The Life and Time Stories of Australian Musicians, Performance Artists and those who commenced their contributed to the Australian Music industry from the 1950’s through to the 1970’s.
Australian Rock of Ages is a series of interviews conducted with artists, entrepreneurs, managers. Those who promoted and contributed to the Australian Music Industry. All were born in Australia or settled in Australia during the halcyon years of the late 1950’s through to the late 1970’s.
We present a different story each month.
This program features the 3-part story of Mick Elliott.
This is the first part of the story featuring the Life and Times of Mick.
Mick is yet another Baby Boomer who was bitten by the “music bug” at a young age and who went on to make a successful career as a professional musician.
Over the three parts to his story we will follow Mick’s story from his early years.
His first group – The Sound, was formed in 1964. With personnel changes in 1965 it became the Moppa Blues. First with John Sullivan as singer, and later with Graham “Snowy” Townshend as vocalist – it became his career springboard.
As we listen we learn how over the years he became part of some iconic groups. These include the Andy James Asylum, Syd Rumpo, Southern Cross, the Wild Beaver Band, Stars and many more.
We will also hear the stories of how he and his guitar came to support such music legends as J.J. Cale and Bo Diddley.
Yet for all his success Mick is an unassuming Aussie. He has never shirked from working hard in jobs outside the music industry when times demanded.
He is not just admired by audiences for his guitar work, but also very much by his peers.
In Part 2, Mick talks about some of the great bands he has played lead guitar in.
These included the fabulous Wild Beaver Band, which was one of the hottest bands around Melbourne in the early 1970’s.
We learn how the group became the support act for the legendary J.J. Cale. Learn how a throw-away line directed to the band, led to them writing a great song. In fact, that single comment by J.J. Cale became its title.
What was the line and what was the song? Well, you will have to listen!
Mick’s life is punctuated with non-music based jobs. The vagaries of the Australian music scene has created many highs and lows for Mick.
The stories keep coming. One amazing opportunity came about due to many gigging at Melbourne’s number one hotel for music – the notorious Station Hotel.
That opportunity? It was Mick joining Bo Diddley’s backing band during Bo’s tour of Australia.
In the final program Mick continues his stories of his music experiences.
Mick shares his thoughts on both the past and current state of Australian music while sharing his feelings on a range of social issues.
He shares stories of his many trips to the northern territory. This is a place that has captured Mick’s heart.
There are more stories of his music and his love of playing. Learn how his stories inform us just how much our indigenous Australians enjoy live music.
Mick is an unassuming man!
His friends understand that he is a man with few words. However, he is a man who let’s his guitar do his talking. This is “talk” that has led to a great career and involvement with may great Aussie musicians.
Now rapidly moving into his seventies, his playing in groups is becoming less frequent. He has largely retired but for the lucky ones, he can still be heard playing from time to time.
He supplements his income-teaching guitar while looking forward to when he can move permanently to the Northern Territory.
It is there that he would like to see out his final years.
More recently, and since this interview, Mick suffered a severe fall. Badly damaging his neck. Fortunately, he is now well into the road to recovery. However, only time will tell as he recovers, the impact that might have on his playing.
Certainly those who can call him a friend will be hoping for a full recovery.
Australian music would be less for not having had Mick contribute to it
Mick Elliott – Part 1
Mick Elliott – Part 2
Mick Elliott – Part 3
Previous stories in Australian Rock Of Ages can be found via these links;
Program #1 – Bob Bright: Click here
Program #2 – Normie Rowe: Click here
Program #3 – Mike Rudd: Click here
Program #4 – Phil Manning: Click here
Program #5 – Marcie Jones: Click here
Program #6 – Ross D. Wylie: Click here
Program #7 – Lynn Thorpe: Click here
Program #8 – Sam See: Click here:
Program #9 – Mick Hamilton: Click here
Program #10 – Claire Humphrys: Click here
Program #11- Glyn Mason: Click here
Program #12 – David Flint: Click here
Program #13 – Chris Stockley: Click here
Program #14 – Frank Howson: Click here
