Early in 1983, Harrison was replaced on bass by John Kirk, and they released their single, How Do You Get Your Kicks in March. Craig Waugh replaced Manthandos on drums and they released another single Time Goes So Fast. They toured through 1984 and released an EP, Beach Party, in July which included the single, Everybody Wants to Work.
It’s a unique band that finds itself cherished as a bona fide legend in the ARIA Hall of Fame while remaining a virtual enigma to the world that knows its name but the church, led by the enigmatic STEVE KILBEY, is just that. Since arriving in Australia half a century ago, STEVE KILBEY has forged a unique and frighteningly individual stream of musical thoughts including the church’s accidental signature tune, Under The Milky Way, being sung along with him by countless Australians. A songwriter of many musical tongues, STEVE KILBEY – band singer, songwriter and bassist, painter, writer, poet, actor, sage, dispenser of arcane wisdom, and much loved national treasure – has created an all-embracing artistic universe of unearthly beauty.
PSEUDO ECHO formed in 1982, releasing their first album, Autumnal Park, in 1984 which skyrocketed the band to household name status across the country. Their second album, Love an Adventure, spawned another string of hits including its title track, Don’t Go, Try, Living in a Dream and their remake of the Lipps, Inc. song Funkytown, which brought the group their biggest international success and spent seven weeks at No. 1 in Australia from December 1986. In 2012 Pseudo Echo celebrated their 30th anniversary and this year released their sixth studio album, Ultraviolet.
KIDS IN THE KITCHEN took Australian audiences by storm, which saw them rise to the top of the charts, as their music stood squarely within the New Romantic movement that dominated the music scene in the mid-1980’s. Forming in Melbourne in 1983, KIDS IN THE KITCHEN enjoyed strong chart success with four Top 20 hits on the Australian Singles Chart, Change in Mood (1983), Bitter Desire (1984), Something That You Said and Current Stand (both 1985). The related album, Shine (20 May 1985), reached No. 9 on the Australian Album Chart.
HUSH were Australian’s glam rock pop group, which formed in 1971 and disbanded in 1977. For most of that time their line-up was Les Gock on lead guitar, Keith Lamb on lead vocals, Rick Lum on bass guitar and Chris ‘Smiley’ Pailthorpe on drums. They had top 10 hits with their cover versions of Bony Moronie and Glad All Over (both 1975). They frequently appeared on the TV pop music show, Countdown, and toured nationally.
WENDY MATTHEWS is an honorary Aussie having been born in Canada and moved to Australia to sing back-up vocals at the invitation of Glenn Shorrock for his 1983 Australian tour. That 6 week visit became rather extended as Wendy found herself in demand as a session vocalist and singing jingles. She sang on albums by Jimmy Barnes, Richard Clapton, Tim Finn and Icehouse. After singing backing vocals on Models’ 1985 album Out of Mind, Out of Sight, she became a regular vocalist for the band. Wendy, along with The Models’ Sean Kelly and James Valentine, Garry Gary Beers of INXS Roger Mason, and Mick King formed the all-star Absent Friends and Wendy featured as lead vocalist on I Don’t Wanna Be with Nobody but You which reached No. 4 on the ARIA Singles Chart. Wendy now enjoys a solo career. Her soulful sound and crystal clear vocals helped make tracks like Token Angels, Let’s Kiss (Like Angels Do) and The Day You Went Away become huge hits for this multiple ARIA Award winner.
CHOCOLATE STARFISH are one of Australia’s most successful bands of the 1990’s and widely regarded as the best live band of their era. They burst on to the charts in 1993 with their classic cover of Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain. A string of hits followed, including Mountain, Four Letter Word and Accidentally Cool. They released just two albums before taking some time out – 1994′s self-titled debut, which spent two months in the Top 10, peaked at No. 2 and became the year’s biggest-selling Australian debut. Then in 1995, they released Box, which reached number No. 6. The band’s lead singer, Adam Thompson, became fast known as an entertaining front man and still to this day, holds a captivating and theatrical stage persona.
EUROGLIDERS took the charts by storm in the 1980s. Audiences were blown away, and Grace Knight captivated fans with her ‘manic ballerina’ stage persona. In 1984, EUROGLIDERS released their album This Island, which spawned their No. 2 hit single, Heaven (Must Be There). Heaven also peaked at No. 21 on the United States Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, and appeared on the Hot 100. Another Australian top ten album, Absolutely, followed in 1985, which provided three further top ten singles, We Will Together, The City of Soul and Can’t Wait to See You. Grace and Bernie, along with their superb band, have reunited to once again captivate audiences with their sophisticated and high-energy brand of pop.
BILLY MILLER is best known as the singer of The Ferrets and has been performing, composing and producing music for over 40 years. He formed The Ferrets after a 3 year stint in the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar. The Ferrets had the No. 1 single Don’t Fall In Love and went on to have a gold album for Dreams of A Love. The past ten years has seen the emergence of Billy’s latest line up ‘The Love Brothers’, comprising Billy (guitar/vocals), his son Eddie (guitars/vocals) and legendary rhythm section of drummer John and bassist Bill McDonald. When’s he not playing gigs, you can find Billy composing and producing soundtracks.
DEBORAH CONWAY is a significant and eloquent contributor to Australian music, singing songs that chronicle the essential elements of life, love, loss, memory, the mundane and the spiritual. From the moment her band, Do Re Mi released the iconic Man Overboard, off their debut album Domestic Harmony in 1985, DEBORAH CONWAY has always followed her own path. Conway’s debut solo album String of Pearls, released in 1991, was a radical departure from Do Re Mi with its themes of youthful reflection and tongue-in-cheek irreverence, embodied in It’s Only The Beginning, Release Me and the bittersweet title track, won her the ARIA Award for Best Female Artist that year. A rare female agitator in a time when the music industry was male dominated, DEBORAH CONWAY continues to be a role model for young women and a mentor to emerging artists.
JOE DOLCE wrote, produced and performed, Shaddap You Face, which continues to hold the nine times platinum record for the most successful song in Australian music history for thirty-seven years straight! Over six million copies sold worldwide, hundreds of cover versions, Youtube variations, and synch licenses, with translations into 10 languages, including Papua New Guinea pidgin and the Australian aboriginal Indjibundji dialect.
PAUL NORTON started playing bass in various bands, which led to the formation of Melbourne band The Runners, who were signed to Mushroom Records in 1981 and released their first hit single Sure Fire Thing in 1982. He went on to play with Wendy & The Rocketts, Steve Hoy and the Hoy Boys before launching his successful solo career in 1988. Paul Norton then released his first hit single Stuck On You which received immediate airplay and reached No. 2 on the Australian charts. Paul then went to London, to work with producers Paul Muggleton and Mike Paxman on his next single, I Got You and the album Under A Southern Sky (the song Southern Sky was later chosen for Australia ay Celebrations at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney).
THE CHANTOOZIES originally formed for a one off show at the renowned Melbourne Underground nightclub, where they received an overwhelming response and their first residency. A recording contract with Mushroom Records soon followed and The Chantoozies found Top 10 success with their first single Witch Queen of New Orleans. Touring extensively, they delighted audiences across the country with their hit songs – Wanna Be Up, Kiss & Tell, Walk On,He’s Gonna Step On You to name a few. They went on to sell over 300,00 records, receiving Gold and Platinum status throughout the 80’s and 90’s. The Chantoozies shared the stage with many top Australian acts including Noiseworks, Boom Crash Opera, James Reyne, Daryl Braithwaite, Hoodoo Gurus and a 38 show Australia wide tour supporting international act Billy Joel. They’re continue to wow audiences throughout Australia.
SEAN KELLY started his career in the early 70s as lead singer of Teenage Radio Stars and is best known as lead singer of Models, who formed in 1978 and had a run of massive hits including the Number 1 hit Out Of Mind Out Of Sight, Barbados, I Hear Motion and Big On Love. Models disbanded in 1988 and Sean formed Absent Friends with Wendy Matthews, James Valentine and Garry Gary Beers of INXS, the band had a massive hit with ARIA award winning song I Don’t Want To Be With Nobody But You. Sean then went on to form The Dukes whose debut album was nominated for an Album of the Year ARIA award. Since that time on various occasions line ups of the Models have reformed and in 2010 Models were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
STARS were an Australian country rock band formed in Adelaide, South Australia in 1975 and disbanded in 1979. Founding members were Glyn Dowding on drums; Malcolm Eastick on guitar and vocals; Mick Pealing on vocals; and Graham Thompson on bass guitar. They were joined by guitarist, songwriter, Andrew Durant in 1976 and relocated to Melbourne. Thompson then left and was replaced by a succession of bass guitarists including Roger McLachlan (ex-Little River Band) and Ian McDonald.
STEPHEN CUMMINGS first achieve success in Australia as lead singer with The Sports, a pop band that had a number of hits in the late 70’s including the classic ‘’Who Listens To The Radio?’’ Never completely comfortable with the rigours of touring with a band, he decided to embark on a solo career after their demise. His first solo offering was the album, Senso, charted impressively due to the Top 5 success of the single Gynmasium and received considerable attention from the public. His third album Lovetown, saw Cummings hit his creative stride – critical praise was showered on the album, and it is now revered as a classic amongst fans and followers of the Australian music scene. Stephen has now released 20 albums, consisting of 15 studio albums, two ‘’best of’’ compilations, a live disc, an album of acoustic re-workings of his songs and a rarities collection. His fourth album, A New Kind Of Blue, won an ARIA award for ‘’best adult contemporary album’’ and his eighth album, Falling Swinger, was included in Australian Rolling Stone’s list of ‘’100 essential Australian albums’’.
REAL LIFE formed in Melbourne during the early 80’s. After working six nights a week, building a local following for a couple of years, they released their first record Send Me An Angel, from their first album, Heartland. The song was a big hit in most parts of the world. Other singles from that album were Openhearted, Catch Me I’m Falling and Always. REAL LIFE released their second and final album with the original line-up in 1985 titled Flame, which spawned some hits including Face To Face.
DALE RYDER formed Boom Crash Opera in 1985 and they quickly became one of the hottest live acts in the country. The release of their first single Great Wall was a huge smash hit and then the albums and hits just kept coming; Hands Up in the Air, Onion Skin, The Best Thing and Dancing In the Storm were all staples of radio stations across the country. DALE RYDER is without doubt one of the most charismatic front men in the country, gathering accolades and awards along the way.
PURE GOLD LIVE
FEATURING:
Uncanny X-Men
Steve Kilby
Pseudo Echo
Kids in the Kitchen
Hush
Wendy Matthews
Chocolate Starfish
Eurogliders
Billy Miller
Deborah Conway
Joe Dolce
Paul Norton
The Chantoozies
Sean Kelly
Stars
Stephen Cummings
Real Life
Dale Ryder
SATURDAY 3RD MARCH, 2018
PALAIS THEATRE, LOWER ESPLANADE, ST KILDA
Tickets on sale from Monday 16th October, 2017
www.ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100
