Famous for Sixteen Minutes: Archive

The Life and Times of Peter Green
Archive: 4 November - 24 November 2024

PG cools down, best gig of the year. Hoodoo Gurus, Palais Theatre.

November 4th

So Adam Ant turned 70! That seems so strange, he'll always be that 26 year old to me who sang Antmusic so perfectly over the radio while Mark and myself , Peggy and Cathy were picking grapes at Mildura. It was our favourite song for those weeks in that stifling heat.

We call our friend Kevin for his birthday and doing some sort of Punk rock Happy Birthday moment down the phone to him.

The Des Moines Register Poll has Harris with a surprise win in Iowa. I've seen some exit polling for a few areas and I'm no longer positive, I have that "itch" in the back of my neck that tends to make me worry about such things. Surely Americans couldn't be so foolish to elect Trump again. Do they forget that he added $8.5 TRILLION to their national debt? Still there are a lot of stupid people in the world.

I think of your friend James Freud today, he's been gone 14 years. A similar exit to our beloved Paul Hester. Like Paul, James had the biggest heart. I worked for him for year, he never had masses of money but he always paid me on time and the few times he couldn't afford it I was always happy to let it slide because I loved what he was doing. "Modern Girl" is still such a great pop song (as is "Enemy Lines") and "Breaking Silence" a wonderful undiscovered gem of an album. So I am playing that while I write this fortnights diary.

November 5th

Public Holiday here and I score a free Pie at the Olinda bakery. Thanks girls.

I avoid the Melbourne Cup horse race and wash my car instead and make Marky a Cointreau chocolate cake. I sneak raisins into it so it has the tiniest bit of health value.

I paid my electricity bill today, OK it was $12.14 thanks to Solar panels and Prime Minister Albanese "Cost of living" helping hand, and it did help, thanks Albo.

November 6th

Markys Youtube Wednesday and lots of happy music fans , quite a few new people signing onto my Youtube page for subscriptions. Today we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Split Enz "Enz With A Bang" concerts in Melbourne. FOUR songs and some of Marks awesome photos. All four never before on the internet. So all the way from 1984- some Split Enz for you here.

I'm counting votes for the council election and in America it's all gone pear shape and dickhead Trump has won. Every single person here is depressed. I refuse to go on about it, I'm considering not watching the News for four years so I don't have to see that fat brainless orange fuck. Mental illness certainly alive and well in America. We have about 80 offers from Americans to move into our wine cellar, so at least peoples sense of humour is intact.

November 7th

Counting votes all day and preferences, such a nice team of people I am working with. At times I feel worn out but thats just what happens to us all, but every day we are vote perfect so that is good.

I finish a few hours early so surprise the charity and drop in and give them a couple of hours work.

Homemade Pizza for dinner.

November 8th

The folks at Noise 11 give Markys Split Enz Festival Hall 84 release a nice little mention. Always great when they do that, gets a few more people to enjoy the video Wednesday releases.

I'm chatting with the Countdown Sisters and they tell me they started going to Countdown the week after Adam Ant was on the show (20th August 1981). I send them a few photos. So that's probably why I'd gone to more Countdown shows than they did, I started going way before them. They did get to a lot of shows though. Nice girls.

I started my day in shorts, sitting outside of the bakery sipping my coffee and the weather turns and its bloody cold, so grab a table inside. This weird weather has been happening all week.

I select ten Skyhooks performances on Countdown for our Skyhooks official Facebook page. We have almost 15,000 followers so that is great.

November 9th

Paul Kelly debuts at #3 with the wonderful "Fever Longing Still". #1 on the vinyl chart and #1 on The Australian artists chart. Such a good album, we play this one a lot in the car and office.

45 years today since we moved to Melbourne. My best friend, boxes and bags and we never looked back. As the years go by we just keep getting better. I couldn't imagine life without Marky, he keeps me grounded and I annoy the shit out of him I am certain.

November 10th

I sit with the 3 legged greyhound for awhile, his name is "Rock". Nice pup. We have a few three legged greyhounds up here. More greyhounds arrive, my friend has her two-Titan and Pax. Pax loves me, no idea why.

I give Midnight a wash just to make sure she doesn't have any tiny grass ticks on her. She smells nice. All the other cats will be jealous. She swims around in my bath tub for awhile, crazy kitty.

November 11th

I decide to extend a bill, which I rarely ever do, just paid everything but thought the gas bill can be a week late, they are fine about it. They laugh that in 45 years I've never extended a gas bill.

With the G3 network dying it means I may not be able to access my Hoodoo Gurus tickets so I pull my finger out and look at G5 phones.

November 12th

Restless sleep, not sure why. Maybe too much caffeine in chocolate leading up to bedtime.

My charity boss goes to the Drs and doesn't return, we all focus and get the job done, a good team. We wish her well.

I crash at 5.00 , need sleep, Power Nap till 6.00 and I get up and make dinner. The rain starts and the air smells fabulous.

We watch "McCartney 3,2,1" on ABC iView and it is really exceptional. It is a 6 parter & Paul is in fine form. Worth checking out.

November 13th

So I decide on my new mobile, an upgraded version of what I currently have, I put the order in. Done (tick).

Markys Youtube Wednesday goes up. With Andy White doing his last show in Melbourne for 6 months, we run with him performing "I MISS YOU" from the Merri Creek Tavern gig. So this one we need some support with, so please if you have a minute just click on the link below. We don't always put up the obvious "high view" clips, and some things that only have smaller views can be really amazing videos. Anyway this ones in your hands, thank you.

Enjoy the video here.

November 14th

So I am heading back to the original ABC site for Countdown, all those years ago. The ABC studios at Elsternwick. I'm also doing 4 radio interviews in the area so get them done first, just little ones not very time consuming but I try not to repeat myself.

I depart home and go to put on Google Maps and it won't work. I call into the bakery but it's not working when the girls try. I do have an ancient Melways street directory if I am really desperate. But I decide to wing it, I work out the direction in my head, my own little brain GPS.

Interviews are all done and I head to the ABC at Gordon street Elsternwick. They are tearing it down and the block itself is very large. Big security fences surround the old ABC site and loads of security cameras. Some cheeky bugger ties a Skyhooks t-shirt to the front gate in honour of the show. I pose for a few snaps for Sheepbook and Twitter and the Hooks FB page. As I wander about I see an open gate so enter and run into 2 of the architects who are departing for the day. They are big Crowded House fans so thats always nice, we chat. Nice people. They are making about 150 apartments on the site, "Elsternwick Gardens Apartments" but maintaining some of the original AbC Countdown theme, even keeping the giant radio tower. I take a few photos and depart.

I want to drop some flowers into Ians house. Yes Molly. Several decades ago on his birthday I bought some flowers at a shop around the corner. I am surprised that it is still there. Shady Hill-Luxury Flowers. The owner Susie remembers me and she shows me some very special blooms. Incredible, they are perfect. So she creates this magnificent bouquet. I get the only car park, which is exactly out front, luck is on my side. But not with Google Maps, still not working. So again I use my GPS brain and put a way to Ian's house at Richmond.

If i go via our old stomping ground Prahran I think I can get to his house.

Chapel street these days has lost all of its charms, it looks grotty and seems to be full of junkies, I am so glad we moved is what I am thinking. I cross the Yarra river to Richmond and I arrive at Ian's (Mollys) place, once again a park right out front.

The security gates are locked so I buzz but no response. I put the flowers up to my face and go "Just me". The robotic gate says "Enter gate unlocked" in a very butch robotic gate sort of voice.

The door opens and Ians boyfriend Yan is there. I yell him the flowers are for Ian and I don't want to disturb him. I hate that I didn't phone and felt terrible but I'm just a flower drop off delivery guy. He tells me to wait and comes back and says ‘Ian really wants to see you'. With trepidation I go in as I know he is very very sick.

He's in the lounge room, lying down on the couch, blankets pulled up. As all things Molly, the lounge room is painted in that Egyptian style. He's on the couch with his Egyptian rings on. Surrounding him an endless amount of Egyptian items and those battery flickering candles. All I could think of is , here is the last Egyptian Pharaoh, in his sarcophagus, wearing his finery surrounded by all his amulets and provisions essential for his afterlife underworld journey . I'm sure if I said it loud he would have loved it, but I didn't.

Ziggy his dog enters the room and jumps into the my arms and lets out a bark. Apparently he doesn't jump for just anyone. Ian opens his eyes and goes "Hello love". Which made me smile. "Ok Ian how many Ziggy's is it now" See I'm testing him to see how his memory is. "Four" he quickly says, bless him.

So I sit on the floor next to him for maybe an hour? Not sure, time is non limbo in Mollys Pyramid. Yan shows him the flowers and a sparkle in his eye, "gorgeous, so kind". I tell him that Crowded House are in town soon and I'm asking Neil and the band to play a song for him. I suggest The Bangles "Walk like an Egyptian". He gives me a Molly grin " that sounds like me".

I won't go on about the visit as these things are private, but I am thankful I managed to see him. I owe him a lot. I wrote on the cards "No Molly, No Countdown, No Countdown , No Peter, No Peter No Crowded House, Split Enz, Skyhooks" (meaning I'd never have those bands without Countdown). For a boy eagerly watching this music TV show each week at Wollongong it allowed me to see all of this wonderful Australasian music and make me a huge music fan. Molly played such a part and even though there were times when he crapped me, I also love the bloke. I hate seeing him this ill.

It's time to go, as I move he leans over, gives me a peck on the cheek and whispers " You always were the sweetest, kindest boy". I'm trying not to cry so I chuckle and go "hardly a boy anymore Ian". I tell him I will try and visit at Christmas. Yan walks me to the door, I thank him and ask him how he (Yan) is doing. He says so/so which is expected.

I sit in my car and burst into tears, a serious bit of howling. I don't cry much, today I did. I let it rip.

The Melways has Mollys house and Andys venue about 20 pages between them, and mentally I can't do this. I say a little prayer "let my Google Maps work". Hey Presto it does (thank you!).

I drive down High street , Northcote and Ians on my mind the entire way. Sadness is my co pilot. I get a park very close to Merri Creek Tavern. I was going to wear jeans etc but leave my shorts on, it's too hot. I walk in and Andys setting up, son Seb is with him. We have laugh, I let them do what they need to do. I'm putting on a brave face.

By 8.30 a solid crowd fills the tiny room, some long time AW fans sit with me , I'm right on the stage area. It's a great show, and to be honest thats what I needed, some music to heal me. Seb drums on a few songs and does great job. Wonderful sound tonight by Cameron. It frustrates me that Andy isn't huge in this country, he certainly has the talent. Tonights show was great and extra good when a few readers of this diary page come up and say "hello". I say goodbye after the show and grab Mark who is on a film shoot. He hugs me and I never want him to let me go, I tell him about Molly. I feel exhausted so that takes over and MG walks me into bed. What a day.

November 15th

Lots of comments and messages around my posts on FB from yesterday. I spend a large part of the day responding to people.

I chat to Sis who is heading off for more medical tests. I worry about my kid sister, am excited to see the family at Christmas which isn't too far away.

November 16th

Bill and Dolly the hellhounds arrive at the bakery. Bill the dog is 9 today, he gets a free sausage roll before blowing out the candles on his doggy cake.

How do I feel today? A self check. Almost balanced and healthy so that is good.

I chat to Paul for awhile with his sword walking stick. We have a laugh. One of those crazy locals.

Tonight Countdown- 50 Years On, is celebrating on the ABC at 7.30. It's a hard one to do, the previous Countdown documentary was great and no not just because they filmed here and I was in it (stop it!). This one they've gone at it from a different angle and some of its good, some just doesn't work. I thought Les from seventies band Hush looked great for 71 and played guitar well. Regurgitator covering Devo's "Whip it" was excellent. The chats with Countdown background staff really good…and of course the original footage we enjoyed. So happy 50th Countdown.

November 17th

I am loving Andy White's "Angel of Gaza' which is available as a 4 track release on his band camp page.

I'm watching The Garden Guru's very cool story on the Wollemi Pine. Impressive.

Bushfires are burning away West of Cape Otway, a reminder to us all that Fire season has arrived.

I get a call from Greg Skyhook and we chat for an hour, really nice to hear from him.

I send Neil Finn my "Walk like an Egyptian" request for Molly , who knows but at least I threw it out there. Neils probably rolling his eyes and going "No Way" .

November 18th

Happy Birthday to Daddy Cools Ross Wilson, he was also the Producer on the first 3 Skyhook albums. He turns 77!

I'm driving back from Olinda and I had to laugh. In front of me is a trailer with mattresses and 2 COFFINs standing upright. I keep thinking" Finally the Vampires have left the Hills". I get to my turnoff and spin the car around, I really need to get a photo of this for my social media pages.

I flag the driver down and she beckons me with her stunning gothic painted fingers. She smiles "Oh you are Peter who owns the Rosaleen Norton artwork". Her name is Mel and she used to own the Witchwood Grove , metaphysical supply store. We have a laugh, she's sold the shop and bought a Masonic Lodge in Shepparton and is driving the coffins up. So 2.5 hrs of wonder, for those driving behind her on the highway. Mum are those COFFINS? I do love my life!

Enz bassist Nigel Griggs calls me so thats always nice chat.

November 19th

Happy 72nd birthday to Eddie Rayner from Split Enz.

I call into the service station for Petrol and score a free coffee. That makes me smile, it's only a small one but that will last me the entire day.

My new phone arrives and my gorgeous mate Nicole gets it running and transfers all the older stuff over. Hurrah. Strangely enough before that suddenly my old phone starts to work again, we are all mystified.

November 20th

Predictable I know but having my coffee at my table at the bakery. A lot of people chat ,sit, move on, loan me their dogs.

This lady sitting in the other areas beckons me over and tells me I have the most incredible aura. I'm speechless. We talk and she's really nice. As expected she has a cool name… "Storm". She is a silversmith and owns the "Gilded Poppy". We take photo and vow to stay in contact. A nice moment. Time for some new people in our life. Sometimes it feels like I am the only one calling our friends, well some.

Handsome Ben turns up with Meg the kelpie. She's as good looking as he is. Another lovely doggy.

Home and get Markys Youtube Wednesday up before lunch. It's those Fabulous Finn Brothers, filmed and recorded in Melbourne. February 1996. One of the best versions of "Suffer Never". Great guitar work from Neil Finn.

You can enjoy it here.

At dinner I get a call from Noel Crombie..is this old boy Split Enz week? Seriously great to chat, you know Xmas is arriving fast when the Crombies get ready to depart for a few weeks camping on the Aussie coastline.

November 21st

An overcast morning, Mt D covered in fog. I'm feeling a bit average, a tiny stomach ache. Pop a probiotic, it helps.

ARIA awards are over and the wonderful Royel Otis win 4 ARIAS. Best Rock album "Pratts & Pain", Best group and best Producer and Engineer. Producer Chris Collins beats Steven Sohran who did the Crowded House Gravity Stairs record. The Royel Otis "Pratts & Pain" is a good one, 37th week on the Aussie chart and about to go gold. Chris Collins deserves those awards, good job.

A surprise call from Niels who created the Skyhooks album cover,all those years back in 1974. Bad connection on the phone but a nice chat.

November 22nd

Ros shouts me coffee at the bakery and we have a fun chat. Dana from the organic shop, Andrew, Keith, Ros and myself pose for a group photo next to the Muriel. I'm on the bench having fun.

Mark and myself depart for the city at 4.00. Hoodoo Gurus tonight and parking will be difficult. It's a super hot day , like the peak of Summer but it's still only Spring.

I navigate us to St Kilda and we park in the lower levels of the Sea Baths. I've packed dinner for us so we head to St Kilda Beach and find a shady area. The beach is packed as are all the restaurants. Half of Melbourne must be here, kind of nice, everyone is having a good time.

We walk to the Palais Theatre which is nearby. The Ticketmaster app on my phone has stopped working or it's down. A kind lady at the ticket office prints me our tickets. I love that we have REAL tickets. Stalls row G which is good. Dallas Crane just started and they have a new single out called Sycamore Street and mainstream radio is actually playing it-yes about time. Lead singer Dave Larkin works the room, I like him he's good front man.

A short break and the lights dim and when they rise back up the mighty Hoodoo Gurus hit the stage and what a stunning stage set. We are here to celebrate the Stoneage Romeos debut album. Pterodactyl sentinels holding the stage lights in their claws, giant dinosaur bones and volcanoes. The entire show, great lighting, fireworks and the Palais Theatre so perfect for this great production. The Gurus start with (Lets All) Turn On and everyone and I mean EVERYONE are up on their feet to the very last song in the encore Like Wow-Wipeout. The crowd singing, dancing, it's hot inside and the Gurus raise the heat even further. The sound was way too loud but I'll adjust. Guitarist Brad ,vocal on "Form A Circle" I enjoyed and by this stage all of us blokes in Row G have stripped our shirts off and water bottles over heads baptising each other. Chanting "We are your Gurus" which Dave encourages. A fan request for "Party Machine" is played so I am overjoyed. This is one hell of a crowd and the Gurus deliver, 34 songs-pretty good. Great gig, probably the best concert for 2024!!!

We are outside and fried, I tip another bottle of water over my head and we jump in the car and home by midnight. What a show!

November 23rd

I sleep with the window open, just a single white cotton sheet. The temperature sits around 30 all night. Midnight sleeps up on the window sill.

I work in the office for a part of the day , too hot to do gardening. We keep Midnight inside where Ailsa Craig is nice and cool.

We change our beds over from Winter to Summer, crisp cotton sheets and turn the mattress. Midnight thinks my amazing wooden bed frame is a new climbing gym for her. She soon gives it up as the temperature climbs. She's happy to head back to the window sill to catch breeze. A weather patterns moves in and the winds pick up, by late afternoon. We keep the threat of bushfires in the back of our minds.

I use up the last of the chicken and make some Indian sausage rolls as treat for Marky, he loves them. I add a bit of sorrel just to keep them healthy.

November 24th

It was around 2.00 am when the rain arrived, that fine misty rain that always smells so good, kind of sweet like the blossoms on a fruit tree. Midnight stirs and jumps from bed to window sill to enjoy the smell and the breeze. It cools Kalorama down a tiny bit , to an almost perfect temperature. It feels more like Magnetic Island than Kalorama Victoria.

It has set in for the day, the Red Beast gets a"natural" wash so that's an extra bonus.

I get a free coffee at Olinda bakery and buy some grain bread for lunch. Ian arrives and I mention the article on the ABC News website about flying saucer nests in the cane fields and flattened bullrush reeds in the nearby lagoon in fat Nth Queensland in Jan 1966. It triggered one of the Australian first major UFO moments that lingers on all these years later. Way before crop circles exploded worldwide and none of that Led Zeppelin message from the stars fakes. I like evidence, I like more than hearsay and decades of this happening at Euramo South of Tully in Far North Queensland makes for fascinating reading, cool pictures and the original Police report from 1966 is brilliant. We all have our tales of mysterious objects , Ian included. Very soon other locals join in, some that have lived up here for 40 years, Nurses, Doctors, Road workers and Gardeners, everyone has a moment on Mt Dandenong when they have spotted "something". It makes for an interesting place to live. People are so detailed about their stories, we love that.

By midday the mountain is covered in a shroud of fog and that gentle rain is relentless. Our water tanks are full again and our 2 acres gets a good watering. Midnight tap taps on the glass table on the decking, enjoying the moment of wet fur feet slapping on glass. Like Banshee she loves the rain. So as I sit here watching a soggy cat, dancing in the mist, I wave goodbye to you all.

Stay Happy.

xPG