A celebration of St Kilda's fantastic music scene from the 1970s, 80s & 90s.
Each episode features a musician who lived and gigged here.
Take a walk down memory lane and hear how St Kilda inspired these artists and the impact it had on their creativity.
Episode One - Fiona Lee Maynard
Season 1, Ep. 1
Fiona Lee Maynard, front-woman of bands Have a Nice Day (H.A.N.D), In Vivo, Fiona and Her Holy Men, and member of Dalicados, tells us what inspired her to move to St Kilda when she started making music. She helped pave the way for other female rockers, and met a host of other musos who she still jams with today.
Fiona Lee Maynard, front-woman of bands Have a Nice Day (H.A.N.D), In Vivo, Fiona and Her Holy Men, and member of Dalicados, tells us what inspired her to move to St Kilda when she started making music. She helped pave the way for other female rockers, and met a host of other musos who she still jams with today.
Episode Two - Tim Rogers
Season 1, Ep. 2
Tim Rogers, from You Am I, the Hard Ons and a host of other side projects told us about his very early experiences visiting St Kilda and the impression it left on him as a young musician. He chatted about the much-loved friends he has made here, his favourite venues and why he has called the place "home" for so long.
Tim Rogers, from You Am I, the Hard Ons and a host of other side projects told us about his very early experiences visiting St Kilda and the impression it left on him as a young musician. He chatted about the much-loved friends he has made here, his favourite venues and why he has called the place "home" for so long.
Episode Three - Jack Howard
Season 1, Ep. 3
In this interview, we talk to someone known mostly for his role playing the trumpet in the great Aussie band, Hunters and Collectors. Jack Howard is an accomplished musician, having toured with many other well-known bands and artists, as well as releasing his own solo albums. He’s still playing in bands around St Kilda today, he teaches music and he also holds the incredible achievement of having been inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
In this interview, we talk to someone known mostly for his role playing the trumpet in the great Aussie band, Hunters and Collectors. Jack Howard is an accomplished musician, having toured with many other well-known bands and artists, as well as releasing his own solo albums. He’s still playing in bands around St Kilda today, he teaches music and he also holds the incredible achievement of having been inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
Episode Four - Nick Barker
Season 1, Ep. 4
Nick Barker grew up visiting his grandparents in St Kilda and fate brought him to live here as a young adult. He tells us about a life-changing experience he had while seeing The Cure at The Palais in St Kilda as a 16-year-old. Known as one of the area's musical icons, Nick played in numerous bands throughout the 1980s including the Wreckery. He formed his own in 1988 – Nick Barker and the Reptiles, and followed this up with a solo career in the late 1990s. He's still making great music today.
Nick Barker grew up visiting his grandparents in St Kilda and fate brought him to live here as a young adult. He tells us about a life-changing experience he had while seeing The Cure at The Palais in St Kilda as a 16-year-old. Known as one of the area's musical icons, Nick played in numerous bands throughout the 1980s including the Wreckery. He formed his own in 1988 – Nick Barker and the Reptiles, and followed this up with a solo career in the late 1990s. He's still making great music today.
Episode Five - Alan West
Season 1, Ep. 5
Local musician Alan West brings a new genre to the Unplugged series. Giving us an overview of the long-term history of jazz in the area, Al also talks about his role in running the jazz venue, The Life Cafe, at the St Kilda Bowling Club during the 1990s. Having lived in St Kilda for many years, Al tells us how it has changed over time and why he is here to stay.
Local musician Alan West brings a new genre to the Unplugged series. Giving us an overview of the long-term history of jazz in the area, Al also talks about his role in running the jazz venue, The Life Cafe, at the St Kilda Bowling Club during the 1990s. Having lived in St Kilda for many years, Al tells us how it has changed over time and why he is here to stay.
Episode Six - Tex Perkins
Season 1, Ep. 6
With a musical career that spans 40 years and six ARIA awards, Tex Perkins is an Australian icon. Apart from the fantastic stories he shares about The Beasts of Bourbon, The Cruel Sea and various other music projects he has been a part of, he speaks about his love of Melbourne culture and history, and the important role he played in saving one of St Kilda’s most historic buildings.
With a musical career that spans 40 years and six ARIA awards, Tex Perkins is an Australian icon. Apart from the fantastic stories he shares about The Beasts of Bourbon, The Cruel Sea and various other music projects he has been a part of, he speaks about his love of Melbourne culture and history, and the important role he played in saving one of St Kilda’s most historic buildings.
Episode Seven - Dave Graney & Clare Moore
Season 1, Ep. 7
We had a great interview with musical couple Dave Graney and Clare Moore. They’ve been playing in bands together since 1978 and they moved to St Kilda shortly after they met, and loved how everything they needed was close by, such as places to rehearse and play. We hear about the buildings they lived in and how they connected with other St Kilda musicians when they lived in London later on.
We had a great interview with musical couple Dave Graney and Clare Moore. They’ve been playing in bands together since 1978 and they moved to St Kilda shortly after they met, and loved how everything they needed was close by, such as places to rehearse and play. We hear about the buildings they lived in and how they connected with other St Kilda musicians when they lived in London later on.
Episode Eight - Matt Doll Thomas
Season 1, Ep. 8
Matt Doll Thomas from The Mavis's had a chat with us about what drew him to St Kilda once he had moved from Ballarat and called Melbourne home - from the 24-hour party vibe through to the opportunity to meet other creatives and write with them. Matt also reflected on playing at the beautiful Palais Theatre when The Mavis’s toured with Kylie Minogue.
Matt Doll Thomas from The Mavis's had a chat with us about what drew him to St Kilda once he had moved from Ballarat and called Melbourne home - from the 24-hour party vibe through to the opportunity to meet other creatives and write with them. Matt also reflected on playing at the beautiful Palais Theatre when The Mavis’s toured with Kylie Minogue.
Episode Nine - Paulie Stewart
Season 1, Ep. 9
Paulie Stewart OAM visited the studio and had a heart-to-heart with us about one of his favourite things - St Kilda. Having grown up here, Paulie has a true appreciation of all things related to the area, especially music. Along with sharing lots of stories from his many (continuing) years as lead singer-songwriter of the Painters & Dockers band, Paulie also reflected on having such deep family connections to the suburb and how the special place it holds in his heart led him to win the Essence of St Kilda essay prize.
Paulie Stewart OAM visited the studio and had a heart-to-heart with us about one of his favourite things - St Kilda. Having grown up here, Paulie has a true appreciation of all things related to the area, especially music. Along with sharing lots of stories from his many (continuing) years as lead singer-songwriter of the Painters & Dockers band, Paulie also reflected on having such deep family connections to the suburb and how the special place it holds in his heart led him to win the Essence of St Kilda essay prize.
Episode Ten – Phill Calvert
Season 1, Ep. 10
Phill Calvert, drummer from The Boys Next Door/The Birthday Party was the special guest for our interactive Q&A session, held at the St Kilda Army & Navy Club. The audience asked Phill questions about what it was like to live in St Kilda as a young musician. Quoted as being the best drummer in Melbourne, it was fantastic to hear first-hand from one of the pioneers of the Australian post-punk scene.
Phill Calvert, drummer from The Boys Next Door/The Birthday Party was the special guest for our interactive Q&A session, held at the St Kilda Army & Navy Club. The audience asked Phill questions about what it was like to live in St Kilda as a young musician. Quoted as being the best drummer in Melbourne, it was fantastic to hear first-hand from one of the pioneers of the Australian post-punk scene.
Episode 11 - Genevieve McGuckin
Season 1, Ep. 11
When Genevieve McGuckin moved here from Brisbane as a young woman, she quickly immersed herself in St Kilda's musical and creative culture. Meeting lifelong friends to collaborate with, she started the post-punk band These Immortal Souls, along with her musical and life partner, Rowland S Howard and has also contributed to many other bands and artists' work. Now a long-term resident, Genevieve hasn't stopped doing what we all love doing here - looking up at St Kilda's buildings and wondering about their stories. It was lovely to have Gen in the studio to share her St Kilda moments with us!
When Genevieve McGuckin moved here from Brisbane as a young woman, she quickly immersed herself in St Kilda's musical and creative culture. Meeting lifelong friends to collaborate with, she started the post-punk band These Immortal Souls, along with her musical and life partner, Rowland S Howard and has also contributed to many other bands and artists' work. Now a long-term resident, Genevieve hasn't stopped doing what we all love doing here - looking up at St Kilda's buildings and wondering about their stories. It was lovely to have Gen in the studio to share her St Kilda moments with us!
Episode 12 - Neil Wedd
Season 1, Ep. 12
In the last episode of this season, Neil Wedd, booking agent for the Prince of Wales Hotel in the 90s, has given us a wonderful summary of how the music scene in St Kilda took off, and how it changed over time. From politics to poker machines to musical trends, Neil outlines what external factors influenced this rockin’ suburb.
In the last episode of this season, Neil Wedd, booking agent for the Prince of Wales Hotel in the 90s, has given us a wonderful summary of how the music scene in St Kilda took off, and how it changed over time. From politics to poker machines to musical trends, Neil outlines what external factors influenced this rockin’ suburb.
We acknowledge the people of the Kulin Nation, on whose land this series was recorded on and we pay our respects to their Elders, both past and present.
A big thank you to the people and organisations who made this recording possible:
The City of Port Phillip through their Cultural Development Fund Recovery grants;
The St Kilda Historical Society and Committee;
Volunteers, especially Rob Frankiewicz, Anna Bongiorno and Adam Ferrier.
The Animals
Big Ears Audio
...and the artists
Theme Song Credits:
Dirty Filthy Rock n Roll
Written by C. O'Connor (Mushroom Music)
You're Going Home in the Back of a Divi Van
Written by C. Badger/P.Stewart (Mushroom Music)