Cotton on to rockers

Alex de Vos
After a long and successful career, veteran Australian rocker Darryl Cotton rarely has the pleasure of experiencing something for the first time.
In a career spanning decades, Cotton has ticked a lot of must-do experiences off his list.
He’s travelled the world supporting household names such as Olivia Newton-John and Cliff Richard, fronted not one but two successful rock bands, released a number of award-winning hits and even dabbled in television.
Just when he thought it couldn’t get any better, last month Cotton was invited to perform at the nation’s most expensive and extravagant wedding when flamboyant doctor Geoffrey Edelsten and blushing bride Brynne Gordon tied the knot.
Cotton took centre stage alongside Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, belting out his rendition of Everlasting Love to strong applause.
“I’ve done some pretty big events in my time but that’s probably up there in the top five,” Cotton explained.
“It was really something different.”
The wedding attracted criticism for its tacky excess but, despite the criticism, Cotton described the affair “larger than life but still classy”.
“There are a lot of cynics and sceptics out there but I accepted the job, went along and had a good time,” he confessed.
“The entertainment was fantastic and the performer from Cirque du Soleil was amazing.
“I went up to the bridal table at the end of the night and met the missus. She was lovely, she just seemed overwhelmed. The only thing I wasn’t really impressed with was the rent-a-crowd mob, the people who were just there to gawk”.
This weekend Cotton will swap Crown Palladium for the stage at North Geelong’s Sphinx to perform alongside Australian rock contemporaries Jim Keays and Russell Morris.
Cotton said the band, which formed in 2000 from the ashes of Australian outfits Zoot, The Masters Apprentices and Somebody’s Image, featured 120 years of combined experience.
“We’re pretty much some of the originals,” he said.
“We were all really successful in the late ’60s and that in itself has been 40 years – so it’s fair to say we’re pretty experienced.”
Cotton said the band would perform tracks including Same Old Girl, Hush, Living in a Child’s Dream, Rachael, Because I Love You, Eleanor Rigby and Turn Up Your Radio.
“When audiences come and see Cotton Keays and Morris they come to hear the songs they remember – the songs we recorded that were successful,” he said.
“We tend to throw in a couple of new songs, but you really don’t get the applause and the audience tends to go a bit quiet.”
Cotton Keays and Morris play the Sphinx on Saturday night.