The H Files with Kevin Hillier

Andrew Farriss is back with his second solo album The Prospector and his new country style is putting a smile on his face, as he tells Kevin in this chat about the new songs, his second live appearance at the hallowed Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and some fond memories of his time in INXS. Andrew talks about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame voting for INXS and the Michael Hutchence he misses. The Pro...

Eric McCusker's imprint on Australian pop music is awesome. Think songs like 'Come Said the Boy', 'Summer of '81', 'Chemistry' and a little ditty called 'State of the Heart', just part of his songwriting contribution to Mondo Rock, plus being a bloody good guitar player.  In this expansive chat with Kevin, Eric fills in the days before Mondo Rock - a musical adventure and apprenticship that c...

As they prepare for their induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame, Vika and Linda Bull take time out to chat about 'Where Do You Come From" their brilliant new album. The sisters share the stories behind the very personal songs that make up this new record and the preparation for a national tour which is is about to begin. Tour and album info here vikaandlinda.com.au     Also on the touring...

The Waterboys are currently touring Australia and their founder and frontman Mike Scott joined me to talk about the tour, playng live, their album dedicated to actor Dennis Hopper and of course that monster hit they had that still sounds epic - The Whole of the Moon.  The Waterboys – Australian and New Zealand Tour | Destroy All Lines Saxophonist Bill Evans is bringing his latest VansBa...

Long, long time ago Don McLean had a hit with American Pie. Fifty five years later, we still love the song and Don will be playing it live during his October Australian tour to celebrate that 55th anninversary. Don chats about his life and times, including American Pie and why he is still performing at the age of 80. The ongoing musical autopsy on the song American Pie is not a concern to Don, as...

What a star-studded episode 34 turns out to be. Guest One: Francis Rossi OBE. Founder, leader, lead singer, lead guitarist and sole continuous member of Status Quo - a mighty feat on its own, but he also has a new solo album The Accidental to chat about. Francis - who loves a chat but doesn't like looking in the mirror - is happy to share some memories from the Quo days and his very colourful life...

On the eve of his farewell tour of Australia, Ralph McTell joins me to chat about his many Australian experiences, his enormous catalogue of songs, his love affair with his guitar and the ups and downs of having such an iconic hit as Streets of London.   My other guest is David Briggs, another man known for his prowess with the guitar. It was that skill which brought him to our attention...

Their musical footprint is undeniable and the mere mention of the name brings gasps to a generation. Spinal Tap blazed a trail through the music business, ignoring the rule book, rewriting the etiquette of rock, blowing up many sound systems worldwide and causing pandemonium at airport security. And in one final act of anarchy, they blew themeselves up. Bass player Derek Small walked out. The shoc...

Skyhooks were a rare combination of fan favourite, media darlings and respected musicians. They wanted to be noticed, and they were. The H Files brings you stories and recollections about Skyhooks from many different people, inside and outside the band. It is not a Skyhooks history lesson, more a homage to a very exciting era of music and a band that led the way with an original sound and look tha...

Skyhooks were a rare combination of fan favourite, media darlings and respected musicians. They wanted to be noticed, and they were. The H Files brings you stories and recollections about Skyhooks from many different people, inside and outside the band. It is not a Skyhooks history lesson, more a homage to a very exciting era of music and a band that led the way with an original sound and look tha...

Skyhooks were a rare combination of fan favourite, media darlings and respected musicians. They wanted to be noticed, and they were. The H Files brings you stories and recollections about Skyhooks from many different people, inside and outside the band. It is not a Skyhooks history lesson, more a homage to a very exciting era of music and a band that led the way with an original sound and look tha...

Skyhooks were a rare combination of fan favourite, media darlings and respected musicians. They wanted to be noticed and they were. The H Files brings you stories and recollections about Skyhooks from many different people, inside and outside the band. It is not a Skyhooks history lesson, more a homage to a very exciting era of music and a band that led the way with an original sound and look that...

Skyhooks were a rare combination of fan favourite, media darlings and respected musicians. They wanted to be noticed and they were. In the first of a four-part series, The H Files brings you stories and recollections about Skyhooks from many different people, inside and outside the band. It is not a Skyhooks history lesson, more a homage to a very exciting era of music and a band that led the way...

Peter Asher has had a career like a Russian doll. It started as an 8 year old actor working with the likes of Boris Karloff. While Peter's sister Jane became a leading actress, Peter was drawn to music and with Gordon Waller became the worldwide hit making duo Peter & Gordon. They did get some help from Peter's sister's boyfriend and Asher house lodger Paul McCartney, who wrote a few songs the...

Andy Kim has been a star for a very long time and his musical footprint started in the legendary Brill Building in New York, the mecca for budding songwriters from all over the world. When a young, wide-eyed Canadian walked in for a meeting with Jeff Barry, it was a life changing experience, and the start of a Hall of Fame musical career. Andy talks about writing Sugar Sugar, a worldwide number on...

Mike McClellan has carved a very successful career across many decades because he is a craftsman, a showman, a man with a curious mind and a passion for singing and songwriting that he still works at today at the ripe old age of 80.  As he prepares for his latest tour, Mike reflects on what drives him, what makes him happy, what has influenced him and what has touched him over the year. ...

Buzz Bidstrup is a jack of all trades and master of plenty - including storytelling - and does he have a story or two to tell. The man behind the drum kit for The Angels is also a founding member of Gangajang, record producer and sound engineer for many of this country's best artists, manager, promoter, songwriter (No Secrets - no less) and now author of the book No Secrets (Harper Collins) that t...

It has been 50 years since we first heard David Surkamp's unique voice as frontman of Pavlov's Dog and on the eve of the band's first Australian tour, David shares his thoughts on his amazing musical career. From writing the iconic Julia to meeting Vanda and Young on his only visit to Australia, David tells a great story.  Cowboy Junkies are also on their way to Australia for their 40th anniv...

Paul Carrack is a great singer. That is a fact, not an opinion, and he is a genuinely nice bloke to chat to, as I found out when we caught up to discuss his latest musical offering “The Country Side of Paul Carrack”. Paul's voice lends itself to any style of music as he has shown across his career from the early days with Ace (How Long), UK Squeeze (Tempted) and Mike & the Mechanic...

Two stunning guests on this episode and some cracking music unveiled. John Swan aka Swanee is back with a great new album 'Believe,' featuring his friends and family who just happen to be the cream of Australia's music talent. John talks about putting this 16 track gem together with help from his mate Brian 'Frog' Harris of Songland Records. The guest list includes his brothers Jimmy and Alan Barn...

It's the old 'Let's get the band back together' and after a 51 year hiatus, the original Alice Cooper Group returns with Alice and a new album - The Revenge of Alice Cooper.  Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith and Michael Bruce talk about what happened, what's happening and how this new album came together, including an appearance from ther late Glen Buxton. As you will hear, they have lost nothing i...

As the Two Ronnies used to say, "In a packed program tonight" we have three very fine guests for episode 18. First up Angus Burchall, long time drummer in the John Farnham Band, chats about how his adventures with John started and his latest recorded work as part of Horizon. Horizon features Angus, Brett Garsed (Episode 14), the late Stuart Fraser and Lee Bradshaw. Check out the album  horizo...

The British musical invasion of the sixties might have been led by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones but Manfred Mann were in the front row of that first fleet of artists that dominated the charts and became the soundtrack of a generation. Who can forget songs like Pretty Flamingo, Mighty Quinn, Do Wah Diddy Diddy, Just Like a Woman, Come Tomorrow, Fox on the Run and at least a dozen more? Tom Mc...

It is another very entertaining episode of The H Files with guests Steve Kilbey and Gary Sandy. Kilbey is one of the most original, outspoken and refreshing performers in Australian music and is not shy with his views on the business. As he prepares for a career retrospective tour of the country, he is in good form about the past, present and future.  American actor Gary Sandy was the star of...

Gilbert O'Sullivan and Dion Pride join Kevin for a chat as they prepare for their tours of Australia. Gilbert's songs have been part of our lives since he debuted back in the early seventies with unforgettable and timeless songs like Clair, Get Down and Alone Again Naturally. He talks about those songs, his songwriting, the early days and much more.   Dion, a very talented musician in hi...