The H Files with Kevin Hillier

The Waterboys are currently touring Australia and their founder and frontman Mike Scott joined me to talk about the tour, playng live, their album dedicated to actor Dennis Hopper and of course that monster hit they had that still sounds epic - The Whole of the Moon. 

The Waterboys – Australian and New Zealand Tour | Destroy All Lines

Saxophonist Bill Evans is bringing his latest VansBand All Stars tour to Australia in October. A one time Miles Davis alumni, Bill is a master and his body of work covers every musical genre, all of which will be part of his first tour here in 25 years. 

Tickets are on sale now!
www.gaevents.au  

Coming soon Episode 37 with Eric McCusker of Mondo Rock fame.       

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Long, long time ago Don McLean had a hit with American Pie. Fifty five years later, we still love the song and Don will be playing it live during his October Australian tour to celebrate that 55th anninversary.

Don chats about his life and times, including American Pie and why he is still performing at the age of 80. The ongoing musical autopsy on the song American Pie is not a concern to Don, as he tells me "It is the hand I have been dealt. And it is a winning hand."

I also ask Don: Is American Pie his greatest work?

How did it feel to have a classic song written about him? 

Who are the three men he admires most ? 

Don McLean's American Pie 55th Anniversary Tour begins October 10 at Mareeba. Tickets at Ticketmaster and more at https://donmclean.com/      

By comparison, the relatively youthful Mental As Anything are only celebrating their 50th anniversary. Reg Mombassa and Peter O'Doherty, musical and real life brothers, join me to discuss the new tour, the documentary that chronicles the band's history and some of their favourite moments from those heady days. 

Described as an ambitionless band, the Mentals had a string of top 40 hits spanning three decades, sold out shows across Australia and international success when they least expected it.

The Mental As Anything 50th Anniversary Tour starts June 12 at The Gov in Adelaide tickets at Ticketmaster. More at  www.mentalasanything.com 

Coming soon Episode 36 with Eric McCusker of Mondo Rock fame.       

Post-production by Chris Gates

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What a star-studded episode 34 turns out to be.

Guest One: Francis Rossi OBE. Founder, leader, lead singer, lead guitarist and sole continuous member of Status Quo - a mighty feat on its own, but he also has a new solo album The Accidental to chat about. Francis - who loves a chat but doesn't like looking in the mirror - is happy to share some memories from the Quo days and his very colourful life.    

Guest Two: David Briggs AM. When we left David Briggs in episode 33, he was enjoying the success of his song Lonesome Loser with Little River Band, but all that was about to change. In part 2 of my chat with David, he discusses leaving LRB and moving more into producing, including the first Australian Crawl album.     

Guest Three: Kevin Borich KEV. I check in with Kev, who is about to hit the road for some shows in New South Wales and Melbourne in the next few weeks.  

Kev's touring dates:

Friday 10th April Wallsend Diggers & Mezz Bar  - Newcastle

Saturday 11th April 2026 - Camelot Lounge  - Marrickville 

Thursday 16th April Memo Music Hall St. -  St.Kilda 

Saturday 18th Archies Creek Hotel - Archies Creek

Sunday 19th Musicland Fawkner - Fawkner 

You can check out The Accidental on all the usual music platforms as well as Francis' website www.francisrossi.com 

Coming soon Episode 35: Reg & Pete from Mental as Anything and Don McLean.  

Post-production by Chris Gates

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On the eve of his farewell tour of Australia, Ralph McTell joins me to chat about his many Australian experiences, his enormous catalogue of songs, his love affair with his guitar and the ups and downs of having such an iconic hit as Streets of London.  

My other guest is David Briggs, another man known for his prowess with the guitar. It was that skill which brought him to our attention as a long time member of the Little River Band in their halcyon days. Not only a guitarist, David wrote one of the band's biggest worldwide hits, Lonesome Loser. The story behind that song, his days on the road and in the studio with LRB plus life before all that are discussed in part one of this interview.       

The H Files with Kevin Hillier Episode 33 with Ralph McTell and David Briggs.

Ralph is touring across Australia from May 7th tickets https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=RALPHMC26

Coming soon Episode 34 with Francis Rossi of Status Quo fame and David Briggs Part Two. 

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© 2026

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Their musical footprint is undeniable and the mere mention of the name brings gasps to a generation. Spinal Tap blazed a trail through the music business, ignoring the rule book, rewriting the etiquette of rock, blowing up many sound systems worldwide and causing pandemonium at airport security.

And in one final act of anarchy, they blew themeselves up. Bass player Derek Small walked out. The shockwaves are still being felt as Derek tells Kevin in this illuminating chat about the demise of the band that brought the world classics like Big Bottom, Sex Farm and Bitch School. 

Derek is now carving out a solo career sans the influence of David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tuffnel and the shackles are off, as he launches into his post-Spinal Tap life with new original songs Rear View Mirror and Balls. 

Derek has much to get off his rockstar hairy chest and does so.       

The H Files with Kevin Hillier 

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Skyhooks were a rare combination of fan favourite, media darlings and respected musicians. They wanted to be noticed, and they were.The H Files brings you stories and recollections about Skyhooks from many different people, inside and outside the band. It is not a Skyhooks history lesson, more a homage to a very exciting era of music and a band that led the way with an original sound and look that captured the nation. 

In Part 5 you'll hear Ross Wilson, who saw the band in the very early days, signed Greg to a music publishing deal and then became the producer of the first three Skyhooks albums. Ross' memories take you inside the studio, on the road in the USA and more.  

3XY disc jockey Mark Irvine got teamed with Shirl in 1984 for a short term Rocktober on-air promotion that became a permanent pairing. They became a very successful radio team and a professional and personal partnership was formed.

Peter Green was a 70s Wollongong teenager who loved the music and that passion led him to Melbourne, where he is now official historian and the man behind the Official Skyhooks Facebook page and YouTube channel, plus curator of Skyhooks memorabilia.     

Musical excerpts in this episode 

Hey What's the Matter   featuring Steve Hill  live Benefit Concert 

Living in the 70's     Shirl solo Live soundcheck Melbourne Music Festival 1988

Love's Not Good Enough    From Ego is Not a Dirty Word 

Blue Jeans   from Straight in a Gay Gay World 

Women in Uniform  from Guilty Until Proven Insane

Jukebox in Siberia     The Latest and Greatest      

Ego is Not a Dirty Word    Ross Wilson featuring Bongo Starkie  Five Decades of Cool Palais Theatre 2009

Every Litte Bit Hurts    Shirley Strachan solo single 

Crazy Heart    from Straight in a Gay Gay World

3XY Shirl & Irvine Show    1988  courtesy of Ken Francis 

Love on the Radio    live from the In the Heat of the Night concert Myer Music Bowl Melbourne 1975

Let it Rock       Hits and Riffs 

Meglomania, Life in ther Modern World and Don't Take Your Lurex to the Laundromat    from ABC TV Special  Guilty Until Proven Insane 

The H Files with Kevin Hillier 

Post-production by Chris Gates

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Skyhooks were a rare combination of fan favourite, media darlings and respected musicians. They wanted to be noticed, and they were.The H Files brings you stories and recollections about Skyhooks from many different people, inside and outside the band. It is not a Skyhooks history lesson, more a homage to a very exciting era of music and a band that led the way with an original sound and look that captured the nation. 

In Part 4, the men chosen to replace two of the country's biggest pop stars in one of the country's most popular bands. Bob Spencer - a cocky guitar slinger from the pop group Finch - was enlisted to fill Red Symons' role and singer Tony Williams - an alumni of most of the group - was selected to front the band after Shirley Strachan departed for a media career. 

Bob and Tony take us through the early days fitting into the band and finding their place, plus the highs and lows of being a Skyhook.  

Musical excerpts in this episode 

Meglomania from Guilty Until Proven Insane   

BBB Boogie from Guilty Until Proven Insane   

Women in Uniform recorded live at Festival Hall Melbourne 1983 ’   

Point in the Distance from Guilty Until Proven Insane 

Why Don’t You All Get F....D live Sydney Opera House 1978 

Carlton Lygon Street Limbo  from the Pint on Pub live show 

Over the Border recorded live at Bombay Rock  February 1980 

The H Files with Kevin Hillier 

Post-production by Chris Gates

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© 2026

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Skyhooks were a rare combination of fan favourite, media darlings and respected musicians. They wanted to be noticed, and they were.The H Files brings you stories and recollections about Skyhooks from many different people, inside and outside the band. It is not a Skyhooks history lesson, more a homage to a very exciting era of music and a band that led the way with an original sound and look that captured the nation. 

In Part Three, guitarist Bob Starkie - universally known and loved as 'Bongo' - shares his memories in one of his final interviews before his passing in November 2025. We retrace the early days, pre replacing his brother Peter in Skyhooks, meeting Greg for the first time, being in studio with Ross Wilson, the American tour and life after Skyhooks, including his Rio adventure with Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs. 

Recorded only weeks before his death, Bob also talks about his health battle and his positivity is testament to the man. Ross Wilson also pays tribute to Bob in a small excerpt from his full Skyhooks chat, which will be in Part 4.   

Music in this episode 

‘Hey What’s the Matter’    Sydney Opera House 15th of September 1974.

‘Ego is not a Dirty Word’  Bridgeway Hotel, Pooraka South Australia Sunday 24th September 2023     Vocals Laura Davidson

‘Mercedes Ladies’    from  Ego is not a Dirty Word

‘Every Chase a Steeple’   from Ego is Not a Dirty Word

‘Is this America’   from Straight in a Gay Gay World

‘Carlton Lygon Street Limbo’   'Bongo' Starkie performing with fellow Skyhooks members Greg Macainsh and Bob Spencer 'Rockin' for the legendary Doc Neeson - The Voice of The Angels' in 2013 at Cherry Bar.

‘Horror Movie’      Bongo Starkie's Skyhooks Show performing 'Horror Movie' at the Harley Davidson National Hog Rally Saturday - 23rd September 2023

‘Party to end all Parties’        from The Skyhooks Tapes

‘Balwyn Calling’      Skyhooks featuring Ross Wilson Rockwiz October 2015

‘All My Friends are getting Married’     Bongo Starlie’s Skyhooks Show  Adelaide  October 2024  featuring  Sasha Theunissen  on vocals     

The H Files with Kevin Hillier 

Post-production by Chris Gates

For Howdy Partners Media

www.howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts

© 2025

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Skyhooks were a rare combination of fan favourite, media darlings and respected musicians. They wanted to be noticed and they were.The H Files brings you stories and recollections about Skyhooks from many different people, inside and outside the band. It is not a Skyhooks history lesson, more a homage to a very exciting era of music and a band that led the way with an original sound and look that captured the nation. 

In Part Two, guitarist Red Symons shares his recollections of joining the band, recording those groundbreaking first albums, his stage look, leaving the band and his life after Skyhooks, including his very successful media career. Find out which one of the Hooks' biggest hits Red refers to as 'a prick of a song to play' and his memories of Shirl, including visiting the site of his death. 

Song excerpts included in this episode in order:

Whatever Happened to the Revolution

Smut

Million Dollar Riff

You Just Like Me 'Cos I'm Good in Bed

Balwyn Calling 

Somewhere in Sydney

I'm Normal 

Ego Is Not a Dirty Word  

The H Files with Kevin Hillier 

Post-production by Chris Gates

For Howdy Partners Media

www.howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts

© 2025

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Skyhooks were a rare combination of fan favourite, media darlings and respected musicians. They wanted to be noticed and they were. In the first of a four-part series, The H Files brings you stories and recollections about Skyhooks from many different people, inside and outside the band. It is not a Skyhooks history lesson, more a homage to a very exciting era of music and a band that led the way with an original sound and look that captured the nation. 

Part One features Greg Macainsh, the man who wote the songs, and what game changing songs they were - Living in the Seventies, Balwyn Calling, You Just Like Me Coz I'm Good in Bed, Toorak Cowboy, Women in Uniform and Ego is Not a Dirty Word. Greg created the sound of Skyhooks and lyrically shattered the stereotypical rock song. 

Greg shares some of his thoughts on the band, the music, fame and much more. 

You will also hear from David Briggs, the former Little River Band guitarist and songwriter given the task of remastering some Skyhooks material over the years.         

Songs excerpts included in this episode in order

Toorak Cowboy  (demo with Steve Hill on lead vocals)

Living in the Seventies

Horror Movie 

All My Friends are getting Married 

Women in Uniform

Balwyn Calling

Love's not Good Enough    (3XY Rocktober Concert 1984 Hey hey It's Saturday) 

Powdertown

Carlton ( Lygon Street Limbo)     

The H Files with Kevin Hillier 

Post-production by Chris Gates

For Howdy Partners Media

www.howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts

© 2025

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.