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JUAN DIRECTION
Former Epicure singer, Juan Alban, is quietly working towards
his debut solo album. He's launching his new single, the
evocative and deceptively powerful Superhuman, at the Toff
on Sunday.
REMEMBERING GREG HAM
It's a Saturday afternoon in 1994 and Howzat! is standing
at a tram stop on the corner of Flinders and Spring, contemplating
our next career move. An idea flashes into our mind - a
book on Men At Work. At that exact moment, a car pulls up.
"G'day mate," the driver says, "do you need a ride?" The
driver was Greg Ham. The book never eventuated, but I'm
proud to say that Greg became a mate. We served on The Push
board together, worked on a pilot for a music show that
never happened, and Howzat! was a fan of the Tall Poppies,
a band Greg managed in the mid-90s. You couldn't meet a
nicer bloke than Greg Ham. No rock star attitude, Greg was
a sweet and witty man, always happy to share his knowledge
with young musicians. Greg was chairman of The Push in the
'90s. Push CEO Peter Chellew placed a notice in The Age,
paying tribute to "an inspirational supporter of young people's
achievements through music. A genuine superstar who quietly
nurtured our grassroots." Another former Push board member,
Jo Roberts, the editor of The Age EG, sent Howzat! a note
when she heard that Greg had died last Thursday at the age
of 58. "Terrible, terrible news," she said, "I keep seeing
Greg sitting in that Push boardroom, laughing and joking."
Whether it was playing a stadium with Men At Work, or the
Espy with Relax With Max, the Nudist Funk Orchestra or Miss
Dorothy And His Fools In Love, Greg was a true musician.
It was sadly ironic that his death happened on the same
day Gotye hit number one in the US. Aussie chart-toppers
in the US are a rare occurrence. And Men At Work are the
only Australian-based act to have both a US number one single
and album. Greg Ham led an extraordinary life. For the 2003
re-release of Business As Usual, Colin Hay said: "Greg gave
a whole sound and colour by bringing in a different instrumentation
to the band. He was also great visually - a very funny man,
which gave us more personality." That's how I'll remember
Greg - a man with a big personality and an even bigger heart.
MUSIC MATTERS
If you're a musician in Victoria, you should be a member
of Music Victoria. The organisation, run by Paddy Donovan,
was set up with state government money, but, ideally, it
would be industry-funded. Head to musicvictoria.com.au to
get involved. The membership drive finishes next Monday.
SOUND OF THE CITY
If Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits were living in Melbourne,
they'd probably sound a little like Hope Addicts, who are
launching their delightfully dark fourth album at the Old
Bar on Friday.
CHART WATCH
Delta dawns at two.
Sitting On Top Of The World DELTA GOODREM (number two, debut)
If Looks Could Kill TIMOMATIC (11)
Into The Flame EP MATT CORBY (14)
La Vie En Rose RACHAEL LEAHCAR (18, debut)
Somebody That I Used To Know GOTYE (28)
Boys Like You 360 & GOSSLING (29)
Do It Like That RICKI-LEE (34)
Set It Off TIMOMATIC (35)
Kate Miller-Heidke's Nightflight lands at two - kept out
of top spot by One Direction.
Nightflight KATE MILLER-HEIDKE (number two, debut)
No Plans COLD CHISEL (three)
Drinking From The Sun HILLTOP HOODS (six)
Falling & Flying 360 (18)
Greatest Hits: 18 Kids KEITH URBAN (21)
Gravel & Wine GIN WIGMORE (29, debut)
Making Mirrors GOTYE (31)
All For You COLD CHISEL (34)
Vows KIMBRA (36)
HOWZAT! PLAYLIST
Superhuman JUAN ALBAN
Waters Of March ALEX & NILUSHA
Warning Bell BUTTERFLY BOUCHER
All Life Is Dead HOPE ADDICTS
Still Life MEN AT WORK
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