The first two Melbourne show for The Countdown Spectacular are being filmed for a DVD release before Christmas.
The Countdown Spectacular hit Melbourne last night (September 7) for the first of three nights in the same town where the legendary music show was filmed for television in the 70s and 80s.The show gives a worthy overall representation to the acts who appeared and became part of Australian music culture, with thanks to the ears and passion of host Ian 'Molly' Meldrum.
Molly was his old flamboyant self, even to the point of dressing up as a cheer-girl for the Countdown dancers routine of 'Mickey' and as the Italian waiter (with T-Shirt embossed 'Gay Paris') for Joe Dolce's 'Shaddup You Face'.
Putting 17 years of Countdown into one three and a half hour show would have indeed been a chore.
The show pays tribute to the artists who have left us such Shirley Strachan (Skyhooks), Michael Hutchence (INXS), Bon Scott (AC/DC), Steve Gilpin (Mi-Sex), Ted Mulry (TMG) and Marc Hunter (Dragon). Former Skyhooks member Red Symons had the line of the night. Talking about how impossible it is to replace a singer he said "I often look at my bandmates and think, why couldn't it have been one of you".
Brian Mannix wins funniest smutty line of the night. Pointing out the ladies of the audience he said "You're gorgeous, you're a spunk, you I want to root".
Highlights were Choirboys, Mondo Rock, Sherbet and Hush. Hush in particular was a huge event considering the down and out life of lead singer Keith Lamb over the years. The band blistered through 'Bony Moronie' and 'Glad All Over'.
Sherbet's demise in the 80s was unfortunate as they moved away from their core audience with a new rock sound that just didn't work. Last night, this was Sherbet being Sherbet and the crowd loved.
Both The Choirboys and Mondo Rock's Ross Wilson are still constantly on the road and the experience of their continuous live career showed.
The setlist for the Countdown Spectacular was:
John Paul Young - Yesterday's Heroes
Swanee - If I Were A Carpenter
Scott Carne (Kids In The Kitchen) - Change In Mood
Cheetah - Spend The Night
The Choirboys - Run To Paradise
Frankie J. Holden and Wilbur Wilde (Ol' 55) - Looking for An Echo / On The Prowl
Wendy Stapleton - Play The Game
Brian Mannix (Uncanny X-Men) - Everybody Wants To Work
Countdown Dancers - Thriller / Don't Stop Till You Get Enough / Stayin' Alive / Greased Lightning / You're The One That I Want / Nutbush City Limits
Paul Norton - Stuck On You
Tribute to Shirley Strachan, Ted Mulry, Marc Hunter, Michael Hutchence, Bon Scott
Alex Smith (Moving Pictures) - What About Me
David Sterry (Real Life) - Send Me An Angel
Stephen Cummings (Sports) - Who Listens To The Radio
Eurogliders - Heaven
Billy Miller (Ferrets) - Don't Fall In Love
Joe Dolce - Shaddup You Face
Hush - Get Rocked / Glad All Over / Bony Moronie
Interval
Shane Howard (Goanna) - Solid Rock
Leo Sayer - You Make Me Feel Like Dancing / When I Need You
Countdown Dancers - Flashdance / Fame / Footloose / Mickey / YMCA
James Freud and Sean Kelly (Models) - I Hear Motion / Out Of Mind, Out Of Sight
Chantoozies - Wanna Be Up
Molly's Humdrum - Abba / Peter Allen / Blondie / Johnny Cougar / Human League / Billy Idol / Madonna / Kylie
Jon English - Words Are Not Enough / Six Ribbons / Hollywood 7
Brian Canham (Pseudo Echo) - Funky Town
Mondo Rock - Cool World / Summer of 81 / Come Said The Boy
Renee Geyer - It's A Man's World / Say I Love You
James Reyne - Reckless / Fall of Rome / Beautiful People / Errol / The Boys Light Up
John Paul Young - I Hate The Music
Sherbet - Summer Love / Cassandra / Rock Me Gently / Matter Of Time / Howzat
Finale:
Leo Sayer, Chantoozies, Cheetah, Ross Wilson, Daryl Braithwaite - Living In The 70s
Alex Smith, Joe Camilleri, Stephen Cummings - Never Tear Us Apart
James Reyne, Renee Geyer - April Sun In Cuba
John Paul Young, Frankie J. Holden, Swanee - It's a Long Way To The To The Top
