The Last Stand

The Frank Sinatra song continued to play over the P.A. system until the first strains of Wild Colonial Boy cut through the pitch black darkness of the Sydney Entertainment Centre and yellow back lights revealed Cold Chisel, with David Blight, for the last time. It starts sluggishly, but builds to a dramatic climax as Ian and David trade notes in the outro. Purple back lights on the otherwise bare stage (this will be the pattern all night, only the color changing) and we have Merry-Go-Round, always an energetic song, there seems to be a cloud hanging over the band at times, as though they are trying to ensure tonight is a party and not a wake. This was evident on Letter To Allan, the lyrics as poignant as ever. "We believed, and I still do" has a question mark over it and Jimmy makes eye contact with Don as he sings this line.

Things begin to warm up in My Turn To Cry and the party begins. Janelle is the first new song., an emotion charged rendition followed immediately by Khe Sanh. The party takes off.

"How you all feelin'. I hope you all got well and truly pissed before you came in, before you came through the body search that is. By the way this is not my new American look (referring to his open shirt). I got here tonight and all the buttons were gone."

Twentieth Century is the version that will later be issued on the Barking Spider Live album, along with an edited version of the above dialogue. This is the first song from tonight's performance to be issued on either of the live albums or video. No Sense is a little rough around the edges, but Hold Me Tight is stunning. Short and sharp.

Standing On The Outside sees the party in full swing. Tonight's performance will grace the Barking Spiders and Last Stand albums as well as opening the video of the same name. My Baby is a spirited performance and a highlight of the show so far. Tomorrow is also impressive, as a listen to the Last Stand album or video will testify, as this is the version that appears on these. Rising Sun is a favourite with the crowd. You can feel the anticipation as Don begins a blues intro to One Long Day, with David Blight and Ian joining in as it builds. This is one of the longest versions ever, Ian even doing some scat singing during the intro. When the verse starts it is slow, sparse and even more laid back than the first album rendition.

Bow River is the version used in the film and live album, a great performance only rivalled by the circus tent '82 performance of the song. Star Hotel is captivating and also used in the film and album. Like the film, it runs straight into Wild Thing, the version used in the CD and video, with a few small edits. Jim almost has his shirt ripped off during his run into the crowd and Ian improvises beautifully when Jim is making his way back to the stage, Jim taking the classic arm around Ian's neck position when he returns. Ian finishes the song with guitar held high one handed trills (ala Jimmy Page) and slides the strings along the mic stand, ala Jimi Hendrix. The last Wild Thing.

After approximately four minutes (which seemed like an eternity for the audience), Cold Chisel return and introduce Venetta Fileds and Renee Geyer on backing vocals. Saturday Night is performed, this performance is used in-the album and filmed, with Ian improvising the lyrics "cigarettes to ease my mind". Build This Love follows. A powerful rendition, more complete than the one included on the Three Big Ones CD. "They were two new ones. Any requests"" Jim asks. River Deep Mountain High is played superbly, using the backing vocalists to great effect. Renee Geyer sings lead on the second verse, changing places with Jim. This magical performance was issued as the B-side to the Flame Trees single and later as part of the Three Big Ones CD pack. "Any requests" is again asked, and after asking for quiet, so he can hear someone in the front rows, Four Walls is played.

Twist and Shout is intro'd by Jim, after asking where the girls (Renee & Venetta) are. Billy Rogers on saxophone joins them, along with David Blight and "the girls". Press reports had this version as running for 20 minutes, a slight exaggeration.

Solos from almost everyone on the stage and a quiet interlude did extend it to over 8 minutes. Whilst played at almost every show in the first half of 1982, Twist and Shout was indeed a rarity in 1983.

The band again leave the stage, returning about four minutes later with Georgia. The song Ian did with Don at the audition to join the band in 1973. Georgia never really left the set, always a possibility as an encore number as it is, appropriately, tonight. Rarely was it played with the feel and soul of this version, later issued on the Barking Spiders Live album. Taipan follows. Not as intense as the live renditions of the Circus Animals period but powerful nonetheless.

Another call for requests, "What do you fancy", finds the band attempting Conversations "That'll be a laugh, we can't remember that one." Don remembers the piano intro, and Phil the bass line, while Ian is improvising the intro. Jim gets the first line and a half right, then cuts to the second verse and chorus, before things slow, as Jim asks if anyone knows what the next verse is and Don cleverly segues and ends the song. Steve quickly starts Forever Now, rescuing everyone from a sticky situation. Tonight's rendition is not the version issued on Barking Spiders Live. Ian plays an almost manic solo on the end of tonight's version. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby, is next, a song which would serve Jim well in the future. This version sees solos from Don, David Blight, Jimmy Sloggett and Ian.

Goodbye Astrid and Don't Let Go, as appearing on the soundtrack album complete a marathon show, with Ian using a mic as a slide in the latter song.

The band again leave the stage. A crowd that refuse to budge, continue to chant "Chisel" and whistle. The house lights are still down and hopes are high for a last Chisel encore. The chant increases, even when the house lights are turned on.

"Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the band, thank you for supporting Cold Chisel. Goodnight and goodbye." This is announced over the P.A. and Cold Chisel are no more- Tour manager Chris Bastic recalls that the rest of the band were keen to do another encore, but Jimmy, whose voice would have been feeling the strain of the three previous nights, on top of this one, was not keen.

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