By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Ross Wilson plays in seasons, just like an AFL footballer.
It’s not because he plays the game, or because he’s a football fanatic – he’s actually a St Kilda tragic.
It’s just harder to get the punters to leave the couch when finals are on.
It’s also school holidays, so he takes family time out but he’s ready and raring to go come October.
So Geelong fans still coming to terms with the Cats’ straight-sets exit this season can drown a few sorrows and have a few laughs with Ross and his band, The Peaceniks.
The former frontman of legendary Australian band Daddy Cool and writer of its most iconic hit, Eagle Rock, will wow the audience with favourites old and new.
In fact, Daddy Cool will play together again soon when the four original members – Gary Young, Wayne Duncan, Ross Hannaford and Wilson – are inducted into Melbourne Music Hall of Fame.
Wilson promises renditions of Eagle Rock as well as Come Back Again and Hi Honey Ho but says it will most likely be the last time the band performs.
But for his Geelong gig the evergreen musician will also draw on his years with Mondo Rock and some of his solo albums over the past decade.
“We do a mixture of songs from Daddy Cool and Mondo Rock and more recent stuff as well, so everyone will get a good dose of Ross Wilson,” he laughed.
Wilson seems to be ever-smiling with his easy-going and relaxed persona front and centre.
“I do like to have a few laughs and write the odd funny song,” he admitted.
“But we take the music seriously, we all work hard at keeping it rolling along and I have a terrific team, great band, all working together to put on good show.”
Wilson still dabbles in production, harking back to his days as producer for Skyhooks and their phenomenal albums Living In The Seventies (1974), Ego Is Not A Dirty Word (1975) and Straight In A Gay Gay World (1976).
“Quite often I wonder how we got to where we are,” Wilson pondered.
“Australia is not a big country and we never had any major international success but all the streams have connected to make a big river.”
Ross Wilson and the Peaceniks play Corio’s Gateway Hotel, where his mission will be to “get people out their seats”, tomorrow night.
