Ross Wilson
Played The Cornish Arms 3 August, 8 September, 23 November 2001 ... and is back in August 2002.
Ross Wilson is probably the only person in Australian rock music who can't make a comeback – simply because he's never been away.
In a career that spans over 30 years, Ross has always been active. Either as a singer/performer, songwriter or producer, Ross has managed to remain one of this country's most respected artists.
From Daddy Cool to Mondo Rock, as a solo artist or as a songwriter of A-grade classics such as 'Eagle Rock' and 'A Touch of Paradise' or producer of the legendary Skyhooks, Jo Jo Zep and recently The Screaming Jets, Ross's involvement with success has continued unabated.
He has never fitted into any specific musical category. Daddy Cool exploded out of the '70s playing roots '50s sounds. Mondo Rock surfed the scene from the mid-'70s to the mid-'80s on a more contemporary jag and, as a solo performer and major songwriter, he continued to achieve success and make his mark in the '90s.
During the '90s his songs were recorded by artists as diverse as Jimmy Barnes, John Farnham, DEF-FX, Custard, Jennifer Rush, You Am I, Renee Geyer, Christine Anu, Lee Kernaghan, Beccy Cole and The Salvation Army Band!!! He also made several trips to Europe and the USA to collaborate with O/S writers and concluded the decade as a special guest performer on John Farnham's 'I Can't Believe I'm 50' tour and live CD.
2001 saw Ross back on the front line as the result of a decision to return to regular live performing and recording.
A new solo album "GoBONGO GoWild!" was released in April 2001. This album displays the vital influence that blues-based music, such as early R&B and jazz, continues to have on his performance & songwriting styles.
Rave reviews for GBGW! led to an alliance with Shock Records & the November 2001 release of "Now Listen! The Best of Ross Wilson", a 30 track, 2CD retrospective distillation of Ross's career to this point. From his first release with The Pink Finks in 1965, to brand new & previously unreleased early recordings, this wide-ranging compendium is the official 'history of', as selected by the man himself.
In 2002 Ross has continued to prove his ability to span eras & genres with capacity attendances & over the top reviews for his shows at the Port Fairy Folk Festival & Byron Bayıs East Coast Blues & Roots Festival.
Here's what they had to say about that performance:
"Wilson wows Conti crowd" … Sunday Herald-Sun
"Sounding better than ever … a brilliant performance from a legend who not only lives up to that title but will certainly add to it in the near future." … Brian Wise / Addicted to Noise (www.addicted.com.au)
About Ross
Ross Wilson has come a long way since 1964 when he fronted The Pink Finks, a schoolboy R&B band. They recorded 'Louie Louie', a bona fide garage record and possibly Australia's leading independent single. The disc charted in Melbourne, leading to a record deal and three more singles being released while he was still at school!
In 1966 he formed The Party Machine and honed his emerging songwriting skills. The band published a lyric book ('68) which was seized by the Vice Squad, deemed as obscene, and burned! It was time to leave home. Ross relocated to England at the invitation of Procession, Australia's avant-garde rock pioneers.
Returning to Australia in late 1969 he formed Sons Of The Vegetal Mother, from which a splinter group, Daddy Cool, emerged in 1970. Summer '70/'71 saw DC take Melbourne by storm via their TF Much Ballroom performances. Appearances at outdoor rock festivals Myponga (SA) and Wallacia (NSW) sealed their reputation nationally.
In early 1971 Daddy Cool released Australia's all-time champion #1 Rock Anthem 'Eagle Rock'. By the end of the year the group had set new sales records in this country, dominating the charts and concert scene, and became the first Australian band to make a real impact on the US touring circuit.
From 1974-76 Ross produced three albums for Skyhooks and again set new sales records and redefined standards and directions for a vigorous and expanding domestic music scene. 1976 saw him mastermind the soundtrack for Australia's first Rock Movie 'OZ' which included his debut solo recording, 'Living in the Land of Oz', championing Aboriginal land rights. At this time he also produced Jo Jo Zep's first two albums and early recordings for The Sports.
In 1977 Mondo Rock was formed. Their second album, 'Chemistry', became one of the largest selling albums of 1980/'81, yielding the hits 'Cool World', 'State of the Heart', 'Chemistry', and 'Summer of '81'. Mondo Rock continued to produce hits with 'No Time', 'Come Said The Boy' and 'Primitive Love Rites', until Ross decided to pursue a solo career, releasing the 1989 album 'Dark Side of the Man' which included the single 'Bed of Nails'.
After 20 years of non-stop touring, Ross took a few years off to concentrate more on writing than performing. Some were lucky enough to catch his recreational power-funk outfit RAW, 1991-'93. Recently he has toured with The Lounge Lizards, a collaboration with The Angels and Angry Anderson. He has done his country thing at The Tamworth Festival and collaborated with jazz men such as Jex Saarehalaht, Paul Williamson, John McAll and the Heta Moses Big Band around his home base in Melbourne.
Check out Ross Wilson's Website at - www.rosswilson.com.au
