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 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 4-part story of Simon Rashleigh.
Simon was born into the 1950’s, the same decade that Rock ‘n’ Roll was born. As a teenager he had realised that music would form an integral part of the rest of his life.
His story commences from his earliest memories. He recalls moving into the then almost semi-rural area of Ferntree Gully. Here, he watches houses and estates being built around him.
Simon talks about his education, which consisted largely of attending local schools. Then the opportunity to go to a more prestigious private school came along.
This was a move he embraced as his learning accelerated. This exposure to learning just increased his desire for a higher education pathway to university.
However the family circumstances changed. Simon finds himself at Ferntree Gully Technical school. He takes up an apprenticeship in staircase making but this is an apprenticeship that was short lived.
We learn how this abrupt end to his staircase making career led to him working in a local music shop.
All of this leads to discussions of Simon forming and fronting local bands as a vocalist.
Part 2
In this program Simon talks about forming his progressive rock band. Poised for success, it was overtaken by the fast moving 1970’s Punk Music genre.
As a result Simon moves away from music and moves into a more corporate type business. The problem was, music kept beckoning to him.
It wasn’t long before Simon was tempted back to front several groups. One of which was Schism, a Melbourne band that promised to really explode onto the music scene.
Once more a lack of any real financial return raised its ugly head. Coupled with a range of issues it forced Simon once more out of the performance side of the music business.
Despite this Simon works really hard and moves into the record business. He takes up a position with Festival records. This position leads him to developing strong connections with artists such as Alice Cooper and Neil Diamond.
 |  |
For us, this means some fascinating stories.
Part 3
Simon continues to share even more fascinating stories. These include stories after his work at Festival records ends and include
his amazing connections with major overseas artists.
Simon includes among his lengthy list of friends and associates, AC/DC and the late Ozzy Osborne. This all resulted from his new work as Promotions Manager for Sony Music.
To say Simon is busy would be an understatement. He finds time to get married and have two daughters. In fact one of his daughters has an active career in another form of music, in Australian opera.
However, change is a constant feature of Simon’s life. These lead to stories of how he moved out of music and into the TV and Film industries. Not unexpectedly we learn Simon also has a successful career as a producer.as well as a Manager.
In this part of his story Simon also includes how he came to be filming a documentary. Simons journey takes him to India resulting in the film – India On The Move.
With this success we learn how this in turn led to him yet again returning to the music industry.
Part 4
Welcome to the fourth and final program featuring the Life and Times of Simon Rashleigh.
Simon presents his credentials as an artist and vocalist with a variety of bands. His credentials include working in the music industry selling records and more. He becomes a buyer for stores before moving into a range of other senior positions.
These positions included working at both Festival Records and Sony Music. Simon has also developed a proven track record as both a TV and film producer.
He is a creative man who needs to have ongoing projects. In this part of his story, he tells of how he was employed in Community Radio.
Yet his work in the music industry wasn’t over. He became the Store manager for the famous Manny’s Music Store. Then, yet again, circumstances work against him. Now Simon finds himself working for Yamaha.
Incredibly, Simo also found time to eventually go to university. He successfully completes a Masters degree in Marketing.
Yet while fulfilling that life-long desire to return to higher education, things go seriously amiss. Suddenly his life fell apart and out of work he lives with his possessions in a storage locker.
But Simon has throughout his life, found ways of turning matters around. He demonstrates yet again how to turn disaster into opportunity.
Simon now creates what may very well be a lasting legacy. He develops the music industry equivalent of Wikipedia.
His project is called Music Industrapedia. It is a massive project spanning all music genres and all continents.
 |  |
Although not covered in this interview, in May of this year, Simon revisited Schism.
Jumping 40 years into the 2020’s, Schism reforms now known as Schism 21C. Consisting of founding members Simon Rashleigh and Gordon Graham, they have released a new album, “Only the Shell Remains,”
It is yet another return to Simon’s major love – playing music live.
Simon Rashleigh – Part 1
Simon Rashleigh – Part 2
Simon Rashleigh – Part 3
Simon Rashleigh – Part 4
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
Program #15 – Mick Elliott: Click here
Program #16 – Pat Wilson: Click here
Program #17 – Lindsay Field: Click here
Program #18 – David Pepperell: Click here
Program #19 – Howard Freeman: Click here
Program #20 – Laurie Arthur: Click here
Program #21 – Dom Barbuto: Click here
Program #22 – Murray Robertson: Click here
Program #23 – John Arthur Grant: Click here
