A 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE CLASSIC ANTHEM ‘EAGLE ROCK’
INCLUDING HITS FROM DADDY COOL & MONDO ROCK
After a couple of postponements, Ross ‘The Boss’ Wilson returned to the Bridgeway Hotel for the first time in over 30 years, as part of his national tour. With his band The Peaceniks, they performed a one night only Adelaide show to celebrate Daddy Cool’s first hit single, Eagle Rock, topping the charts for a (then) record ten weeks back in 1971.
Twice inducted into the Aria Hall of Fame as a solo artist, and with 26 Top 40 Hits to his credit as a singer, songwriter and producer, Ross has been entertaining us for over half a century and he certainly didn’t disappoint us this time.
Ross was supported superbly by Aaron Schembri who played a mix of wonderful originals and favourites, including ‘In My Kitchen’ that he recorded with Colleen Hewett and Russell Morris, the Eagles classic ‘Take It Easy’ and a sing-a-long with crowd favourite ‘To Love Somebody’ by The Bee Gees.
‘Take It Easy’ taken from the front row on amateur iPhone – Video Credit: Barry Crabtree
Looking resplendent in his gold jacket made especially for the occasion, Ross talked about his fond memories of performing their first gig together at Glenelg Town Hall as a band called Sons of the Vegetal Mother, which later morphed into Daddy Cool, back in 1970. He sang their song ‘Love Is The Law’ in honour of their beginnings.
Hit after hit followed including Daddy Cool’s ‘Lollipop’ and ‘Cherry Pie’ and his solo song ‘Zoop Bop Gold Cadillac”‘. Can you decipher all the songs for the cryptic set list which is to the right?
The set included the song that Ross wrote that became a huge hit for John Farnham, ‘Touch of Paradise’, performed in Ross’ special way. The set then moved into some Mondo Rock songs including favourites ‘Bed of Nails’, ‘Chemistry’ and ‘Cool World’.
The crowd which had been very behaved, knew the night was drawing to a close, when ‘Eagle Rock’ began to play.
A few members of the audience couldn’t help but get off their seats for a big of Eagle Rock boogie, but the venue did a great job of gently reminding us all to sit back down and continue dancing on the inside. Seems weird now that only days later the dancing restriction was finally removed all together and we’ve been dancing off our feet ever since.
‘Eagle Rock’ taken from the front row on amateur iPhone – Video Credit: Barry Crabtree
This song was covered by the Australian children’s group The Wiggles on their 2003 video Space Dancing with Wilson himself singing lead (as part of his portrayal of character King Mondo.
If you’d like to have a listen to the chat I had recently with Ross for the wireless, have a listen here ‘Still Rockin’ It Podcast’
Lineup:
If you get the opportunity to catch any of the rest of the tour, do yourself a favour and do it – particularly now that you can legally dance to your heart’s content.
Congratulations to The Grape Organisation and all involved for hanging in there and putting on another night to remember, under extremely trying circumstances.
Remember to get out when you can, support live music and I’ll see you down the front!!
https://www.facebook.com/ThatRadioChick
Live music supporter Judy Beyer had this to say about the night and generously provided the headline video:
