Cold Chisel played the Mawson Hotel at Caves Beach lots of times in the late 70’s. Well the hotel just got lunched, to make way for more stuff. Some good shows and good nights were had there.
This is one of my favourite shots of Ian Moss. In silhouette. I only used the stage lights, as flash bothers the players and washes out the atmosphere. I shot using fast speed film and doubled the time developing it in my garage darkroom. Mossy used to take a solo spot while the band had a drink and he would play Georgia, and it would hush the crowd down.
Ian Moss Silhouette Mawson Hotel 1978
Cold Chisel at the Mawson with the crowd up close and personal.
Cold Chisel Mawson Hotel 1978
Jimm Barnes in combat boots and ex arm gear rocking his heart out. Mawson Hotel Caves Beach 1978.
Jimmy Barnes Mawson Hotel 1978
Grubby, Newcastle’s most favourite drummer, who played in Rim Shot and Rat Salad and many others and has mixed for a lot of bands too, summed up the crowds feeling after a Cold Chisel gig. Quite often Grubby would take in a show at the Mawson and then hitch into town to play with his own band, who would be waiting, wondering where the hell is he. Somehow he always got there, not so much on time, but got there.
Grubby the drummer Mawson Hotel 1978
Phil Small Cold Chisel bass player Mawson Hotel 1978.
Phil Small Mawson Hotel 1978
Ian Moss - another great guitar solo at the Mawson Hotel 1978.
Ian Moss Cold Chisel Mawson Hotel 1977
Don Walker on Keyboards Mawson Hotel 1978. You didn’t get to see much of Don from the front of the stage, but he was the backbone of the group, writing some fantastic songs.
Don Walker Mawson Hotel 1978
Steve Prestwich Cold Chisel Drummer Maswon Hotel 1978.
Steve Prestwich Mawson 1978
A close inspection of Redhead Bluff (not too close, there’s rocks falling off – like in Billy the Mountain) shows a Tubular Section in it, recent rain has done some corrosive damage and has hollowed out a literally tubular gnarly slab.
Redhead Cliff with wave June 2010
A solid swell pumped through on the last Sunday of May 2010 and the wind held them up. Unknown surfer behind the Redhead Shark Tower.
Unknown Surfer Redhead left May 2010
An email from Julie and Shayne advised me of surfing footage from the 70’s taken from the movie Fantasea, of Col Smith and also Steve Butterworth on Youtube site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38YzceIQAtE
Not somewhere in Europe – Hunter Valley Gardens in Cessnock’s wine country, a lot of very nice different types of gardens, very well put together.
Hunter Valley Gardens 2009
The Redhead Crew celebrate Gilly’s Graduation around 1978
The Redhead surf crew at Gilly's Graduation celebration around 1978
Catherine Hill Bay in 1975. Catho hasn’t changed much in 35 years – lets hope it stays that way.
Catherine Hill Bay Township 1975
Lou Reed at the Majestic Newcastle Civic Theatre around 1978. Lou had a great band and played great guitar and had the crowd on their feet.
Lou Reed Civic Theatre Newcastle 1978
Justin Lee, one of the most consistant long term surfers from the Lake Macquarie Beaches on a VERY solid day at Dudley September 2009. Photo by Geoff Connors.
Justin Lee surfing at Dudley September 2009
Angourie 1978 4 guys out.
Angourie 1977 4 guys out
HOW TO GET MORE CHIPS.
In 1968, on a weekend surfari up the north coast, a small group of starving surfers head into town for a feed after a long day of surfing at Green Knob. They stop at their favorite Taree Fish & Chip Shop. The boys walk up to the counter and the beaming old guy behind the counter asks “Yesssh Pleassshse Boyssssh! “ Yes he had a squeak to every S.
Without batting an eyelid one of the guys orders first (…let’s just call him Jim, a normally quiet reserved guy perhaps bouyed by a great day surfing) “Can I have a hamburger and 10 Cssssentssss worth of chipsssh pleassssh!” (10 cents worth is about $3 worth now)
We all roll our eyes and figure we will be thrown out and go starving now… but the gentleman remains cool and proceeds to take the other orders then make the food.
After a tense 10 minutes of subdued behavior from us, he hands over the first order to Jim – and low and behold there is enough chips to feed an army! The rest of us get the standard portion serving of chips.
I guess he felt an affinity to the fellow speech afflicted Jimmy – or perhaps he just admired his cheekiness! The moral of the story – be an up front complete bastard and you can get away with anything.
Ronnie is getting good waves up the coast right now, here is Byron Bay in May 2010, photo by Ronnie Rudder.
Byron May 2010 photo by Ronnie Rudder
Bells Beach 1977 Rory Russell the other Mr Pipeline
Nobbys Power Station 1977
View of Laurieton 1983
Frank “Meatball” Skewes surfs a punchy right peak in 1975 at Redhead Beach.
Frank Meatball Skewes Redhead 1975
The Angels good Doc Neeson blesses his followers and there was plenty.. and it was good.
The Angels Doc Neeson gives his blessing at the Mawson 1978
Dweezil Zappa, son of Frank, brought his dad’s music to life again in Newcastle at the great Civic Theatre in April 2009. Dweezil played amazing guitar. I saw Frank Zappa play back in 1972 and 1974, awsome. He had guest Norman Gunston (actor Gary MacDonald) play a harmonica solo. Here Dweezil rips out another guitar solo, this one was from the song Montana. My daughter Ellen took this picture.
Dweezil Zappa plays at Newcastle Civic Theatre 2009
Mark Richards Leggy Point 1977
Redhead's Col Smith Shaping Channel Surfboards 1978
Midnight Oil 1977 Garrett & Mogine mawson Hotel 1977
Landscape above Redhead Beach in 1975
Crow and Bird and Bridgette 1977
Martin Littlewood Windsurfing at Blacksmiths 1977
The recent AC/DC Tour reminded me of a photo my wife Sandy has of her younger sister Vanda and Angus Young taken at the Hard Rock Cafe around 1974. Both very young and VERY Rock ‘ N Roll.
Angus and Vanda 1974 Hard Rock Cafe Melbourne
Phillip Woodward surfing Birdie by Graham Harkin 1977
Chas Woodward surfing Birdie 1977 by Graham Harkin
Water shot of Peter Pitt surfing Redhead Little Beach around 1974.
Peter Pitt Redhead Little Beach 1977
One of the good things in surfing at the moment is the variety of surfing equipment people are now making – old ideas, mixed with the new. You would’nt look out of place walking down the beach now with this 1976 5′6″ Martin Littlewood Delta Fish.
Bob Scarr & Delta Knee Board 1976
Eddo – William Harrison. We wern’t sure what he was doing when he surfed but it was always interesting. Shown here at Newcastle Mattara Surfing contest around 1977, close to the foam and close to the nose.
Eddo Mattarra Contest 1977
Grant Brooks showing his cool casual style surfing at Redhead around 1977 .
Grant Brooks at Redhead 1977
Cold and windy and big and no one out. Redhead Little Beach around 1977.
Redhead 1977 big no one out
Crows favourite records
Surfers have been into music since the start of surfing, in the beginning surf music was a bit corny but always fun.
1968, a typical surf on a summer Saturday morning at Redhead, the flags were up already but no one was in the water yet (hard to imagine these days). Two young long haired surfers sneak into the surf club (it’s ok they were members but they were sneaking). They set up a portable tape player in front of the PA mike, switch on the PA and the tape player and then grab their boards and paddle out fast.
The lag on the tape leader allows them to get out and then we hear the crackling and over the air waves comes Jimi Hendrix – Third Stone from the Sun. The music sort of rumbles and growls then squeals and sets into an awsome rythm. We take off and surf a wave to the new sound. Hendrix growls, You will never hear surf music again.
Soon enough the funbusters discover what’s happened and the music is switched off.
When we return to shore its…. ”"Crow …..you cant play that kinda shit over the PA!!!”
Well I guess I like shit music.
Anyway, we all like different music and I would like to list some of my favourites in the hope someone else likes it.
Jimi Hendrix – Are you experienced – the first record that hit me, the times were changing and this was a big change, no soppy verses and structured choruses – just whatever Jimi felt like. Other Hendrix favoutites are Axis Bold as Love and Band of Gypsys.
A couple of years later a work mate loans me the 3 first Mothers of Invention albums, I listen, hear some weird stuff but some good stuff. In 1970 I go and buy the album Frank Zappa – Hot Rats and now have another favourite guitar player. Captain Beefeart’s growling vocals and Zappa’s Wah-Wah together on Willie the Pimp, awsome. Zappa has some 60 albums out and there is something incredible in all of them. My favourite now is Joe’s Garage, the song Watermelon in Easter Hay is Joe’s last imaginery guitar solo before music is made illegal. However Zappa’s a little bizzare for most people and I am sure I couldn’t paddle out with him playing on the PA, so I have to imagine it too.
Captain Beefheart was Zappa’s school mate and then formed his own band Captain Beefheart & the Magic band, his first album Safe As Milk has a young Ry Cooder on slide guitar, favourite song Sure’Nuff and Yes I Do. Other notable Beefheart albums are Trout Mask Replica and Doc at The Radar Station. Growling blues boogie and meshing electric guitars. Not for the faint hearted.
Dr John, The Night Tripper – New Orleans Voodoo Swamp Funk, the album Gris-Gris is scarily awsome. The good doctor has appeared on most big names albums as a session pianist and has many fine albums.
After a re-listen I am back into the Gratefull Dead, the hippy tie-die head band. Listen to American Beauty the song Ripple is beautiful.
After James Brown (try – its too funky in here) came Funkadelic/Parliament – the same band but just add more players. For fun, some great funky rythm’s and guitar and Zappaesque humour leader George Clinton (Brother Bill) is the new hip hop guys hero. Try Parliament Tear the Roof off – which inspired Talking heads Burning down the House after watching them. Also try Funkadelic Music for your Mother and Standing on the Verge of Getting it on.
Took me a long time but I did it and never looked back.- Listen to Miles Davis best intro is the album In a Silent Way.
Carlos Santana’s Greatest hits and Carlos with John Mclaughlin – Love Devotion Surrender is music at its sweetest.
Jimi Hendrix and Frank Zappa had the same guitar hero – Johnny Guitar Watson, try Funk beyond the call of Duty or his 1959 song – 3 hours past midnight.
I have a lot more but you cant take it all in at once.
More good music
You can now click on the photos to get a larger view.
Cold Chisel toured Newcastle constantly making Newcastle a Chisel stronghold. The music suited our town’s working class fans and were always great shows.
After another great gig at the Mawson, Don Walker gets to sit down and relax and takes the jar going around. Don was always thinking… and well, just maybe he comes up with inspiration and the first words for a new song (Cheap Wine).
Don Walker and Cheap Wine
Jimmy Barnes belting it out at Cardiff Workers Club around 1979.
Jimmy Barnes Cardiff Workers Club around 1979
Bass Player Phil Small same night as above.
Cold Chisel bass player Phil Small 1979 Cardiff Workers Club
Ian Moss into another great guitar solo Belmont Sporties Club around 1978.
Ian Moss Belmont Sporties around 1978
Ian and Jim same night as above.
Ian Moss and Jimmy Barnes Belmont Sporties around 1978
Cold Chisel Sydney Stadium around 1978
Cold Chisel - Barnesy with Don and Phil around 1978
Ian Moss Mawson Hotel around 1978
Ian Moss Mawson Hotel around 1978
Lou Reed came to the Civic and gave a great show, I was lurking about a bit back from the stage with my camera when a big wild hairy guy picked me up put me on his front row seat and said “now take an fn picture mate”. Lou eyballed me, I clicked and then Lou just winked at me and carried on the great show.
Lou Reed about 1978 at the Civic Theatre
I just love this one – when opposites attract. Jimmy & The Boys Ignatious Jones, Neo Punk meets Nimbin shoeless Hippe girl and rock out together regardless. A fan gets up and helps out Jimmy and the Boys at Belmont Sporties around 1978.
Jimmy and The Boys with a fan at Belmont Sporties
Joe Cocker played the Civic, didnt sing out of tune and put on a great show. His band were great.
Joe Cocker Civic Theatre around 1978
Cold Chisel’s Jimmy Barnes hard at work as usual Cardiff Workers around 1978.
Cold Chisel's Jimmy Barnes Cardiff Workers around 1978
Cold Chisel’s Ian Moss also hard at work around the same time.
Cold Chisel's Ian Moss Cardiff Workers 1978
Midnight Oil’s Peter Garret at the Mawson Hotel 1978. He inspired all us unco guys to just get up and have a go when the music gets ya. I got caned in primary school for bad dancing.
Midnight Oils Peter Garret Mawson 1978
Kevin Coyne – scottish folk/rock/social critic had an album out called Marjory Razorblade in the late 1980’s which I recommed listening to. He played the Newcastle Uni solo and was just awsome. His guitar stlye is unique, using his thumb on the frett board to make chords, he has a very powerful strumming style.
Kevin Coyne Newcstle Uni 1978
Cold Chisel first came up to Newcastle in the late 1970’s and played at the local southern pubs and clubs the Orana, Belmont Sporties, Mawson, Swansea Workers and went on to bigger things quick. They always played their guts out and got a big Newcastle following. great guys too. Ian Moss wowed us with guitar, Jimmy Barnes revved the crowds, Don Walker’s songs made us listen and the beat was held by Phil and Steve.
Ian Moss at Belmont Sporties
Jimmy Barnes at Cardiff Workers early 80's
Don Walker loosens up at Belmont Sporties 1980
Cold Chisel Group Shot Belmont Sporties 1980
Another hard working band, The Angels always kept the crowd on their feet hooting, with Doc bouncing around and the guitars riffing.
Doc Neeson from The Angels at the Mawson
Midnight Oil played at the Mawson in the late 70’s and were awsome. Peter Garret had the audience hooting.
Jimmy and the boys were outrageous and played great stuff. Ignatious was a showman and always up to mischief to say the least. Rumours were he left a lot of gigs in the roadies gear boxes. Here at he Belmont Sporties I had no idea what he was going to do next.
Jimmy and the Boys - Ignatious Jones