By LUKE VOOGT
Australian rock legend Ross Wilson will appear at the Sphinx on 13 August, playing the Daddy Cool classics which made him famous.
With a career spanning more than 50 years, and no signs of slowing, “Mr Eagle Rock” is one of Australian rock’s most enduring talents.
Wilson spoke to the Indy this week, after a weekend in NSW playing at gigs in Sydney, Bathurst and Newcastle. He’s no stranger to playing in Geelong.
“I love it! Geelong’s really kicking on, they’ve (withstood) the close of manufacture and it’s a really nice place,” he said.
Twice inducted in to the ARIA Hall of Fame (1989 solo and 2006 with Daddy Cool), Wilson continues to perform around Australia at major gigs.
But despite his fame, he still loves an “up-close and personal” gig at a local pub.
“It’s the breeding ground. Playing to a few hundred people – I just love that and I always have,” he said.
“Every time you perform you’ve got to deliver.”
From Daddy Cool to Mondo Rock, as a solo artist, or as songwriter of classics like Eagle Rock and A Touch of Paradise, Wilson’s success has continued unabated.
He fronted Daddy Cool and exploded out of the 70s playing rootsy 50s sounds.
Wilson then formed Mondo Rock who surfed the contemporary scene with chart topping singles and albums from the mid 70s to the late 80s.
He also worked as producer for the legendary Skyhooks, Jo Jo Zep, The Johnnys, and more recently The Screaming Jets.
His success as a songwriter continued during the 90s and beyond with songs for artists as diverse as Jimmy Barnes, John Farnham, Lee Kernaghan and even The Wiggles.
“I’m one of the fortunate people in the music business,” he said.
“I’ve always been a full-on muso or producer, so I’ve never had to do anything else.”
Lately, he’s set out to re-establish his Melbourne identity playing gigs at venues like Watsonia RSL and Hotel 520, in Tarneit.
“For some reason, people don’t know where I live – they think I’m from Sydney not Melbourne,” he said.
“I think I’ve successfully convinced people that I’m a Melburnite again.”
After recently creating a “power funk” remake of Johny O’Keefe’s Real Wild Child, he said another album was not far away.
“I’ve got a whole new bunch of songs that I want to put on an album.”
