Joe blows back into Geelong

AT THE age of 62 most rock and roll artists would be thinking about hanging up their guitars for good.
But veteran Australian musician Joe Camilleri is showing no signs of slowing down.
Preparing to board a plane bound for Sydney, Camilleri told the Independent over the phone he would continue belting out tunes for as long as his aligning diaphragm allowed him.
Now in his 46th year of performing, Camilleri still clocks up between 150 and 180 shows each year in between writing and recording.
“If I can stay healthy I’ll keep playing,” he said.
“I reckon it’s great – if you’re still writing songs and you believe you’re still in the game then no one can take that away from you, except for dementia.
“We’re never off the road – we’re like those old, hairy work horses.
“But that’s what we love to do.”
Camilleri said he was working on a new album that he hoped would hit shelves sometime this year.
“I’ve mixed 10 of the songs but I’ve probably got another 16 to do,” the legendary Melbourne musician said.
“It’s pretty full on – I’m trying to catch a flight home tonight (after the gig in Sydney) so I can get to the studio the next morning.
“My body is saying don’t do it but my mind is telling me otherwise.
“It’s exciting, though. I won’t know what to do with myself when it’s out.”
Camilleri and his band The Black Sorrows will showcase tracks from the new album in Geelong this weekend.
He said fans could look forward to hearing some fresh sounds as well as plenty of the band’s old chestnuts including Hold On To Me, Chained To The Wheel and Harley and Rose.
“I’ve played in Geelong many times now and it’s always a fun gig,” Camilleri said.
“There are different people from different age groups and as long as you do the songs they remember they’re happy.
“You also want to play things they haven’t heard before and I think they expect that from me.
“If I don’t do something new and create some atmosphere, they’ll think I’ve given up.”
Joe Camilleri and The Black Sorrows will perform at Deakin Waterfront Cafe on Sunday.