Blanketed almost entirely as a Unesco World Heritage listing, the near-mythical Luang Prabang is often cited as being amongst the most beguiling places in South East Asia. For travellers weary of the traffic, the non-stop sales pitches and the wonderfully manic nature of much of the region, the temple-dotted green hills of Luang Prabang provide…
Review Of Maroon 5 At Sydney’s Acer Arena
Maroon 5. According to Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, I am one of the smartest men currently residing in Sydney. In front of a three-quarters full Acer Arena last night, Levine took a moment out from his cocky-rockstar-ladies-man schtick to reveal some rarely seen self-deprecation. Joking there were 17 guys to the 4000 girls in…
Why Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ Is The Old But New ‘Living On A Prayer’
It’s the new Living On A Prayer even though once upon a time, Living On A Prayer was the new “it”. About two years after the horse has bolted, I’ve finally decided to address the Don’t Stop Believing phenomenon, but more importantly to also take the liberty of introducing another equally magnificent-in-need-of-revival song by Journey….
New Zealand Broadcaster Kerry Smith Dies – A Hidden Gem From Cliff Richard
Kerry Smith. I just heard the sad news that New Zealand radio announcer / TV host / actress Kerry Smith has died. Like many, I didn’t even know she was sick but had read she was on leave from her 10am-2pm slot on radio station The Breeze. It turns out her leave was due to…
Rare Commodores Concert & Interview Footage From 1980
Here is some sensational footage from 1980 I’d never seen before where an interviewer spoke to each of the six Commodores in their homes in Tuskegee, Alabama. See my buddy Ronald LaPread (bass) from the 8 minute 30 second mark talk about how he can’t not dance while playing, despite the complex choreography. You also…
When U2 Teamed Up With Johnny Cash
U2. With news U2 have just beaten the Rolling Stones for the highest grossing concert tour of all time, (tipped to pass US $700 million) I felt compelled to go for a stroll around the Lindeman Island golf-course with my iPod set to nothing but Bono, The Edge, Adam and Larry. And Johnny. I’ve always…
One Year Of Adventures In One (Longish) Paragraph
Exactly one year ago today I flew from Auckland to Bangkok having closed a chapter on 11 years of working for The Radio Network, 10 years of living in my downtown apartment and 20 years of life in New Zealand. With a childhood spent in Malaysia I’ve often felt the pull back to South…
Michael Jackson’s Secret Duet With Barry Gibb Finally Revealed – ‘All In Your Name’
For years there has been talk amongst fans of Michael Jackson and the Bee Gees of several unreleased collaborations between these two giants of pop. I can even remember an interview back in the late 90s where the Gibbs were talking about recording an entire album with Michael with Babyface producing. While the album never…
Lionel Richie Back Onstage With His Old Commodores Buddies
Last night Lionel Richie reunited onstage in Auckland at Vector Arena with two former Commodores, Thomas McClary and Ronald LaPread. By all accounts, the concert was phenomenal mixture of the funk, the soul and the balladry that made these men superstars for the first time in the 70s and I’m gutted I couldn’t be there….
The Japanese Earthquake & The Real Origin Of Bruce Springsteen’s My City Of Ruins
Bruce Springsteen from the Born To Run shoot. A great friend of mine named John Budge, the man who got me started in radio back in the late 90s, sent me an email a couple of days ago reminding me of a Bruce Springsteen song I’d somehow forgotten about. It was a song Budgie –…
Climbing Lindeman Island’s Mt Oldfield For 360 Degree Views Of The Whitsundays
One of the best things you can do in the Whitsundays is to climb one of the many peaks for views over the more than 70 islands clustered just a short boat ride from the mainland. Be that as it may, I’d say that more than half the staff here at Club Med, Lindeman Island…
40 Years Since Ali vs Frazier & The Fight Of The Century
March 8 marks 40 years since arguably the most famous boxing match of all time, the “Fight Of The Century” between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. It’s a testament to both those men (and to George Foreman) that so many of the other contenders for that title also involve them: The “Rumble In The Jungle” of 1974…
