Ross Wilson
Encyclopedia
Ross Andrew Wilson is an Australian singer-songwriter
, guitarist
and producer
who fronted the groups Daddy Cool
and Mondo Rock, and produced
albums by Australian band Skyhooks. He has also performed solo, and as a judge on celebrity singing TV series It Takes Two from 2005. Wilson was individually inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association
(ARIA) Hall of Fame
in 1989 and again as a member of Daddy Cool in 2006.
a suburb of Melbourne
. Wilson learnt to sing harmonies with the local Anglican church choir and was selected as a wedding singer. In 1958, at ten and a half years old, he and his brother Bruce Wilson attended their first Rock & Roll show featuring Johnny O’Keefe, Jerry Lee Lewis
and Buddy Holly and the Crickets
. A car accident in 1963 caused severe injuries including to his leg, during recovery over subsequent months Wilson took up harmonica playing and would copy from records to develop his playing style.
Wilson began his musical career in 1964 and formed his first band The Pink Finks
with thirteen year old Ross Hannaford
(guitar and vocals), who would become his long-time musical partner, whilst both were still at school. They released a cover version of "Louie Louie
" as a single in 1965 and followed with three more singles. At about this time he met Patricia (future Pat Wilson
) whilst working at the Department of Supply. The Pink Finks was followed by the more progressively
oriented The Party Machine (1967–69) still with Hannaford, but included Mike Rudd
on bass (later in Spectrum
). Compensation for his earlier car accident was received by 1969, which enabled Wilson to travel to England with Pat, he had been invited by friend Brian Peacock (bass guitar) to join his band Procession. Whilst there, Wilson married Pat, recorded an album Procession with the band and wrote the song "Eagle Rock
". Wilson returned to Australia later that year and formed Sons of the Vegetal Mother
(1969–70), again including Hannaford and Rudd.
. The original members were Wilson, Hannaford (vocals and guitars), Gary Young
(drums, vocals) and Wayne Duncan (bass, vocals), other members that joined, included saxophonist Jeremy Noone and guitarist Ian Winter.
Known for their "good time" image, Daddy Cool's repertoire mixed covers of 1950s R&B and doo-wop classics with original compositions mostly written by Wilson and influenced by the work of Frank Zappa
. The band signed to the independent Sparmac
label, co-owned by producer and former child prodigy guitarist Robie Porter
. Daddy Cool became very popular in Australia and their records also gained a following in the USA and Canada in the early 1970s. They scored a nationwide #1 hit in Australia in mid-1970 with the single "Eagle Rock
" and their debut LP, Daddy Who? Daddy Cool
, also reached #1 to set a record as the biggest selling Australian album to that time. The "Eagle Rock" promo was directed by Chris Löfvén who had earlier that year directed the video for Spectrum's single "I'll Be Gone".
Around this time Ross and wife Pat both appeared naked in a short film directed by Chris Löfvén titled "The Beginning" which is an extra on the DVD release of Oz.
After Daddy Cool broke up late in 1972, Wilson and Hannaford formed the short-lived Mighty Kong
which included former Spectrum
drummer Ray Arnott and Company Caine
guitarist Russell Smith. They recorded only one LP, All I Wanna Do Is Rock released on Porter's new label Wizard Records, but the band broke up soon after. Whilst performing with Mighty Kong, Wilson was impressed by a fledgling Melbourne band called Skyhooks and signed their main songwriter Greg Mcainsh to his publishing company.
Daddy Cool made a surprise reformation for the January 1974 Sunbury Pop Festival and remained together until late 1975. Also performing at Sunbury in 1974 were Skyhooks and, despite being booed off stage, Wilson recommended the band to Mushroom Records boss Michael Gudinski
. In June / July 1974 Wilson took time off Daddy Cool and produced Skyhook's breakthrough debut album Living in the Seventies
, which overtook Daddy Cool's first album to become the biggest-selling Australian LP. He went on to produce their next two albums, Ego is not a Dirty Word
(1975) and Straight in a Gay Gay World
(1976), both of which were also successes in Australia.
on his own label Oz Records. When his contractual obligations ended, Wilson also scored Chris Löfvén's 1976
film
, Oz
, inspired by The Wizard of Oz
but set in Australia. Wilson performed "Livin' in the Land of Oz" (also released as a single), "The Mood", "Greaseball", "Who's Gonna Love You Tonight" and "Atmospherics", with fellow ex-Daddy Cool members Gary Young and Wayne Burt; he produced the soundtrack
which also featured the film's stars Joy Dunstan
and Graham Matters singing a track each and two tracks by Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons
. Jo Jo Zep, containing Young and Burt, were also signed to Oz Records and released the single "Beating Around the Bush" from the soundtrack.
In order to promote his single, Wilson formed Mondo Rock
:
Mondo Rock went through several incarnations but the best known lineup included bassist Paul Christie
(ex-Kevin Borich Express
, later in The Party Boys), guitarist and songwriter Eric McCusker, (ex-The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band
), drummer John Hackett (ex-Stars) and on keyboards and guitar was James Black. Wilson also produced the band's first single in 1978 "Fugitive Kind" and first album, 1979's Primal Park for his own Oz Records label. Greatest singles success was with 1980's "State of the Heart", 1981's "Chemistry" and "Cool World" all from their award-winning second album Chemistry released in 1981 on Avenue Records. 1980s teen-idol Rick Springfield
recorded "State of the Heart" in 1985, making the U.S Top 40. McCusker had written "State of the Heart", co-written "Chemistry" with Christie, and Wilson had written "Cool World". Mondo Rock released Nuovo Mondo in 1982 which included their track "Touch of Paradise" written by Wilson and Gulliver Smith (aka Kevin Smith, ex-Company Caine
) this became a 1986 hit when covered by Australian pop singer John Farnham
(ex-Little River Band
).
In 1983, Wilson wrote a song, "Bop Girl" for his then wife Pat Wilson
aka "Mummy Cool" when writing for Go-Set
magazine back in 1971–1972. As a single, it featured Ross on backing vocals, and became an Australian #2 hit and even gained recognition internationally. It also had a video directed by Gillian Armstrong
, which featured not only Ross, but the actual screen debut of Nicole Kidman
.
Mondo Rock released further albums including The Modern Bop in 1984, which had their best charting single "Come Said the Boy" (#2 on National singles chart) and "The Modern Bop"; and Boom Baby Boom in 1986, Aliens (EP
) in 1987 and Why Fight it? in 1990. The later albums and singles had little chart success. Wilson's most successful solo release was 1989's "Bed of Nails" which reached #25 on the National singles charts. It was released from his July 1989 solo album Dark Side of the Man on WEA.
, singing on their re-recording of "Eagle Rock" and playing the part of "King Mondo" in the video "Space Dancing". Wilson also appeared as "King Mondo" on the 2004 video "Santa's Rockin'!" singing This Little Baby Is Born Again.
Wilson was approached in early 2006 by St Kilda Football Club president Rod Butterss
to do a re-write of the St Kilda theme song When The Saints Go Marching In
Ross Wilson has appeared as a judge on the Seven Network
celebrity reality singing competition It Takes Two in both 2006 and 2007 series, and was featured in the ABC interview series Talking Heads with Peter Thompson on 9 July 2007.
In 2008, Wilson was invited to Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California
to perform the song "Eagle Rock
" at the Eagle Rock Music Festival.
In August 2009 Wilson will celebrate 45 years in music with the commemorative "5 Decades of Cool" concert at the Palais Theatre
, St Kilda, Melbourne.
, was a journalist and, briefly, a pop star with "Bop Girl" (written by Wilson) in 1983 and reached #2. On the promo video for "Eagle Rock" a pregnant Pat Wilson is in the front row of the concert footage. They were married for twenty years, from 1969 to about 1989. His second wife, Tania has been married to Wilson from 1999 and they have three children Athina, Dimitri and step daughter Olympia Valance
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, guitarist
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
who fronted the groups Daddy Cool
Daddy Cool (band)
Daddy Cool is an Australian rock band formed in Melbourne in 1970 with the original line-up of Wayne Duncan , Ross Hannaford , Ross Wilson and Gary Young . Their debut single "Eagle Rock" was released in May 1971 and stayed at number 1 on the Australian singles chart for ten weeks...
and Mondo Rock, and produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
albums by Australian band Skyhooks. He has also performed solo, and as a judge on celebrity singing TV series It Takes Two from 2005. Wilson was individually inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
(ARIA) Hall of Fame
ARIA Hall of Fame
Since 1988 the Australian Recording Industry Association has inducted artists into its ARIA Hall of Fame. While most have been recognised at the annual ARIA Music Awards, in 2005 ARIA sought to create a separate standalone "ARIA Icons: Hall of Fame" event as only one or two acts could be inducted...
in 1989 and again as a member of Daddy Cool in 2006.
Early years
Wilson’s father was an amateur jazz musician and his mother would play classical music on the piano at their home in Hampton, VictoriaHampton, Victoria
Hampton is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 14 km south east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Bayside. At the 2006 Census, Hampton had a population of 11,825.Hampton is located in a wealthy bayside area of Melbourne, wedged between the...
a suburb of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. Wilson learnt to sing harmonies with the local Anglican church choir and was selected as a wedding singer. In 1958, at ten and a half years old, he and his brother Bruce Wilson attended their first Rock & Roll show featuring Johnny O’Keefe, Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
and Buddy Holly and the Crickets
The Crickets
The Crickets are a rock & roll band from Lubbock, Texas, formed by singer/songwriter Buddy Holly in the 1950s. Their first hit record was "That'll Be the Day", released in 1957....
. A car accident in 1963 caused severe injuries including to his leg, during recovery over subsequent months Wilson took up harmonica playing and would copy from records to develop his playing style.
Wilson began his musical career in 1964 and formed his first band The Pink Finks
The Pink Finks
The Pink Finks was an Australian pop/R&B band of the mid-1960s. Based in Melbourne, Victoria, the group is most notable for being the first in the series of bands that featured Ross Wilson and Ross Hannaford, which culminated in the hugely successful Daddy Cool.-History:The Pink Finks formed in...
with thirteen year old Ross Hannaford
Ross Hannaford
Ross Andrew Hannaford is an Australian musician. He is often referred to by his nickname "Hanna". Widely regarded as one of the country's finest rock guitarists, he is best known for his long collaboration with singer-songwriter Ross Wilson, which began as teenagers, and with whom he formed the...
(guitar and vocals), who would become his long-time musical partner, whilst both were still at school. They released a cover version of "Louie Louie
Louie Louie
"Louie Louie" is an American rock 'n' roll song written by Richard Berry in 1955. It has become a standard in pop and rock, with hundreds of versions recorded by different artists...
" as a single in 1965 and followed with three more singles. At about this time he met Patricia (future Pat Wilson
Pat Wilson
Pat Wilson is an Australian singer and journalist. Wilson wrote for Go-Set, a 1960s and 1970s pop music newspaper, under the pen-name "Mummy Cool" during 1971–1972. Wilson released several singles in the early 1980s including the hit single "Bop Girl"...
) whilst working at the Department of Supply. The Pink Finks was followed by the more progressively
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
oriented The Party Machine (1967–69) still with Hannaford, but included Mike Rudd
Mike Rudd
Mike Rudd is a New Zealand born musician and composer who has been based in Australia since the late 1960s, and who is best known as the leader of respected Australian progressive rock bands Spectrum and Ariel in the 1970s....
on bass (later in Spectrum
Spectrum (band)
Spectrum is an Australian progressive rock band that formed in Melbourne in 1969 and, in its original period, remained in existence until 1973. Its members also performed under the alter-ego Indelible Murtceps...
). Compensation for his earlier car accident was received by 1969, which enabled Wilson to travel to England with Pat, he had been invited by friend Brian Peacock (bass guitar) to join his band Procession. Whilst there, Wilson married Pat, recorded an album Procession with the band and wrote the song "Eagle Rock
Eagle Rock (song)
"Eagle Rock" is a classic Australian song, released by Daddy Cool in May 1971 on the Sparmac Record Label. It went on to become the best selling Australian single of the year, achieving gold status in eleven weeks, and remaining at #1 on the national charts for a record ten weeks. "Eagle Rock"...
". Wilson returned to Australia later that year and formed Sons of the Vegetal Mother
Sons of the Vegetal Mother
Sons of the Vegetal Mother were an Australian "esoteric special-occasion progressive band", formed in late 1969, with a floating lineup based around the nucleus of Ross Wilson and Ross Hannaford. A side-project of the band, formed in 1970 was Daddy Cool, which played 1950s doo-wop music plus some...
(1969–70), again including Hannaford and Rudd.
1970–1976: Daddy Cool and producing Skyhooks
In 1970 Sons of the Vegetal Mother formed a side-project called Daddy CoolDaddy Cool (band)
Daddy Cool is an Australian rock band formed in Melbourne in 1970 with the original line-up of Wayne Duncan , Ross Hannaford , Ross Wilson and Gary Young . Their debut single "Eagle Rock" was released in May 1971 and stayed at number 1 on the Australian singles chart for ten weeks...
. The original members were Wilson, Hannaford (vocals and guitars), Gary Young
Gary Young (Australian musician)
Gary Young was a founding member of Australian rock band Daddy Cool in which he played the drums and sang backing vocals. He also played drums with Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons amongst other bands...
(drums, vocals) and Wayne Duncan (bass, vocals), other members that joined, included saxophonist Jeremy Noone and guitarist Ian Winter.
Known for their "good time" image, Daddy Cool's repertoire mixed covers of 1950s R&B and doo-wop classics with original compositions mostly written by Wilson and influenced by the work of Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
. The band signed to the independent Sparmac
Sparmac
Sparmac was an Australian independent recording label of the early 1970s, best known for its association with the successful Australian rock band Daddy Cool....
label, co-owned by producer and former child prodigy guitarist Robie Porter
Robie Porter
Robie Porter is an Australian country, pop/rock musician, producer and record label owner.Beginning in 1959 he performed under the stage name Rob E.G. and recorded lap steel guitar instrumentals or covers of country-style vocals. He provided four top ten hits including two #1 hits in Sydney with...
. Daddy Cool became very popular in Australia and their records also gained a following in the USA and Canada in the early 1970s. They scored a nationwide #1 hit in Australia in mid-1970 with the single "Eagle Rock
Eagle Rock (song)
"Eagle Rock" is a classic Australian song, released by Daddy Cool in May 1971 on the Sparmac Record Label. It went on to become the best selling Australian single of the year, achieving gold status in eleven weeks, and remaining at #1 on the national charts for a record ten weeks. "Eagle Rock"...
" and their debut LP, Daddy Who? Daddy Cool
Daddy Who? Daddy Cool
Daddy Who?... Daddy Cool was the debut album by Australian rock band Daddy Cool. Released in July, 1971 it was the first on Robie Porter's Sparmac label...
, also reached #1 to set a record as the biggest selling Australian album to that time. The "Eagle Rock" promo was directed by Chris Löfvén who had earlier that year directed the video for Spectrum's single "I'll Be Gone".
Around this time Ross and wife Pat both appeared naked in a short film directed by Chris Löfvén titled "The Beginning" which is an extra on the DVD release of Oz.
After Daddy Cool broke up late in 1972, Wilson and Hannaford formed the short-lived Mighty Kong
Mighty Kong (band)
Mighty Kong were an Australian 'supergroup' successor to Daddy Cool, which broke up in August 1972. It was also the fifth in the line of groups that featured singer-songwriter Ross Wilson and guitarist Ross Hannaford, which began with Pink Finks in 1965...
which included former Spectrum
Spectrum (band)
Spectrum is an Australian progressive rock band that formed in Melbourne in 1969 and, in its original period, remained in existence until 1973. Its members also performed under the alter-ego Indelible Murtceps...
drummer Ray Arnott and Company Caine
Company Caine
Company Caine, also known as Co. Caine and Company Kane, is an Australian progressive rock band of the 1970s. The band was formed in Melbourne in 1970 with member as follows:* Gulliver Smith * Russell Smith * Jeremy Noone 1970-71, 1975...
guitarist Russell Smith. They recorded only one LP, All I Wanna Do Is Rock released on Porter's new label Wizard Records, but the band broke up soon after. Whilst performing with Mighty Kong, Wilson was impressed by a fledgling Melbourne band called Skyhooks and signed their main songwriter Greg Mcainsh to his publishing company.
Daddy Cool made a surprise reformation for the January 1974 Sunbury Pop Festival and remained together until late 1975. Also performing at Sunbury in 1974 were Skyhooks and, despite being booed off stage, Wilson recommended the band to Mushroom Records boss Michael Gudinski
Michael Gudinski
Michael Solomon Gudinski, AM is an Australian entrepreneur and businessman currently based in Melbourne who is a leading figure in the Australian music industry...
. In June / July 1974 Wilson took time off Daddy Cool and produced Skyhook's breakthrough debut album Living in the Seventies
Living in the Seventies
Living in the 70's was the debut album released by Melbourne band Skyhooks in October 1974 on the Mushroom Records label. Initially charting in Melbourne only in 1974, by early 1975 the rest of the nation began to catch on...
, which overtook Daddy Cool's first album to become the biggest-selling Australian LP. He went on to produce their next two albums, Ego is not a Dirty Word
Ego Is Not a Dirty Word
Ego Is Not a Dirty Word was the second album released by Australian band Skyhooks in mid-1975. The album was the follow-up to their highly successful album, Living in the Seventies. As with the former album, it was also produced by Ross Wilson....
(1975) and Straight in a Gay Gay World
Straight in a Gay Gay World
Straight In a Gay Gay World was the third studio album released by Australian '70s rock band, Skyhooks. The album was released on 23 August 1976. With the exception of "Million Dollar Riff", it was recorded at The Record Plant in Sausalito, California after the band's first tour of the United...
(1976), both of which were also successes in Australia.
1976–1991: Mondo Rock and solo
Contractual problems with Porter's Wizard label, to whom Wilson was signed at the time, forced him to wait out the end of his recording contract. He turned to producing records for Skyhooks on Mushroom Records and Company CaineCompany Caine
Company Caine, also known as Co. Caine and Company Kane, is an Australian progressive rock band of the 1970s. The band was formed in Melbourne in 1970 with member as follows:* Gulliver Smith * Russell Smith * Jeremy Noone 1970-71, 1975...
on his own label Oz Records. When his contractual obligations ended, Wilson also scored Chris Löfvén's 1976
1976 in film
The year 1976 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*March 22 - Filming begins on George Lucas' Star Wars science fiction film...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, Oz
Oz (1976 film)
Oz is a 1976 Australian film written, directed and co-produced by Chris Löfvén. It stars Joy Dunstan, Graham Matters, Bruce Spence, Gary Waddell, and Robin Ramsay; and received four nominations at the 1977 AFI Awards...
, inspired by The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
but set in Australia. Wilson performed "Livin' in the Land of Oz" (also released as a single), "The Mood", "Greaseball", "Who's Gonna Love You Tonight" and "Atmospherics", with fellow ex-Daddy Cool members Gary Young and Wayne Burt; he produced the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
which also featured the film's stars Joy Dunstan
Joy Dunstan
Joy Dunstan is a retired Australian film and television actress. She is best remembered as the teenage star of Chris Löfvén's 1976 film Oz, a modern-day remake of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, with Graham Matters, Bruce Spence, Gary Waddell, and Robin Ramsay.The then 25-year-old former school...
and Graham Matters singing a track each and two tracks by Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons
Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons
Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons were an Australian blues and rock music band which featured singer, songwriter and saxophonist, Joe Camilleri . The band was active in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and had several Australian chart hits, including "Hit and Run", "Shape I'm In" and "All I Wanna Do"...
. Jo Jo Zep, containing Young and Burt, were also signed to Oz Records and released the single "Beating Around the Bush" from the soundtrack.
In order to promote his single, Wilson formed Mondo Rock
Mondo Rock
Mondo Rock is a rock band from Melbourne, Australia, most prominent in the early 1980s. The band was formed in late 1976 by singer-songwriter-guitarist Ross Wilson.-Early years: 1976–1979:...
:
Mondo Rock went through several incarnations but the best known lineup included bassist Paul Christie
Paul Christie (Australian musician)
Paul Christie is an Australian bassist and vocalist. He came to prominence as a member of the second and most successful lineup of the group Mondo Rock, which was founded by former Daddy Cool leader Ross Wilson...
(ex-Kevin Borich Express
Kevin Borich
Kevin Nicholas Borich is a New Zealand-born Australian guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, later in The Party Boys), guitarist and songwriter Eric McCusker, (ex-The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band
The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band
The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band was an Australian band, active throughout the 1970s. It was based in Melbourne and centred around singer and multi-instrumentalist Mic Conway and his brother Jim Conway, who is widely regarded as one of Australia's finest exponents of the blues harmonica.Inspired...
), drummer John Hackett (ex-Stars) and on keyboards and guitar was James Black. Wilson also produced the band's first single in 1978 "Fugitive Kind" and first album, 1979's Primal Park for his own Oz Records label. Greatest singles success was with 1980's "State of the Heart", 1981's "Chemistry" and "Cool World" all from their award-winning second album Chemistry released in 1981 on Avenue Records. 1980s teen-idol Rick Springfield
Rick Springfield
Rick Springfield is an Australian-born singer-songwriter, musician, and actor. He was a member of pop rock group Zoot from 1969 to 1971 and then started his solo career with his début single "Speak to the Sky" reaching the top 10 in Australia. In mid-1972, he relocated to the United States...
recorded "State of the Heart" in 1985, making the U.S Top 40. McCusker had written "State of the Heart", co-written "Chemistry" with Christie, and Wilson had written "Cool World". Mondo Rock released Nuovo Mondo in 1982 which included their track "Touch of Paradise" written by Wilson and Gulliver Smith (aka Kevin Smith, ex-Company Caine
Company Caine
Company Caine, also known as Co. Caine and Company Kane, is an Australian progressive rock band of the 1970s. The band was formed in Melbourne in 1970 with member as follows:* Gulliver Smith * Russell Smith * Jeremy Noone 1970-71, 1975...
) this became a 1986 hit when covered by Australian pop singer John Farnham
John Farnham
John Peter Farnham, AO, formerly billed as Johnny Farnham , is an English-born Australian pop singer. He was a teen pop idol from 1964 to 1979, and has since forged a career as an adult contemporary singer. His career has mostly been as a solo artist although he briefly replaced Glenn Shorrock as...
(ex-Little River Band
Little River Band
Little River Band is an Australian rock band, formed in Melbourne in early 1975.The group chose the name after passing a road sign leading to the Victorian township of Little River, near Geelong, on the way to a performance. Little River Band enjoyed sustained commercial success in not only...
).
In 1983, Wilson wrote a song, "Bop Girl" for his then wife Pat Wilson
Pat Wilson
Pat Wilson is an Australian singer and journalist. Wilson wrote for Go-Set, a 1960s and 1970s pop music newspaper, under the pen-name "Mummy Cool" during 1971–1972. Wilson released several singles in the early 1980s including the hit single "Bop Girl"...
aka "Mummy Cool" when writing for Go-Set
Go-Set
Go-Set was the first Australian pop music newspaper, published weekly from 2 February 1966 to 24 August 1974, and was founded in Melbourne by Phillip Frazer, Peter Raphael and Tony Schauble...
magazine back in 1971–1972. As a single, it featured Ross on backing vocals, and became an Australian #2 hit and even gained recognition internationally. It also had a video directed by Gillian Armstrong
Gillian Armstrong
Gillian May Armstrong is an award-winning Australian director of feature films and documentaries.- Career :Born in Melbourne, Victoria, Gillian Armstrong grew up in the eastern suburb of Mitcham. She graduated from Swinburne Technical College in 1968 where she studied theatrical costume design and...
, which featured not only Ross, but the actual screen debut of Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Mary Kidman, AC is an American-born Australian actress, singer, film producer, spokesmodel, and humanitarian. After starring in a number of small Australian films and TV shows, Kidman's breakthrough was in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm...
.
Mondo Rock released further albums including The Modern Bop in 1984, which had their best charting single "Come Said the Boy" (#2 on National singles chart) and "The Modern Bop"; and Boom Baby Boom in 1986, Aliens (EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
) in 1987 and Why Fight it? in 1990. The later albums and singles had little chart success. Wilson's most successful solo release was 1989's "Bed of Nails" which reached #25 on the National singles charts. It was released from his July 1989 solo album Dark Side of the Man on WEA.
1990s and beyond
Wilson returned to performing in the late 1990s and he has released two albums of new material plus a two-CD retrospective covering his entire career, including many rare tracks. He has also collaborated with children's group The WigglesThe Wiggles
The Wiggles are a children's group formed in Sydney, Australia in 1991. Their original members were Anthony Field, Phillip Wilcher, Murray Cook, Greg Page, and Jeff Fatt. Wilcher left the group after their first album...
, singing on their re-recording of "Eagle Rock" and playing the part of "King Mondo" in the video "Space Dancing". Wilson also appeared as "King Mondo" on the 2004 video "Santa's Rockin'!" singing This Little Baby Is Born Again.
Wilson was approached in early 2006 by St Kilda Football Club president Rod Butterss
Rod Butterss
Roderick "Rod" Butterss is an Australian investor, with stakes in property development and the recruiting industry.During the late 1970s, Butterss played in the St Kilda Football Club reserves side, but never made it to senior level...
to do a re-write of the St Kilda theme song When The Saints Go Marching In
When the Saints Go Marching In
"When the Saints Go Marching In", often referred to as "The Saints", is an American gospel hymn that has taken on certain aspects of folk music. The precise origins of the song are not known. Though it originated as a spiritual, today people are more likely to hear it played by a jazz band...
Ross Wilson has appeared as a judge on the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
celebrity reality singing competition It Takes Two in both 2006 and 2007 series, and was featured in the ABC interview series Talking Heads with Peter Thompson on 9 July 2007.
In 2008, Wilson was invited to Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California
Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California
In 1909, Hill Avenue, now Hill Drive, was one of Eagle Rock's most beautiful streets. Other streets were Royal Drive , Acacia Street , Kenilworth Avenue , Highland Avenue , and Fairmont Avenue...
to perform the song "Eagle Rock
Eagle Rock (song)
"Eagle Rock" is a classic Australian song, released by Daddy Cool in May 1971 on the Sparmac Record Label. It went on to become the best selling Australian single of the year, achieving gold status in eleven weeks, and remaining at #1 on the national charts for a record ten weeks. "Eagle Rock"...
" at the Eagle Rock Music Festival.
In August 2009 Wilson will celebrate 45 years in music with the commemorative "5 Decades of Cool" concert at the Palais Theatre
Palais Theatre
The Palais Theatre is a former cinema, now functioning exclusively as a concert venue, located in St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. With a capacity of 2,896 people, it is the largest seated theatre in Australia....
, St Kilda, Melbourne.
Personal life
Wilson has a brother, Bruce Wilson, who designed the logo for the Mojo Label under which The Pink Finks released "Louie Louie", Bruce also design the logo for The Party Machine, and printed their "obscene and seditious" songbook. Ross Wilson's first wife, Pat WilsonPat Wilson
Pat Wilson is an Australian singer and journalist. Wilson wrote for Go-Set, a 1960s and 1970s pop music newspaper, under the pen-name "Mummy Cool" during 1971–1972. Wilson released several singles in the early 1980s including the hit single "Bop Girl"...
, was a journalist and, briefly, a pop star with "Bop Girl" (written by Wilson) in 1983 and reached #2. On the promo video for "Eagle Rock" a pregnant Pat Wilson is in the front row of the concert footage. They were married for twenty years, from 1969 to about 1989. His second wife, Tania has been married to Wilson from 1999 and they have three children Athina, Dimitri and step daughter Olympia Valance
The Pink Finks
- In Group (EP) (1965) [In E2558]
- Louie Louie (EP) (December 1980) [Raven RV06] – "Louie LouieLouie Louie"Louie Louie" is an American rock 'n' roll song written by Richard Berry in 1955. It has become a standard in pop and rock, with hundreds of versions recorded by different artists...
" / "Back Door ManBack Door Man"Back Door Man" is a blues song written by Willie Dixon and recorded by Howlin' Wolf in 1961. It was released by Chess Records as the B-side to Wolf's "Wang Dang Doodle"...
", "Comin' Home" / "You're Good" / "Rub My Root" / "Something Else" / "Untie Me"
Sons of the Vegetal Mother
- Garden Party (EP) (November, 1970) – Only 250 copies were produced
Daddy Cool
- Daddy Who? Daddy CoolDaddy Who? Daddy CoolDaddy Who?... Daddy Cool was the debut album by Australian rock band Daddy Cool. Released in July, 1971 it was the first on Robie Porter's Sparmac label...
(July 1971) Sparmac AUS #1 - The D.C.E.P. (EP) (November 1971) Sparmac AUS #12
- Sex, Dope, Rock'n'Roll: Teenage HeavenSex, Dope, Rock'n'Roll: Teenage HeavenSex, Dope, Rock'n'Roll: Teenage Heaven, released as simply Teenage Heaven in the US, is the second studio album by Australian rock band Daddy Cool, released in January 1972. It reached number 15 on the ARIA Charts, and contains the hit single "Hi Honey Ho"...
(January 1972) Sparmac AUS #15 aka Teenage Heaven (US release) - The New CoolThe New CoolThe New Cool is the third studio album, the fourth album overall, by Australian rock band Daddy Cool. It was released in November 2006, thirty-four years after the release of their previous studio album, Sex, Dope, Rock'n'Roll: Teenage Heaven....
(2006)
Mighty Kong
- All I Wanna Do (1973) Wizard
- "Calling All Cats" / "Hard Drugs (Are Bad For You)" (December, 1973) Wizard
Skyhooks
as Producer, session musician- Living in the SeventiesLiving in the SeventiesLiving in the 70's was the debut album released by Melbourne band Skyhooks in October 1974 on the Mushroom Records label. Initially charting in Melbourne only in 1974, by early 1975 the rest of the nation began to catch on...
(1974) AUS #1 - Ego is not a Dirty WordEgo Is Not a Dirty WordEgo Is Not a Dirty Word was the second album released by Australian band Skyhooks in mid-1975. The album was the follow-up to their highly successful album, Living in the Seventies. As with the former album, it was also produced by Ross Wilson....
(1975) AUS #1 - Straight in a Gay Gay WorldStraight in a Gay Gay WorldStraight In a Gay Gay World was the third studio album released by Australian '70s rock band, Skyhooks. The album was released on 23 August 1976. With the exception of "Million Dollar Riff", it was recorded at The Record Plant in Sausalito, California after the band's first tour of the United...
(1976) AUS #2
Oz Soundtrack
as Producer, main performer on 7 tracks, session musician on others- Oz (1976)
Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons
as Producer, session musician- Don't Waste It! (1976)
- Whip It Out (1977)
Mondo Rock
- Primal Park (1979) also produced
- Chemistry (1981)
- Nuovo Mondo (1982)
- The Modern Bop (1984) also co-produced
- Boom Baby Boom (1986)
- Aliens (EP, 1987)
- Why Fight It? (1991)
Solo
- Dark Side of the Man (1989)
- Go Bongo Go Wild! (2001) also co-produced
- Country and Wilson (2003) also co-produced
- Tributary (2008) Liberation Blue