Long Way to the Top

Next year marks a milestone for this week's guest. 60 years in the Oz Music scene both in front of the mic and behind. In fact it is safe to say he has written or produced hits in pretty much every decade. Starting off with his own smash hits with Daddy Cool, producing records for Skyhooks & Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons, he had massive success in the 80’s with Mondo Rock and of course his solo...

It is safe to say this episode's guest was arguably the voice of the New Romantic movement. It has been over forty years since Tony Hadley  first released music with his former band,  Spandau Ballet . Tony  earned himself the accolade of being one of pop’s greatest vocalists.  From the international number one True , to the unofficial London Olympics theme, Gold ...and a successful solo career, To...

The Dead Daisies are back with a new album and channelling AC/DC with their new song ‘I’m Gonna Ride’. After a bunch of fairly decent albums (let's face it you can’t go wrong with The Dead Daisies), John Corabi, has stepped back in after a hiatus, plugged in the mic, cranked it to 11 and given The Dead Daisies a new lease of life. Check out the new album "Light 'Em Up" and tour dates here - https:...

My guest on the show today is Aussie rock guitarist Ronnie Simmons who has had an incredible career, working with Richie Ramone from The Ramones, Faster Pussycat and is currently touring with Rose Tattoo. Ronnie also has a new band, The Redback Spiders and a brand new single. The Redback Spiders are influenced by classic punk and Australian pub rock with a tinge of ska.  When playing live Ronnie i...

If you were alive and listening to music in the 90’s then chances are you would have remembered my next guest because they were a stable on commercial radio. They graced our shores in 1992 just prior to the release of their 1993 sophomore album "God Shuffled His Feet" and now Canadian Band "Crash Test Dummies" are back for the 30th Anniversary World Tour, lead singer and guitarist Brad Roberts joi...

A few months ago I had the opportunity to chat with Nashville-based shock rocker Chuck Garric ( bass player for the original shock rocker Alice Cooper) and Alice Cooper’s daughter Calico Cooper, together they form Beasto Blanco, a raw powerful rock & roll band with a searing, theatrical live experience. This week, to celebrate the release of their new album I chat once again with Chuck and Cal...

Today's guest, Kate Ceberano is revered as one of the finest female vocalists on the music scene today both within Australia and internationally. Kate was the first Australian woman to be inducted into the Australian Songwriters Association (ASA) Hall of Fame, she’s traversed the jazz and pop scenes, worked as an artistic director, penned an acclaimed autobiography and sold in excess of 1.5million...

In the early 70’s the UK delivered a style of rock that included glitter, platform shoes, make up and outlandish clothing. It was Glam Rock -  T-Rex and Bowie embraced it and before long it was literally on the Top of the Pops. One band was at the forefront, originally known as Sweet Shop, The Sweet and then just Sweet. Brian, Steve, Mick and Andy were the classic line-up. Sadly with the passing o...

My guest today on the show could be called the song writer of our generation, certainly one of Australia’s biggest songwriting exports, having penned some of the most iconic tunes with his internationally successful band INXS. For the last ten years Andrew Farris has been carving out his very successful solo career in the country scene and with a new single called Something Stronger out now and an...

This week it was an absolute pleasure to chat with Ian Moss on my LAFM radio show to unveil the plans for Cold Chisel's Big 5-0. Cold Chisel is touring the country and performing under a big top circus tent as a nod to the Circus Animals era. All the hits and from what Don Walker mentioned on another interview, a new song or two. The link to buy tickets and the upcoming album is below. Enjoy this...

This week we chat with the lead singer of the loudest band on the planet.  They were the pioneers of hard rock music and Smoke on the Water has become the number one song for guitar students around the world. With 100 million albums sold worldwide, Deep Purple’s lead singer Ian Gillan is this week’s guest on Long Way to the Top. Catch Deep Purple at Pandemonium Rocks: https://www.pandemonium.rocks...

In 2012, Beasto Blanco was formed… a raw, powerful, rock & roll band with a searing, theatrical live experience. Featuring the electrifying collaboration of Nashville-based shock rocker Chuck Garric (bass player for the original shock rocker Alice Cooper) and high priestess Calico Cooper, the spawn of Garric’s boss. Today on the show I am joined by Chuck Garrick and of course the daughter of t...

This week on the show we go back to the years of protests and flower power with Graham Nash - co founder of the Hollies, described as the glue that held together Crosby Stills Nash and Young, OBE, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - twice, and published photographer. Enjoy Long Way to the Top with Graham Nash. To find out about Graham Nash's tour dates around Australia click here - https://www.grahamnash...

This week I hand over the interviewing reins to well known Astrologer Jessica Adams as she speaks with Dave Vanian from UK punk group The Damned on the eve of their Australian Tour. A long time fan of the group, Jessica decided to focus on the Astrology of the Damned and the full “Birth Chart” of the damned can be found below along with tour dates around the country. Enjoy this special episode of...

Lucius Borich has been playing music since he was 3 years old. Touring with the Kevin Borich Express, performing with Mark Evans of ACDC and Mick Cox of Rose Tattoo in a Rolling Stones cover band, cleverly named the Rolling Clones. And most famously establishing himself as one of the founding members of progressive rock band Cog. With an unabashed  inspiration from Tool, Cog soon showed us their o...

Blondie are heading down under for the Pandemonium Rocks festival. One of the biggest line ups of international rock artists seen in Australia.  Alice Cooper, Placebo, Deep Purple and Blondie. Joining us on the show today is the current bass player for Blondie, a man who was in the mother of all  punk bands, The Sex Pistols, Glen Matlock. Find out more about Pandemonium Rocks here - https://www.pa...

On today's episode of Long Way to the Top I chat the Bad Boy for Love, Angry Anderson about his Southern Stars tour and his upcoming visit to Tasmania. I've spoken to Angry many times, and it's always a rather interesting conversation. It never ever goes where you think it's going to go. And this episode was no different at all. Enjoy this special chat with Angry Anderson from Rose Tattoo. Hit plu...

Our guest on the show today, Tim Butler from The Psychedelic Furs - established by Tim and his brother Richard. The Psychedelic Furs have 8 albums, a huge album in 1981 called Talk Talk Talk and two massive singles, Love My Way and Pretty In Pink. They are heading to Australia in April for the Pandemonium Rocks Festival. I chat with bass player Tim Butler. Find out more about Pandemonium Rocks her...

He has been described as a poet, a rebel, a committed lover of celluloid. This week’s guest is Hugh Cornwell who was the lead singer and key songwriter for The Stranglers and his song Golden Brown is a songwriting masterclass. We take a look at one of the biggest punk bands of the 70’s and 80’s the stranglers in itself with lyrics that have meanings upon meanings. With a solo album called Moments...

Today’s episode of Long Way to the Top is a little different to my normal shows. Brendan Bernard Brown, commonly known as  BBB  to fans, is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and the only remaining founding member of Wheatus. He was in Australia ahead of the Pandemonium tour where he will share the stage with Blondie, Deep Purple, Placebo and the legendary Alice Cooper. Instead of doing the interview m...

Our special guest today has had over 800 ,000 record sales in Australia, nine awards, including Aria Best Male Artist - three times. I caught up with Diesel (Mark Lizotte) at this year's Festavale and he did a brilliant performance.  To check out his new album visit his website here - https://dieselmusic.com.au/ Hit plus or follow to subscribe to the podcast. And head over to Facebook - https://ww...

There are not many Aussie Bands that can say they started in the 70’s and are still going strong. This year marks The Angels 50th Anniversary. This week on the show I catch up with two of the newest members of the band, front man Nick Norton, and Bass player Sam Brewster to take a look back at the legacy of one of Oz Rocks best rockers. The Angels. Find out more about the band and tour information...

We are back with a band new season of Long Way to the Top and our first guest is an absolute favourite of mine, Iva Davies. In fact I have been wanting to interview Icehouse for a long time.  Icehouse have been part of Oz Rock history for over 40 years, three million albums sold just locally, over nine million sold internationally, eight top 10 albums, and over 30 top 40 singles. Icehouse are one...

What do Shania Twain, rose tattoo, the party boys and Bonnie Tyler have in common, our next guest on Long Way to the top.  Randall Waller has been guitarist for many big artists and is the only Aussie so far to perform at the Super Bowl. With a promising band in the 80’s called Avion, the group disbanded when tragedy struck, causing Randall to begin a journey from Frontman to guitarist for some of...

In the early 80’s a new breed of music came out of the punk scene in the UK. Called New Wave, it was fronted by bands like Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Human League, Devo and ABC. By 1982/83 the British Invasion was well underway and in Australia, shows like Countdown embraced it and New Wave bands became a regular on the show. There was nothing like it in Australia. We had the pub rock bands like...