September 24, 2022 • 27 mins
Join Cheryl Lee - That Radio Chick on STILL ROCKIN' IT for news, reviews, music and interviews with some of our favourite Australian musicians.
Today we are a fly on the wall during the filming of an interview I held recently with legendary Australian guitarist Rockin’ Rob Riley for the tele.
A self-confessed Trekkie tragic, Rockin’ Rob has led a truly rock 'n' roll life, and at age 70 still loves guitars, amps, playing music, motor bikes, restoring cars and trucks, and partner Robyn.
From winning Hoadley’s Battle of the Bands in the early 70s, a 93 date tour supporting Sherbet, 30 turbulent years with Rose Tattoo, playing the Working Class Man tour with Jimmy Barnes and touring with The Party Boys with Richard Clapton and Shirley Strachan, Rob also played with Kevin Borich, Matt Finish and Dallimore.
Includes Songs:
Lionel Rose - I Thank You
Sherbet - Howzat
Rose Tattoo - Scarred for Life
The Party Boys - Immigrant Song
Dallimore - We Are The Kids
Rose Tattoo - We Can't Be Beaten
What’s Mr Robin Riley been up to lately … let’s find out
Get out when you can, support local music and I'll see you down the front!!
Visit: ThatRadioChick.com.au
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
that radio chick, cheryl lee, here with you.
Welcome to the still rocking apodcast where we'll have news,
music reviews and interviewswith some of our favorite
australian musicians and artists.
Today we are a fly on the wallduring the filming of an
interview I held recently withlegendary australian guitarist
rock and' Rob Riley for thetelly.
A self-confessed, tricky,tragic Rockin' Rob has led a
(00:29):
truly rock and roll life and, atthe age of 70, still loves
guitars, amps, playing music,motorbikes, restoring cars and
trucks, and partner Robin Fromwinning Hoadley's Battle of the
Bands in the early 70s, a93-date tour supporting Sherbet,
30 turbulent years with RoseTattoo, playing the Working
Class man tour with Jimmy Barnesand touring with the Party Boys
(00:51):
with Richard Clapton andShirley Strawn.
Rob also played with KevinBoric, matt Finish and Dallymore
, certainly earning the legendstatus.
What's Mr Robin Riley been up tolately?
Let's find out.
You're with Shirley, that radiochick, here for Mega Music TV
(01:13):
in the immense man cave thatbelongs to Rock and Rog Riley,
which includes his studio wherehe makes music and rehearses and
the garage, the workshop wherehe restores his cars.
Thank you so much, rob, forhaving us here today.
Nanu Nanu.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I know you're a.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Trekkie from way back , and that's from Walkin' Mindy,
isn't it?
Speaker 3 (01:36):
That's correct, that's correct.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Thank you so much for inviting us here.
You're originally a Victorian,but we won't hold that against
you.
Born in the mountains with twobrothers.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Two brothers, yeah, and are they musical too, rob.
Yes, they are.
They are musical.
My youngest brother's a bassplayer.
He lives in Launceston and he'sdoing quite well for himself.
He's a part-time chippy andpart-time muso and my other
brother has mostly retired and Ihave been trying to get them
together, as they're bothmusically they're very, very
(02:10):
good, but you've got to get somepeople to pull their heads out
of their asses sometimes and itjust gets very difficult.
Family, just anyone, anyone,anyone.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
So is that a scoop?
You heard at first here thatthe Riley brothers might be
getting together.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
That's a scoop.
Stay tuned, that's if we canget it going, you know.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
You guys are obviously from a pretty musical
family and you knew pretty earlyon that music was in your DNA.
Tell us about Lionel Rose, howhe influenced you and got you
into music at the age of seven.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Seven, yeah, seven, I think it was seven, because he
was fighting for theBantamweight World Championship
and I remember my father taughtme how to build crystal sets
like a little radio, and I wasjust a kid and I was loving the
electronic side of things and sowe listened to the fight and he
won the championship and to cutforward really quickly, he was
(03:07):
a country and western lover andhe was my hero and still is to
this very day.
He's fantastic and he just hehad this single out called Let
Me Thank you and it justabsolutely killed me.
That's when the bug bit.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
So that set you off on your trajectory.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
That absolutely did.
His backing band was called theHawking Brothers Country Five
and they had a pedal steelplayer by the name of George
Zanthos, who I met, who used totravel over here a lot some
years back.
But yeah, that was certainlywhat put me on the.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
You're another heavy rock and roller who is actually
a closet country music fan.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
No, I am a real country fan.
You don't even hide it, I'm nocloset anything.
It's all there for any arseholeto see Good on you.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Do you know who else loves country music?
Dave Gleeson, yeah, yeah, heloves it too.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
I think he picked it up off me one time.
I think he did.
He got crook.
He really suffered after that,but then he came good and all of
a sudden he just loved countrymusic.
It happens to everybody.
It's a beautiful thing.
Country music's the best thingin the world.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
I've got a soft spot for it too.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
You are listening to Still Rocking it.
The podcast with Cheryl Lee.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Without any further ado.
I think we should hear thatLionel Rose song now.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
I.
I think we should hear thatLionel Rose song now.
I thank you.
We'll be back shortly to be afly on the wall at the interview
with Rockin' Rob Riley for MegaMusic.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
You had about three years of formal training.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Yes, I was taught formally for three years, two
years actually.
His name was Alan Prebble and Iwas about seven, just coming
eight.
I learned until I was about ten.
He had me at a point where hesaid well, I can't teach you
anything now.
He said, you're just going tohave to make sense of it
yourself.
That's what we all have to do.
You know the knowledge, so justwork on it and we'll see how we
(05:06):
go with your problem.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
And the problem just became this so David Wicks and
Paul Hitchens, you meet them.
Is that how you formed yourfirst band?
Speaker 3 (05:17):
I was going to school with Dave Wicks tech school and
I was knocking around with PaulHitchens because we used to
ride motorbikes and we used togo down to Dave Wicks' joint
because he lived on a marketgarden down in Buddy Heavitton
at the time and we used to godown there fanging around on the
motorbikes and he'd drive carsand motorbikes.
Dave said I remember being atschool one day and he said I've
(05:39):
got a guitar at home, anelectric guitar, because I
didn't have an electric guitarin those days.
And he said I've got a guitarat home, an electric guitar,
because I didn't have anelectric guitar in those days.
He said I've got a guitar andan amp, and then he said I've
got a bass too.
So anyway, we were all hangingaround, we all just started
playing together and Paul'ssitting on the table whacking
away.
I said, well, it's time for youto buy a drum kit.
So anyway, he went and learnedto play drums and bam, and that
was our first little band.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
So we've got you to thank for Paul Hitchens, who
ended up drumming for the sports.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
I don't know whether he's got me to thank for that.
That's a choice he made, Ithink, but the sports did really
really well for themselves inthe old days and they were a big
act.
And Paul now lives in WesternAustralia, in Perth.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
He still plays a bit over there, I think, but we're
all getting pretty old now,hence the Legend series, I have
been called a veteran musician.
I like Legend better.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
It's a nicer thing, isn't it?
Speaker 1 (06:37):
So did you guys form Lois Lane no.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
No, that came later in my life.
That was something I did 17, 18sort of thing and that was with
Greg Grunter on vocals, gregThomas keyboards, neville Oreska
on bass and Dan we call him DanSolo Salovey, a Dan Solo on
(07:05):
drums, and it was a crackingband and we won the Hodley
Battles of the band.
That's right In 1974-ish A bitearlier, I think Something like
that.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Early 70s.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Yeah, very early 70s.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Well done, congratulations.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Yeah, and that was what sort of like led to being
introduced to John Dallimore andfrom that point he was playing
in a band called Red House andtheir other guitar player, gary
jeez, I haven't thought aboutthese people.
Gary Quince was the otherguitar player, but he wanted to
(07:42):
get out because he wanted toplay more guitar solos.
So I'm thinking to myself, jeout because he wanted to play
more guitar solos.
So and I'm thinking to myself,geez, well, you can't play more
guitar solos than the great JohnDallimore.
I mean, like he's the guy, he'sthe number one.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Band's named after him after all.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Well, that was the second.
That's.
The second point of contentionis, anyway, they came and saw me
playing in Lois Lane and JDreally loved what I was doing at
the time and so he asked me tocome and join his band, or Red
House, and so I joined a Geelongband called Red House and I did
a 93-day Sherbet tour photoplay tour.
(08:14):
That was when they had How'sthat?
That was huge.
That was 93 days, every day ina bus with Sherbet and us.
It was fantastic.
Can you remember any of it?
No, I was pissed.
I was pissed from one end of itto the other.
I was 19 years old.
It was just ridiculous, youknow, but it was fantastic.
I have some great memories ofit, but it was amazing,
(08:35):
absolutely amazing.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Still rocking the podcast with that radio chick,
cheryl Lee.
I think we'll hear fromSherbert a track from that tour.
How's that we?
I think we'll hear fromSherbert a track from that tour.
How's that?
We'll be back to speak somemore with rockin' Rob Riley
shortly and find out whichAussie rock legend thought Rob
was too old, at 29.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
But then I got itchy and I had to leave, and then,
anyway, I think about six oreight months later, jd got a
record contract with Elbets inSydney.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
As Dallymore as Dallymore.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Right and this is where the Dallymore thing came
and that's where Rick Croft camein and I brought my drummer,
John Laylor, in.
We were a cracking band,absolute cracking band.
And then our greatest problemwas we recorded an album three
times with Ian Miller asproducer and Mark Opitz on the
board, and after three times oftrying to get that album past
(09:40):
George and Harry, it just nevergot out.
And it's some killer,absolutely killer, killer,
killer stuff.
And it was doing me in and Iwas too drunk in that place and
anyway I was probably being apain in the arse.
I probably was, but a big painin the arse.
Anyway, I left and that wasjust one of the biggest.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Didn't you want to do more guitar solos?
Speaker 3 (09:59):
Yes, I did.
I wouldn't have wanted to do acouple, but I mean, like that
was a point at the time, but itwas more, I didn't feel that it
was going anywhere because wecouldn't get past George and
Aaron.
Yeah, so I had to go, and Jesus, that was hard life after that,
but anyway, that leads intoother adventures.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Well, that's right, it's all meant to be, because
wasn't it soon after that thatMick Cox was a bit unreliable in
Rose Tattoo?
And along comes Rock and RobRiley.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Well right, mick was playing up.
He'd always been a drug addictand a shocker of a drunk and he
was a terrible guitar player inmy opinion, and I hated Rose
Tattoo.
I thought they were rubbish,absolute rubbish, because they
used to support Red House at theCroxton Park Hotel every fourth
Wednesday, that we would playthere every second Wednesday.
(10:51):
So I saw them and I went thatis an absolute bag of shit, but
you know I didn't get all thatcrap.
So anyway, they had a bigsingle.
I'm trying to step through thisreally quickly, but they had a
big single called Rock and RollOutlaw and it went off in
England, in London, and theywere like number nine or
something, number eight on thecharts and they were just
(11:11):
packing them out wherever theygo.
And this is where Mick became avery naughty boy and legend has
it that he was with Bon Scottthe night that he died.
But anyway, he was playing upso badly that they had to sack
him.
And that's when Dallas Royal,the drummer, rang me up.
He'd ring me up every couple ofweeks and he'd say, man, you've
(11:32):
got to come over and join theband.
I said, digger, I hate the band, I love you and I love Giorno
but I just hate the band and Ilove Pete, you know.
But anyway, eventually I endedup going to London my very first
overseas jaunt, and to London,my very first overseas jaunt,
and that was the scariest thingI ever did.
And anyway, I got over thereand I had two days to learn a
(11:52):
whole set of their stuff, toplay my very first gig with Rose
Tattoo at the Soho Club, whatit was called Very famous club.
I can't remember, I've got amemory like a sieve, you know.
But anyway we went and playedit and I didn't even know the
(12:12):
songs.
I had an idea how they went butI didn't know what they were
called.
Anger would say, fuck it, thisone's called.
And I'd go and I'd trade aGeordie.
I'd say, how's that one go, youknow?
And he goes da, da, da, da, da,da.
Oh, that one right on and off,we'd go.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
You couldn't have done too badly.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
It was absolutely frightening, it was terrible and
the joints packed and the lineup down the street and around
the block, it was incredible.
Anyway, that's all history.
So, anyway, we went out and didall this touring and it was
great.
It was great and we went toAmerica not long after that and
that was incredible.
We spent three months there andI don't remember much of that
(12:44):
because I was pissed from oneend of that to the other two, as
we all were.
But we got this close.
We got this close to the bigaxe where the big money lived
and the big success and the bigeverything.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Missed by that much, missed much.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
You are listening to Still Rocking it.
The podcast with Cheryl Lee.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
We'll hear more about the love-hate relationship
between Angry and Rob after thissong.
I thought it was time for aRose Tattoo song, One of the
songs the boys wrote together,in fact, the title track of
Scarred for Life.
Here's Scarred for Life.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
Anyway, you know, angry sold out to the record
company and Pete, the otherguitar player.
By those days him and I becamegreat friends and Pete, it was
his band.
So anyway, this is how it allstarted.
So Angry sold out to the recordcompany and Peter came down, he
woke up.
He says to me, because weroomed together.
He said I'm leaving the band.
And I said why is that?
He said angry, salt head,rickall Company.
I said that's a real shame.
(13:55):
I said if you're leaving, well,I'm leaving.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
If you leave me, can I come too?
Speaker 3 (13:59):
That's right, there's a song in there.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Yeah, yeah, quote me.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Anyway, I went downstairs and I said and Digg's
sitting down there with Geordie?
And I said Pete's leaving theband, and Pete explained why and
I said I'm leaving too.
And Digg said well, if you guysare leaving, I'm leaving.
So the three of us left andGeordie said I'll stay.
So he stayed on.
That's basically how that partof it all sort of started, you
(14:27):
know, and that was way back then.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
So you had pretty much 30 years on and off with
Rose Tattoo.
Can I quote you On and off?
You told them to stick it uptheir bib.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
No, I didn't tell them, I told Angry.
Angry, you know, because he'sRose Tattoo.
Nobody else is Rose Tattoo,it's just angry.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Well, on a positive, from then you wrote we Can't Be
Beaten with Angry.
Great song, great Aussie anthem.
And I think three other trackstoo off the Scarred for Life
album are yours.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Yes, I co-wrote.
In other words, I'm thecomposer and he's an author.
Right, that's how you define it.
Music lyrics right and story.
Well, that was we Can't BeBeaten, scarred for Life, the
title track and Branded and WorkItself Out, and they were the
(15:24):
four singles that were pulledoff the Scarred for Life album.
So I was enormously proud ofthat.
Of course you should be Good,record that one.
And anyway it went along and wedid another album called Pain
and I wrote Pain and three othersongs again.
That's eight songs all up thatI have in the repertoire of Rose
(15:44):
Tattoo.
So I don't know, I'm not a verybig player in it, but I mean
there's people that have beenlong there for longer and I
don't know where it all sort ofgoes to from that point, but
they're still out working aroundand stuff like that.
Everybody's getting older.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Well, apart from those, you also have three, four
fabulous original songs thathaven't been released yet.
Yes, and we might have a listento one of those now, if we can.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Love it.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Okay, let's just keep it rolling now.
All righty, we're back with Yep.
We're back with Rob Riley.
Can you get the camera?
Okay, five, four, three.
Yeah with Cheryl Lee, thatradio chick from Mega Music TV.
We are back with Rob and RobRiley.
Now where to after Rose Tattoo?
Speaker 3 (16:35):
The Party Boys with Richard Clapton mainly.
Yes, well, I started withRichard Clapton because Harvey
James from Sherbet had to go anddo some stuff with Sherbet and
I did about six months oftouring with Richard Clapton.
I remember that was the timethat Ralph wanted to go out and
do some stuff and Harvey wasalso playing in Richard Clapton.
I remember that was the timethat Ralph wanted to go out and
do some stuff and Harvey wasalso playing in Richard
Clapton's band as well asSheridan.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Very incestuous Rob.
Everybody's played witheverybody.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Except me.
But anyway, they played withyou, they played with you, but
anyway.
So that's when I joined theParty Boys and when I joined,
cheryl Strawn came in.
I think I was in that line-upof the Party Boys for about two,
two and a half years orsomething.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Did a lot of touring, still rocking that podcast with
that radio chick, cheryl Lee.
The line-up of the Party Boysat that time in 1984 included
founding members Kevin Borich,paul Christie and Graham
Bidstrip, along with formerSkyhook singer Shirley Straughan
and Rose Tattoo slash JimmyBarnes guitarist Robin Riley.
They released a live album noSong Too Sacred, which included
(17:42):
the Immigrant Song, a LedZeppelin cover.
Back to speak more with Rockin'Rob Riley during his Mega Music
TV interview very shortly.
And you and Cheryl, you had areally strong bond, didn't?
Speaker 3 (18:05):
you.
Yeah, we struck up a fantasticrelationship and friendship.
We had a lot of fun, a lot offun.
Every time we'd go out and dosomething, he'd drag me out,
like any interviews and stuff,because he's a mega.
He was just great fun.
I loved him.
I loved him to death.
We used to do everythingtogether.
When we were around the road helaughed his guts out at me.
He thought I was a great bunchof fun.
(18:29):
But yeah, yeah, that was that.
But then the party boys theycarried on again with different
members.
I mean, Joe Walsh was the blokethat replaced me in the party
boys, and so you can't get abetter replacement than that.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
No, he had big shoes to fill.
Now, being a South Aussie girl,obviously I'm a.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Victorian, but I'm a South Australian too.
I live in the land of theCroweater.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Good on you.
I'm a Jimmy Barnes fan Now.
You even toured with Jimmy'sband for a while for the Working
Class man tour.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
That's correct.
That's absolutely correct.
I was living in Perth at thetime and he tracked me down and
said I want you to come over andplay in the band.
And I didn't really know whatwas going on.
I said sure.
He said I'll pay you $500 aweek and he said I'll look after
you.
I said Jim, that soundsfantastic.
He said beautiful.
He said well, well, yourticket's waiting at the airport
(19:24):
for you and I'll see you in twoweeks.
So I went over there and had afew days to learn his stuff, you
know.
And so I go, jesus you know,and I replaced Chris Stockley
from the Dingoes, who wasplaying in Jim's band, because
he wanted a guitar player thathad a bit more oomph.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
A bit more grunt.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
Yes, and so poor old Chris got the heave-ho.
Poor yes, and so poor old Chrisgot the heave-ho.
Oh, poor bugger, you know hegot the gratuitous.
Sit out the back and choppingup the lines you know and saying
, look, it's like this, you knowfrom Popey, but anyway, you
know the poor bugger, he wasabsolutely shocked and upset.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
That's rock and roll, though, isn't it?
Speaker 3 (20:01):
That's rock and roll.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
That's rock and roll.
Ask that again Still going tohear the rain?
Yeah, but the rain is loudercoming from out there.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
If you actually push that other door too as well,
just push that thing out of thedoor, stop out of the way, but
you're still going to hear therain.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
It's ambient.
We're in a man cave.
We're going to hear the weather.
It's all good.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
So where were we?
Speaker 1 (20:23):
I'm going to say to you that's rock and roll though,
isn't it Rob?
Yes yes, that's rock and roll.
What doesn't kill you makes youstronger.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, andyou're still here.
You must be a strong bugger.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
They say, only the good die young.
So look, I don't know what I'vedone wrong.
I must have done something realbad.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
So your tenure with Barnsey Incorporated finished
when you were 29 because theywanted to get a whole bunch of
younger people Too old at 29.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
That was how it happened and everybody got their
marching orders, except for me,because I don't know why,
because nobody ever saidanything.
I was just go and Bruce Howe.
That's how I met Bruce Howe,the bloke that brought me to
Adelaide, and I played in a bandwith him and I struck up a
fantastic relationship andbrotherhood with him.
And I actually came to Adelaidewith Bruce because I didn't
(21:15):
want to go back under Melb's andI didn't want to stay in Sydney
.
And then you found a good oh yes, well, not the one I'm with now
, you know, but I did find hereventually.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Behind every great guitarist is a good woman.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
Well, that's what they say.
That's what they say.
So you stay here for love.
Well, only that, only that.
Well, not only that.
It's very comfortable where Iam.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
And you've got a pretty good man cave here I
reckon it's the best.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
I love it.
I reckon it's the best.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
Yeah, I love it.
The last time I saw you live onstage was during COVID, with
the boys are stuck in town, outat the bridgeway.
How good was that?
I don't know how good was it,can't you remember?
Speaker 3 (21:54):
Yeah, I do remember, but the way I was looking at you
, I'm looking, is this any?
Speaker 1 (21:57):
good.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
See, I've got no idea how good it is or how bad it is
.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Well, you know what?
We were just so happy, as Ithink were you guys to be we
were the punters just so happyto be out, being able to watch
live music again, and I thinkyou guys were just as happy to
be able to be performing liveagain.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
Yeah yeah, yeah, because when this whole COVID
thing started I was over inTasmania, in Launceston,
visiting with my little brotherand a mate of mine, jim Garlick,
and I'll never forget it.
I was supposed to do two weeksover there and going out and
hanging with my little brotherand stuff, blah, blah, blah, and
they dropped the curtain on theblock of the board, the C-bomb.
And the big COVID thing, and Igot the last train out of
(22:39):
Clarksville, in other words thelast spirit to leave Tasmania.
We had to get there in two orthree hours and I had to get
over there and then get thespirit back and this was when
they were dropping everything.
And then I got to Victoria.
Then I had to get down toGeelong, pick up my car and then
I put my best Peter Brock haton and I just did a gun run all
(22:59):
the way on because I didn't wantto get stuck.
So I've been in lock up eversince, have you?
I've been here ever since, yeah, two and a half years now.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Self-imposed Loving it.
I bet you are Loving it.
What better place to be inlockdown?
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Oh, I love it.
I love it, you've got yourmusic.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
your instruments, your Tools, yeah, tools your car
.
What more would you want?
Speaker 3 (23:22):
Nothing.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
You are listening to Still Rocking it, the podcast
with Cheryl Lee.
We'll be back to listen to thelast little bit of the
television interview withRockin' Rob Riley shortly, but I
think let's listen to theDallymore song.
We Are the Kids.
Just recently, Rose Tattoo havelost a guitarist.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
I didn't know.
Ah, I didn't take any notice.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
So we're not going to see you out guitaring with Rose
Tattoo anytime soon.
Rob Spencer's left.
Bob Spencer's left.
Jesus Christ there you go,there's another scoop.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Look, some months back I spoke with Angry and
stuff and I was asked to join aband and I said I'd love to, I
would absolutely love to, but no.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
Stick it up your no, no, no.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
I said no, I'd love to.
I said I'd love to join.
I said but I'm not going to doanything like that because I'm
not going out while all thisCOVID's going around.
I said because number one andthe only reason is I will not
get blamed for anything everagain.
So in other words, if I gotsick, I'd get sick because the
whole tour would come down.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
So it doesn't matter who gets sick, so Rob Riley
killed Rose Tattoo.
You don't want that headline.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Rob Riley's done more than anybody can possibly ever
do.
You know like I mean, some ofthe shit I hear about myself is
unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Well, hey, rob, not superman, you know are you sure
I haven't seen you and supermanin the same room?
Look, we look very similar.
Now you've also played withkevin borich.
You're also played with mattfinish.
You truly are one of australAustralia's music legends and I
really appreciate you and yourtime today leading me, a lowly
female, into your beautiful mancave and having a chat.
(25:12):
A lowly female, what in JesusChrist?
The wheel goes rear-wind withit, of course, yeah, but I think
we should go and fiddle withyour car now.
I brought my screwdriver.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
That's exactly what I need.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
That's perfect.
I know that's not a screwdriver, though it's a hammer.
That's a left-handed hammer too.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
You see how it goes to one side, Right?
No left.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
I see what you did there.
Anyway, we are going to go outwith one of your singles New
singles.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Yeah, well, nobody's ever it, so it's new Hidden
scoop.
I'll get a random release onall this very, very, very
shortly, because I forgot that Ididn't.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
Ever release it.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Release it.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
So yes, I, I'm not surprised that you forgot.
You've had a bit of a rock androll life.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
It's probably that I didn't forget.
It's probably that I didn'tforget, it's probably just I
don't want to do it yet becauseI've got to get a few other
things going, because I've gotplenty of stuff to do like music
and stuff like that.
So I've just got to put a fewsimple film clips together and
get them up on YouTube and allthat sort of stuff.
I've been asking Sue to do itfor decades now.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
Sue, our producer and director, you prove my theory
rock and roll is the fountain ofyouth would you like to?
Would you like to throw to yourclip?
Speaker 3 (26:29):
here it comes.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
Music lovers need your love so badly still rocking
that podcast with that radiochick, cheryl lee.
I so hope you've enjoyed beinga fly on the wall during the
filming of the interview withrock and rob riley.
If you want to hear hispreviously unreleased song I
Need your Love so Badly, you'regoing to have to wait until
series three of Mega Music comesout.
(26:51):
In the meantime, I think we'llgo out with the hit from Rose
Tattoo, written by thesongwriting team of Angry
Anderson and Rob and Riley.
We Can't Be Beaten from theScarred for Life album.
You're with Cheryl Lee, thatradio chick.
(27:16):
Thank you so much for joiningme on the Still Rocking it
podcast.
Hope to catch you again nexttime.
Get out when you can supportAussie music and I'll see you
down the front.
that radio chick, cheryl lee, here with you.
Welcome to the still rocking apodcast where we'll have news,
music reviews and interviewswith some of our favorite
australian musicians and artists.
Today we are a fly on the wallduring the filming of an
interview I held recently withlegendary australian guitarist
rock and' Rob Riley for thetelly.
A self-confessed, tricky,tragic Rockin' Rob has led a
(00:29):
truly rock and roll life and, atthe age of 70, still loves
guitars, amps, playing music,motorbikes, restoring cars and
trucks, and partner Robin Fromwinning Hoadley's Battle of the
Bands in the early 70s, a93-date tour supporting Sherbet,
30 turbulent years with RoseTattoo, playing the Working
Class man tour with Jimmy Barnesand touring with the Party Boys
(00:51):
with Richard Clapton andShirley Strawn.
Rob also played with KevinBoric, matt Finish and Dallymore
, certainly earning the legendstatus.
What's Mr Robin Riley been up tolately?
Let's find out.
You're with Shirley, that radiochick, here for Mega Music TV
(01:13):
in the immense man cave thatbelongs to Rock and Rog Riley,
which includes his studio wherehe makes music and rehearses and
the garage, the workshop wherehe restores his cars.
Thank you so much, rob, forhaving us here today.
Nanu Nanu.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I know you're a.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Trekkie from way back , and that's from Walkin' Mindy,
isn't it?
Speaker 3 (01:36):
That's correct, that's correct.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Thank you so much for inviting us here.
You're originally a Victorian,but we won't hold that against
you.
Born in the mountains with twobrothers.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Two brothers, yeah, and are they musical too, rob.
Yes, they are.
They are musical.
My youngest brother's a bassplayer.
He lives in Launceston and he'sdoing quite well for himself.
He's a part-time chippy andpart-time muso and my other
brother has mostly retired and Ihave been trying to get them
together, as they're bothmusically they're very, very
(02:10):
good, but you've got to get somepeople to pull their heads out
of their asses sometimes and itjust gets very difficult.
Family, just anyone, anyone,anyone.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
So is that a scoop?
You heard at first here thatthe Riley brothers might be
getting together.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
That's a scoop.
Stay tuned, that's if we canget it going, you know.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
You guys are obviously from a pretty musical
family and you knew pretty earlyon that music was in your DNA.
Tell us about Lionel Rose, howhe influenced you and got you
into music at the age of seven.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Seven, yeah, seven, I think it was seven, because he
was fighting for theBantamweight World Championship
and I remember my father taughtme how to build crystal sets
like a little radio, and I wasjust a kid and I was loving the
electronic side of things and sowe listened to the fight and he
won the championship and to cutforward really quickly, he was
(03:07):
a country and western lover andhe was my hero and still is to
this very day.
He's fantastic and he just hehad this single out called Let
Me Thank you and it justabsolutely killed me.
That's when the bug bit.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
So that set you off on your trajectory.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
That absolutely did.
His backing band was called theHawking Brothers Country Five
and they had a pedal steelplayer by the name of George
Zanthos, who I met, who used totravel over here a lot some
years back.
But yeah, that was certainlywhat put me on the.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
You're another heavy rock and roller who is actually
a closet country music fan.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
No, I am a real country fan.
You don't even hide it, I'm nocloset anything.
It's all there for any arseholeto see Good on you.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Do you know who else loves country music?
Dave Gleeson, yeah, yeah, heloves it too.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
I think he picked it up off me one time.
I think he did.
He got crook.
He really suffered after that,but then he came good and all of
a sudden he just loved countrymusic.
It happens to everybody.
It's a beautiful thing.
Country music's the best thingin the world.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
I've got a soft spot for it too.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
You are listening to Still Rocking it.
The podcast with Cheryl Lee.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Without any further ado.
I think we should hear thatLionel Rose song now.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
I.
I think we should hear thatLionel Rose song now.
I thank you.
We'll be back shortly to be afly on the wall at the interview
with Rockin' Rob Riley for MegaMusic.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
You had about three years of formal training.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Yes, I was taught formally for three years, two
years actually.
His name was Alan Prebble and Iwas about seven, just coming
eight.
I learned until I was about ten.
He had me at a point where hesaid well, I can't teach you
anything now.
He said, you're just going tohave to make sense of it
yourself.
That's what we all have to do.
You know the knowledge, so justwork on it and we'll see how we
(05:06):
go with your problem.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
And the problem just became this so David Wicks and
Paul Hitchens, you meet them.
Is that how you formed yourfirst band?
Speaker 3 (05:17):
I was going to school with Dave Wicks tech school and
I was knocking around with PaulHitchens because we used to
ride motorbikes and we used togo down to Dave Wicks' joint
because he lived on a marketgarden down in Buddy Heavitton
at the time and we used to godown there fanging around on the
motorbikes and he'd drive carsand motorbikes.
Dave said I remember being atschool one day and he said I've
(05:39):
got a guitar at home, anelectric guitar, because I
didn't have an electric guitarin those days.
And he said I've got a guitarat home, an electric guitar,
because I didn't have anelectric guitar in those days.
He said I've got a guitar andan amp, and then he said I've
got a bass too.
So anyway, we were all hangingaround, we all just started
playing together and Paul'ssitting on the table whacking
away.
I said, well, it's time for youto buy a drum kit.
So anyway, he went and learnedto play drums and bam, and that
was our first little band.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
So we've got you to thank for Paul Hitchens, who
ended up drumming for the sports.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
I don't know whether he's got me to thank for that.
That's a choice he made, Ithink, but the sports did really
really well for themselves inthe old days and they were a big
act.
And Paul now lives in WesternAustralia, in Perth.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
He still plays a bit over there, I think, but we're
all getting pretty old now,hence the Legend series, I have
been called a veteran musician.
I like Legend better.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
It's a nicer thing, isn't it?
Speaker 1 (06:37):
So did you guys form Lois Lane no.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
No, that came later in my life.
That was something I did 17, 18sort of thing and that was with
Greg Grunter on vocals, gregThomas keyboards, neville Oreska
on bass and Dan we call him DanSolo Salovey, a Dan Solo on
(07:05):
drums, and it was a crackingband and we won the Hodley
Battles of the band.
That's right In 1974-ish A bitearlier, I think Something like
that.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Early 70s.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Yeah, very early 70s.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Well done, congratulations.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Yeah, and that was what sort of like led to being
introduced to John Dallimore andfrom that point he was playing
in a band called Red House andtheir other guitar player, gary
jeez, I haven't thought aboutthese people.
Gary Quince was the otherguitar player, but he wanted to
(07:42):
get out because he wanted toplay more guitar solos.
So I'm thinking to myself, jeout because he wanted to play
more guitar solos.
So and I'm thinking to myself,geez, well, you can't play more
guitar solos than the great JohnDallimore.
I mean, like he's the guy, he'sthe number one.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Band's named after him after all.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Well, that was the second.
That's.
The second point of contentionis, anyway, they came and saw me
playing in Lois Lane and JDreally loved what I was doing at
the time and so he asked me tocome and join his band, or Red
House, and so I joined a Geelongband called Red House and I did
a 93-day Sherbet tour photoplay tour.
(08:14):
That was when they had How'sthat?
That was huge.
That was 93 days, every day ina bus with Sherbet and us.
It was fantastic.
Can you remember any of it?
No, I was pissed.
I was pissed from one end of itto the other.
I was 19 years old.
It was just ridiculous, youknow, but it was fantastic.
I have some great memories ofit, but it was amazing,
(08:35):
absolutely amazing.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Still rocking the podcast with that radio chick,
cheryl Lee.
I think we'll hear fromSherbert a track from that tour.
How's that we?
I think we'll hear fromSherbert a track from that tour.
How's that?
We'll be back to speak somemore with rockin' Rob Riley
shortly and find out whichAussie rock legend thought Rob
was too old, at 29.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
But then I got itchy and I had to leave, and then,
anyway, I think about six oreight months later, jd got a
record contract with Elbets inSydney.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
As Dallymore as Dallymore.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Right and this is where the Dallymore thing came
and that's where Rick Croft camein and I brought my drummer,
John Laylor, in.
We were a cracking band,absolute cracking band.
And then our greatest problemwas we recorded an album three
times with Ian Miller asproducer and Mark Opitz on the
board, and after three times oftrying to get that album past
(09:40):
George and Harry, it just nevergot out.
And it's some killer,absolutely killer, killer,
killer stuff.
And it was doing me in and Iwas too drunk in that place and
anyway I was probably being apain in the arse.
I probably was, but a big painin the arse.
Anyway, I left and that wasjust one of the biggest.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Didn't you want to do more guitar solos?
Speaker 3 (09:59):
Yes, I did.
I wouldn't have wanted to do acouple, but I mean, like that
was a point at the time, but itwas more, I didn't feel that it
was going anywhere because wecouldn't get past George and
Aaron.
Yeah, so I had to go, and Jesus, that was hard life after that,
but anyway, that leads intoother adventures.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Well, that's right, it's all meant to be, because
wasn't it soon after that thatMick Cox was a bit unreliable in
Rose Tattoo?
And along comes Rock and RobRiley.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Well right, mick was playing up.
He'd always been a drug addictand a shocker of a drunk and he
was a terrible guitar player inmy opinion, and I hated Rose
Tattoo.
I thought they were rubbish,absolute rubbish, because they
used to support Red House at theCroxton Park Hotel every fourth
Wednesday, that we would playthere every second Wednesday.
(10:51):
So I saw them and I went thatis an absolute bag of shit, but
you know I didn't get all thatcrap.
So anyway, they had a bigsingle.
I'm trying to step through thisreally quickly, but they had a
big single called Rock and RollOutlaw and it went off in
England, in London, and theywere like number nine or
something, number eight on thecharts and they were just
(11:11):
packing them out wherever theygo.
And this is where Mick became avery naughty boy and legend has
it that he was with Bon Scottthe night that he died.
But anyway, he was playing upso badly that they had to sack
him.
And that's when Dallas Royal,the drummer, rang me up.
He'd ring me up every couple ofweeks and he'd say, man, you've
(11:32):
got to come over and join theband.
I said, digger, I hate the band, I love you and I love Giorno
but I just hate the band and Ilove Pete, you know.
But anyway, eventually I endedup going to London my very first
overseas jaunt, and to London,my very first overseas jaunt,
and that was the scariest thingI ever did.
And anyway, I got over thereand I had two days to learn a
(11:52):
whole set of their stuff, toplay my very first gig with Rose
Tattoo at the Soho Club, whatit was called Very famous club.
I can't remember, I've got amemory like a sieve, you know.
But anyway we went and playedit and I didn't even know the
(12:12):
songs.
I had an idea how they went butI didn't know what they were
called.
Anger would say, fuck it, thisone's called.
And I'd go and I'd trade aGeordie.
I'd say, how's that one go, youknow?
And he goes da, da, da, da, da,da.
Oh, that one right on and off,we'd go.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
You couldn't have done too badly.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
It was absolutely frightening, it was terrible and
the joints packed and the lineup down the street and around
the block, it was incredible.
Anyway, that's all history.
So, anyway, we went out and didall this touring and it was
great.
It was great and we went toAmerica not long after that and
that was incredible.
We spent three months there andI don't remember much of that
(12:44):
because I was pissed from oneend of that to the other two, as
we all were.
But we got this close.
We got this close to the bigaxe where the big money lived
and the big success and the bigeverything.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Missed by that much, missed much.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
You are listening to Still Rocking it.
The podcast with Cheryl Lee.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
We'll hear more about the love-hate relationship
between Angry and Rob after thissong.
I thought it was time for aRose Tattoo song, One of the
songs the boys wrote together,in fact, the title track of
Scarred for Life.
Here's Scarred for Life.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
Anyway, you know, angry sold out to the record
company and Pete, the otherguitar player.
By those days him and I becamegreat friends and Pete, it was
his band.
So anyway, this is how it allstarted.
So Angry sold out to the recordcompany and Peter came down, he
woke up.
He says to me, because weroomed together.
He said I'm leaving the band.
And I said why is that?
He said angry, salt head,rickall Company.
I said that's a real shame.
(13:55):
I said if you're leaving, well,I'm leaving.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
If you leave me, can I come too?
Speaker 3 (13:59):
That's right, there's a song in there.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Yeah, yeah, quote me.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Anyway, I went downstairs and I said and Digg's
sitting down there with Geordie?
And I said Pete's leaving theband, and Pete explained why and
I said I'm leaving too.
And Digg said well, if you guysare leaving, I'm leaving.
So the three of us left andGeordie said I'll stay.
So he stayed on.
That's basically how that partof it all sort of started, you
(14:27):
know, and that was way back then.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
So you had pretty much 30 years on and off with
Rose Tattoo.
Can I quote you On and off?
You told them to stick it uptheir bib.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
No, I didn't tell them, I told Angry.
Angry, you know, because he'sRose Tattoo.
Nobody else is Rose Tattoo,it's just angry.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Well, on a positive, from then you wrote we Can't Be
Beaten with Angry.
Great song, great Aussie anthem.
And I think three other trackstoo off the Scarred for Life
album are yours.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Yes, I co-wrote.
In other words, I'm thecomposer and he's an author.
Right, that's how you define it.
Music lyrics right and story.
Well, that was we Can't BeBeaten, scarred for Life, the
title track and Branded and WorkItself Out, and they were the
(15:24):
four singles that were pulledoff the Scarred for Life album.
So I was enormously proud ofthat.
Of course you should be Good,record that one.
And anyway it went along and wedid another album called Pain
and I wrote Pain and three othersongs again.
That's eight songs all up thatI have in the repertoire of Rose
(15:44):
Tattoo.
So I don't know, I'm not a verybig player in it, but I mean
there's people that have beenlong there for longer and I
don't know where it all sort ofgoes to from that point, but
they're still out working aroundand stuff like that.
Everybody's getting older.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Well, apart from those, you also have three, four
fabulous original songs thathaven't been released yet.
Yes, and we might have a listento one of those now, if we can.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Love it.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Okay, let's just keep it rolling now.
All righty, we're back with Yep.
We're back with Rob Riley.
Can you get the camera?
Okay, five, four, three.
Yeah with Cheryl Lee, thatradio chick from Mega Music TV.
We are back with Rob and RobRiley.
Now where to after Rose Tattoo?
Speaker 3 (16:35):
The Party Boys with Richard Clapton mainly.
Yes, well, I started withRichard Clapton because Harvey
James from Sherbet had to go anddo some stuff with Sherbet and
I did about six months oftouring with Richard Clapton.
I remember that was the timethat Ralph wanted to go out and
do some stuff and Harvey wasalso playing in Richard Clapton.
I remember that was the timethat Ralph wanted to go out and
do some stuff and Harvey wasalso playing in Richard
Clapton's band as well asSheridan.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Very incestuous Rob.
Everybody's played witheverybody.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Except me.
But anyway, they played withyou, they played with you, but
anyway.
So that's when I joined theParty Boys and when I joined,
cheryl Strawn came in.
I think I was in that line-upof the Party Boys for about two,
two and a half years orsomething.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Did a lot of touring, still rocking that podcast with
that radio chick, cheryl Lee.
The line-up of the Party Boysat that time in 1984 included
founding members Kevin Borich,paul Christie and Graham
Bidstrip, along with formerSkyhook singer Shirley Straughan
and Rose Tattoo slash JimmyBarnes guitarist Robin Riley.
They released a live album noSong Too Sacred, which included
(17:42):
the Immigrant Song, a LedZeppelin cover.
Back to speak more with Rockin'Rob Riley during his Mega Music
TV interview very shortly.
And you and Cheryl, you had areally strong bond, didn't?
Speaker 3 (18:05):
you.
Yeah, we struck up a fantasticrelationship and friendship.
We had a lot of fun, a lot offun.
Every time we'd go out and dosomething, he'd drag me out,
like any interviews and stuff,because he's a mega.
He was just great fun.
I loved him.
I loved him to death.
We used to do everythingtogether.
When we were around the road helaughed his guts out at me.
He thought I was a great bunchof fun.
(18:29):
But yeah, yeah, that was that.
But then the party boys theycarried on again with different
members.
I mean, Joe Walsh was the blokethat replaced me in the party
boys, and so you can't get abetter replacement than that.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
No, he had big shoes to fill.
Now, being a South Aussie girl,obviously I'm a.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Victorian, but I'm a South Australian too.
I live in the land of theCroweater.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Good on you.
I'm a Jimmy Barnes fan Now.
You even toured with Jimmy'sband for a while for the Working
Class man tour.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
That's correct.
That's absolutely correct.
I was living in Perth at thetime and he tracked me down and
said I want you to come over andplay in the band.
And I didn't really know whatwas going on.
I said sure.
He said I'll pay you $500 aweek and he said I'll look after
you.
I said Jim, that soundsfantastic.
He said beautiful.
He said well, well, yourticket's waiting at the airport
(19:24):
for you and I'll see you in twoweeks.
So I went over there and had afew days to learn his stuff, you
know.
And so I go, jesus you know,and I replaced Chris Stockley
from the Dingoes, who wasplaying in Jim's band, because
he wanted a guitar player thathad a bit more oomph.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
A bit more grunt.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
Yes, and so poor old Chris got the heave-ho.
Poor yes, and so poor old Chrisgot the heave-ho.
Oh, poor bugger, you know hegot the gratuitous.
Sit out the back and choppingup the lines you know and saying
, look, it's like this, you knowfrom Popey, but anyway, you
know the poor bugger, he wasabsolutely shocked and upset.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
That's rock and roll, though, isn't it?
Speaker 3 (20:01):
That's rock and roll.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
That's rock and roll.
Ask that again Still going tohear the rain?
Yeah, but the rain is loudercoming from out there.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
If you actually push that other door too as well,
just push that thing out of thedoor, stop out of the way, but
you're still going to hear therain.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
It's ambient.
We're in a man cave.
We're going to hear the weather.
It's all good.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
So where were we?
Speaker 1 (20:23):
I'm going to say to you that's rock and roll though,
isn't it Rob?
Yes yes, that's rock and roll.
What doesn't kill you makes youstronger.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, andyou're still here.
You must be a strong bugger.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
They say, only the good die young.
So look, I don't know what I'vedone wrong.
I must have done something realbad.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
So your tenure with Barnsey Incorporated finished
when you were 29 because theywanted to get a whole bunch of
younger people Too old at 29.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
That was how it happened and everybody got their
marching orders, except for me,because I don't know why,
because nobody ever saidanything.
I was just go and Bruce Howe.
That's how I met Bruce Howe,the bloke that brought me to
Adelaide, and I played in a bandwith him and I struck up a
fantastic relationship andbrotherhood with him.
And I actually came to Adelaidewith Bruce because I didn't
(21:15):
want to go back under Melb's andI didn't want to stay in Sydney
.
And then you found a good oh yes, well, not the one I'm with now
, you know, but I did find hereventually.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Behind every great guitarist is a good woman.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
Well, that's what they say.
That's what they say.
So you stay here for love.
Well, only that, only that.
Well, not only that.
It's very comfortable where Iam.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
And you've got a pretty good man cave here I
reckon it's the best.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
I love it.
I reckon it's the best.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
Yeah, I love it.
The last time I saw you live onstage was during COVID, with
the boys are stuck in town, outat the bridgeway.
How good was that?
I don't know how good was it,can't you remember?
Speaker 3 (21:54):
Yeah, I do remember, but the way I was looking at you
, I'm looking, is this any?
Speaker 1 (21:57):
good.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
See, I've got no idea how good it is or how bad it is
.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Well, you know what?
We were just so happy, as Ithink were you guys to be we
were the punters just so happyto be out, being able to watch
live music again, and I thinkyou guys were just as happy to
be able to be performing liveagain.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
Yeah yeah, yeah, because when this whole COVID
thing started I was over inTasmania, in Launceston,
visiting with my little brotherand a mate of mine, jim Garlick,
and I'll never forget it.
I was supposed to do two weeksover there and going out and
hanging with my little brotherand stuff, blah, blah, blah, and
they dropped the curtain on theblock of the board, the C-bomb.
And the big COVID thing, and Igot the last train out of
(22:39):
Clarksville, in other words thelast spirit to leave Tasmania.
We had to get there in two orthree hours and I had to get
over there and then get thespirit back and this was when
they were dropping everything.
And then I got to Victoria.
Then I had to get down toGeelong, pick up my car and then
I put my best Peter Brock haton and I just did a gun run all
(22:59):
the way on because I didn't wantto get stuck.
So I've been in lock up eversince, have you?
I've been here ever since, yeah, two and a half years now.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Self-imposed Loving it.
I bet you are Loving it.
What better place to be inlockdown?
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Oh, I love it.
I love it, you've got yourmusic.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
your instruments, your Tools, yeah, tools your car
.
What more would you want?
Speaker 3 (23:22):
Nothing.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
You are listening to Still Rocking it, the podcast
with Cheryl Lee.
We'll be back to listen to thelast little bit of the
television interview withRockin' Rob Riley shortly, but I
think let's listen to theDallymore song.
We Are the Kids.
Just recently, Rose Tattoo havelost a guitarist.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
I didn't know.
Ah, I didn't take any notice.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
So we're not going to see you out guitaring with Rose
Tattoo anytime soon.
Rob Spencer's left.
Bob Spencer's left.
Jesus Christ there you go,there's another scoop.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Look, some months back I spoke with Angry and
stuff and I was asked to join aband and I said I'd love to, I
would absolutely love to, but no.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
Stick it up your no, no, no.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
I said no, I'd love to.
I said I'd love to join.
I said but I'm not going to doanything like that because I'm
not going out while all thisCOVID's going around.
I said because number one andthe only reason is I will not
get blamed for anything everagain.
So in other words, if I gotsick, I'd get sick because the
whole tour would come down.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
So it doesn't matter who gets sick, so Rob Riley
killed Rose Tattoo.
You don't want that headline.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Rob Riley's done more than anybody can possibly ever
do.
You know like I mean, some ofthe shit I hear about myself is
unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Well, hey, rob, not superman, you know are you sure
I haven't seen you and supermanin the same room?
Look, we look very similar.
Now you've also played withkevin borich.
You're also played with mattfinish.
You truly are one of australAustralia's music legends and I
really appreciate you and yourtime today leading me, a lowly
female, into your beautiful mancave and having a chat.
(25:12):
A lowly female, what in JesusChrist?
The wheel goes rear-wind withit, of course, yeah, but I think
we should go and fiddle withyour car now.
I brought my screwdriver.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
That's exactly what I need.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
That's perfect.
I know that's not a screwdriver, though it's a hammer.
That's a left-handed hammer too.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
You see how it goes to one side, Right?
No left.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
I see what you did there.
Anyway, we are going to go outwith one of your singles New
singles.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Yeah, well, nobody's ever it, so it's new Hidden
scoop.
I'll get a random release onall this very, very, very
shortly, because I forgot that Ididn't.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
Ever release it.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Release it.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
So yes, I, I'm not surprised that you forgot.
You've had a bit of a rock androll life.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
It's probably that I didn't forget.
It's probably that I didn'tforget, it's probably just I
don't want to do it yet becauseI've got to get a few other
things going, because I've gotplenty of stuff to do like music
and stuff like that.
So I've just got to put a fewsimple film clips together and
get them up on YouTube and allthat sort of stuff.
I've been asking Sue to do itfor decades now.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
Sue, our producer and director, you prove my theory
rock and roll is the fountain ofyouth would you like to?
Would you like to throw to yourclip?
Speaker 3 (26:29):
here it comes.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
Music lovers need your love so badly still rocking
that podcast with that radiochick, cheryl lee.
I so hope you've enjoyed beinga fly on the wall during the
filming of the interview withrock and rob riley.
If you want to hear hispreviously unreleased song I
Need your Love so Badly, you'regoing to have to wait until
series three of Mega Music comesout.
(26:51):
In the meantime, I think we'llgo out with the hit from Rose
Tattoo, written by thesongwriting team of Angry
Anderson and Rob and Riley.
We Can't Be Beaten from theScarred for Life album.
You're with Cheryl Lee, thatradio chick.
(27:16):
Thank you so much for joiningme on the Still Rocking it
podcast.
Hope to catch you again nexttime.
Get out when you can supportAussie music and I'll see you
down the front.
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