Love will certainly be in the air when John Paul Young and The Allstar Band let loose on the Glasshouse stage on November 5, with hit after hit from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s by legendary songwriters Harry Vanda and George Young.
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JPY, also dubbed “Squeak” by pop pr guru Patti Mostyn, says it is a long time since he was in Port Macquarie. “The last time I was there with an old friend who was trying to convince the council they needed an arts venue.”
Vanda and Young wrote for performers Grace Jones, AC/DC, Ted Mulry, their own studio duo Flash and the Pan and trailblazing group The Easybeats, fronted by Stevie Wright. They gave our fledgling pop scene a refreshing sound, generating mega hits Friday on My Mind, Evie (Parts 1, 2 & 3), Hey St Peter, Down Among the Dead Men, Falling in Love Again, St Louis, Standing In The Rain, I Hate The Music, Yesterday's Hero, and It's a Long Way To The Top.
This concert celebrates their songbook with JPY sharing insights into backstage antics, touring, and his heady days as unofficial co-presenter of ABC television’s Countdown with the unpredictable Molly Meldrum.
Since his first release Pasadena, in 1972, he has remained a constant presence. He made his mark theatrically in the original production of Jesus Christ Superstar; played 13 different parts in Shout - The Johnny O'Keefe Story, and has starred in many more musicals. He says he was most nervous performing in front of an audience of millions at the Sydney Olympics.
JPY has more than 4 million worldwide album sales and numerous awards, culminating in his induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2009, and an Order of Australia (OAM) in 2012, for his services to charity and the music industry. “I’m so lucky, just bloody fortunate. Talent alone is not enough, you have to be in the right place at the right time. George and Harry’s creed was ‘we’re making music for the world’ and I just loved everything they did.”
He had his big chance to break into the US scene in 1978, with the success of Love Is In The Air. “I was told they wanted to turn me into the next David Cassidy. “It wasn’t the sort of life I wanted to have … I was very happy where I was.” In 1992, the film Strictly Ballroom resurrected the hit. “[Pioneer Australian independent record producer] Ted Albert was dragged along to a theatrical production of it by his wife. He loved it and put it to Baz [Luhrmann], saying it needed some music.” The rest, as they say, is history.
On stage with JPY will be original The Allstar Band members Warren Morgan and Ronnie Peel. Greg Plimmer, Juan Gonzalez and Michael Walker joined the outfit in the early ‘80s, and percussionist Paul Kirtley is a recent addition. One thing is certain, no one will be saying “I hate the music”.
