Take 5

It’s fair to say there’s no one in the world like Bruce Dickinson. He’s the long time lead singer for Iron Maiden; a band who have been playing together for 40 years, who’ve sold 100 million albums and who still sell out arena’s worldwide. Being the frontman for one of the world’s greatest heavy metal bands would be enough for most. But over the past four decades, Bruce has dabbled in plenty more. He’s a championship fencer, placing in the Top 10 in the UK. He’s a beer brewer, a broadcaster, and a commercial airline pilot. He flies Iron Maiden in a jumbo jet to their shows, gear and all, then jumps on stage to perform. Bruce Dickinson is a polymath, and he’s also exceptionally good at spinning a yarn. All of which makes him perfect fodder for a Take 5. Across five songs, Bruce opened his book of life and shared the music that made him. The songs that taught him how to sing, that lit a curiosity in him as a performer, that made him fall in love with metal. This is one of the longest Take 5’s to date, and with good reason. Enjoy the ride.

Deep Purple - 'Speed King'

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown - 'Fire'

The Beatles - 'Let It Be'

Black Sabbath - 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath'

Rainbow - 'Stargazer'

If you’re a fan of Australian music then Kevin Mitchell is like a big brother, or best mate. He fronted Jebediah for years, and with them, wrote some of the biggest anthems of the 90’s. Then Kev started making solo music, under the moniker Bob Evans. We got to see a pop and Americana side of him that we’d not witnessed before. And before we knew it, he’d been doing that for almost 20 years. When he came in to Take 5 it was off the back of a Bob Evans “best of”, but he approached the collection in a different way. Less “greatest hits” and more of an introduction to the many wonderful sides that made up his solo career. With that in mind, I gave him the theme musical gateways; songs he’d play to a friend, to introduce them to his favourite artists. From Archers of Loaf to Sia, and a Nirvana song that still unravelled for him decades later, speaking to Kev about music was a joy. It always is.

Archers of Loaf - ‘Wrong’

Sia - ‘Cloud’

Josh Rouse - ‘It’s Nighttime’

Nada Surf - ‘Blizzard of ‘77’

Nirvana - ‘Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle’

Holly Throsby is one of my favourite people to chat with. As a prolific songwriter, she’s put out five solo albums, as well as a kid’s record and the Seeker Lover Keeper project; a collaboration with Sarah Blasko and Sally Seltmann. Over the years I’ve had the chance to sit down with Holly and talk music and writing many times, and she’s forever inspiring in the way she sees, and then writes about the world around her. In the midst of making music a few years ago, the opportunity came up for Holly to write a novel, and she jumped at it. It was literally a dream come true to write long form, and what came out of that was Goodwood; her debut novel. It was critically acclaimed, and now she’s just published book number two. With that in mind, I asked Holly to Take 5 with songs that set the scene. Music that evokes a story or paints a picture. She knocked it out of the park, and the way she speaks about music is as lyrical and beautiful as her song and story writing itself.

Nina Simone - 'Feeling Good'

Paul Simon - 'Graceland'

Cat Power - 'Metal Heart'

Joni Mitchell - 'Carey'

Kate Bush - 'Wuthering Heights'

One of the joys of having such a long running segment like the Take 5, are the archives. Off the back of a handful of Take 5’s reflecting back on the 90’s, it got me thinking about all the conversations I’ve had with artists over the more than 12 years I’ve been doing this. People for whom that decade has had a lasting impact, as a performer, or fan, or both. So I Frankensteined a monster Take 5; a collection of voices we know and love, talking about the songs that shaped who they became. Adalita, Johnny McKay, Kram, Daniel Johns, Jebediah and Bernard Fanning. The soundtrack to our lives, sharing the soundtrack to theirs. Hope you love it too.

Adalita & Johnny McKay (Children Collide): Nick Cave - 'The Ship Song'

Kram: The Breeders - 'Cannonball'

Daniel Johns: Bjork - 'Joga'

Jebediah's Kevin Mitchell & Vanessa Thornton: The Living End - 'West End Riot'

Bernard Fanning: The Disposable Heroes of Hiphopisy - 'Television, The Drug of the Nation'

If you were a teenager watching TV in the 90’s, then Recovery was like church. Every Saturday morning no matter what, you’d flop on the couch and watch this ramshackle live music TV show; three hours long, with characters like the Enforcer lurking about, shaky handheld camera shooting, and all hosted by an eyebrow ring bearing firecracker, called Dylan Lewis.  It was the kind of loose TV we hadn’t seen since Countdown, and that was a show our parents watched anyway. This was ours. And it showed the bands we loved, putting on some of the wildest performances we’d ever seen. Recovery was one of the best surprise gigs Dylan Lewis ever got, and it changed the trajectory of his life. Over the course of this Take 5, you’ll be overtaken by the infectious joy of this iconic host, as he pulls back the curtain on a singular time in Australian music television.

Beastie Boys - 'Professor Booty'

Kate Bush - 'Lily'

Regurgitator - 'F.S.O.'

Mr. Bungle - 'Goodbye Sober Day'

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - '2 Kindsa Love/Flavor' {Live on Recovery, 1997}

Christine Anu is a legend in Australian music. We first met her in the mid 90’s, when her debut album Stylin’ Up came out and went platinum. It was filled with hits like 'Monkey & the Turtle and Party', and featured Christine singing in English and traditional language on a pop record. This was 1995, and while Yothu Yindi and the Warumpi band had paved the way, singing in language was far from mainstream. It was the beginning of an epic career for Christine Anu that includes music, film, theatre and TV. For this Take 5, I asked Christine to share the storytellers from the decade that had shaped her, the 90’s. Across five songs, Christine shares stories and personal history she never has before. Her love and respect for those who supported her early on, is so strong throughout too. This is a conversation full of heart and conviction.  

Neil Murray - 'Holy Road'

Kev Carmody - 'Thou Shalt Not Steal'

Tiddas - 'Happy Earth'

Dionne Francis - 'I Know'

Janet Jackson - 'Together Again'

TISM were one of the biggest Australian bands of the 90’s. They were the godfathers of musical comedy, captains of satire and frankly, a band that when I listen to today, I’m still gobsmacked by. They hailed from Melbourne but played all over; masked men who would put on insane shows full of bizarre concepts and songs like “Defecate On My Face” and “Saturday Night Palsy”. TISM were the ultimate shit stirrers, and we loved it. Humphrey B Flaubert AKA Damian Cowell reminded us of why the 90’s helped a band like that flourish, and share five songs from the zeitgeist himself. From pop princesses to Brissie bands that have never played by the rules, it’s not only one of the funniest Take 5’s you’ll hear but a capture of a unique and wonderful time in Australian music. This is seriously, one for the ages.

Caligula - 'The Bluff'

Kylie Minogue - 'Did It Again'

Regurgitator - 'Black Bugs'

Custard - 'Nice Bird'

Fauves - 'Easy (Easy)'

The Big Day Out was one of our most iconic festivals. Born in 1992 when the Australian festival calendar was way less crowded, this is where many of us return when we think about discovering our favourite bands, and our tribe, in the 90’s. It’d always be hot, you’d spend ages planning your outfit and organising your friends. And even if you had a mental list of the bands you were desperate to see, there’d always be surprises… strange and wonderful experiences on the Lilypad Stage, dark and dank moments in the Boiler Room. You’d come home from a Big Day Out with a whole new bunch of artists to love. Imagine being on that traveling tour every year, looking through the lens of a camera. That was the job of Sophie Howarth – official photographer for the Big Day Out. From it’s very first year, she was there; in the pit, on the stage, amongst the crowd and backstage. Capturing some of the most iconic images of the 90’s. Sophie gave us an Access All Areas pass for her Take 5, and transported us to the first (and only) Nirvana tour on the maiden BDO, to babyfaced Silverchair and their furiously excited fans. She took us into the world of her own musical horizons expanding, and reminded us of the lasting legacy of our own incredible artists. This is one for the heart, from the heart.

Nirvana - 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'

Silverchair - ‘Tomorrow'

Warumpi Band – ‘Blackfella/Whitefella’

ASH - 'Girl From Mars'

Magic Dirt - ‘Super Tear'

Tim Minchin is a bit of a renaissance man. An actor, singer, comedian, writer and the fella behind the hugely successful musical adaptation of Matilda. In between his time writing perfect songs on piano, Tim played Atticus Fetch on Californication, and has starred in Australian TV productions like The Secret River, and Squinters. After a decade away, Tim has returned home to Australia. So I asked him to join me and Take 5 with musical souvenirs. We began in London, with chance meetings at parents groups, and ended in California, with a big singalong. Along the way Tim reflected on life as an ex pat, and his return to his homeland. One for fans of Minchin, and of song.

Andrew W.K. is a man with a clear goal: to make the most of every moment we’re lucky to have. Through music, motivational speaking, writing columns, even starting his own political party he lives by and for the party. Beyond the glam and punk rock though, lies the heart of a fan. This is about the music that affected him from a young age, that really made him fall in love with music. From rock opera’s to heartfelt piano ballads, lesser known hits and the experience of seeing Little Richard live for the first time, these are the songs worth living for, and the songs that made Andrew who he is today.

Andrew Lloyd Webber & Murray Head - ‘Superstar {Ft. The Trinidad Singers}’

Carly Simon - ‘The Right Thing To Do’

Little Richard - ‘Keep A Knockin’’

Procol Harum - ‘Homburg’

Diana Ross - ‘Home’