By Justin Flynn
Ross Wilson’s music career spans more than half a century and although the two-time ARIA Hall of Famer has just turned 70, he is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Wilson started his musical journey as the front man of Daddy Cool back in 1970 and then with Mondo Rock, where a string of hits turned him into an Aussie household name.
When the Indy caught up with Wilson, he was about to rehearse for a gig with Mondo Rock at Peter Lehmann Wines in South Australia, but was also looking forward to playing at the Sphinx Hotel in Geelong on Saturday 2 December.
“We love playing in a big room like the Sphinx,” Wilson says.
“I don’t think anyone will be disappointed. We like to see people get up and dance and get moving. When that happens, it makes me happy.”
In a special treat for punters, Wilson will be joined for the show by Mondo Rock lead guitarist Eric McCusker.
“We’ll have one or two songs that people have never heard before because they’ve never been recorded,” Wilson says.
“I still love playing the best of Daddy Cool, but I also love playing songs I wrote myself.”
Touring life for Wilson is busy, but he still enjoys life on the road.
“Sometimes it gets a bit hectic, but I organise my life a little differently now,” he says.
“Now I’m doing things like working really hard for three months and then have a month off. We are a fly in, fly out kind of group now.”
With a string of hits, such as Eagle Rock, State of the Heart, Chemistry, Come Said the Boy and Cool World, Wilson says he is surprised when he hears his music played on radio. If he’s in the car and a song comes on, he won’t turn the volume down.
“Usually I have a listen to it and analyse it and ask myself ‘does that sound good?’ and then I’ll think ‘yeah, it still sounds good,” he says.
Wilson still enjoys playing Eagle Rock and Come Back Again, but is extremely protective of both songs.
“Those two songs, they shouldn’t be messed around with,” he says.
“Daddy Cool played it (Eagle Rock) so well – the four guys were perfect for that song. As soon as you play the opening notes, people will instantly recognise them.
“If you don’t get it right, it really annoys me.”
While Wilson says the demographic of his audience these days is getting older, he is constantly surprised at how many younger people know his music.
“Sometimes young people will know the songs, but don’t associate them with Daddy Cool or Mondo Rock, but they’ll say ‘oh, you’re the guy who sings those’,” he says.
“The audience now tends to be older people than younger, though.”
Wilson’s solo career has spanned more than 15 years and he has a plethora of acclaimed albums.
“Go Bongo, Go Wild – I really like that album,” he says.
Come in Peace (2001) is another solo effort that sits comfortably.
