Cold Chisel made a surprise appearance at St. Kilda's Prince Of Wales Hotel following the final Melbourne show on December 9. The only advertising was an A4 size handwritten sign placed on one of the hotel's windows at 7 p. m. which stated "Cold Chisel midnight tonight".
Apparently many people did not take the sign seriously as only a couple of hundred people were actually present (another 100 could easily have been accommodated by the venue).
Following another excellent show at Melbourne Park, I found myself backstage trying to snare a few words from Ian for this publication- it's his turn to do 'Conversations'.
Earlier that night Ian had assured me that we could talk for a few minutes after the show. The after gig gathering was quite large as usual, and all of the band except Jim had shown their faces, which is not always the case. I saw Ian and reminded him of our TBS appointment, he was keen but had to leave soon. He explained that the band could be playing at the Prince, but perhaps we could do it in the bus on the way? I explained that I wasn't alone, but sensing a TBS exclusive, arranged to go in my car. The interview never did happen (not that night, anyway).
We followed the Chisel party (about 9 or 10 in all) into the rear entrance at the Prince Of Wales. Even were on stage and the venue contained about 100-150 people in the area I could see. It is pretty much your standard small-medium size pub. I doubt that Cold Chisel have played in a place like it for some 20 years.
Inside, the lighting was surprisingly low and the 150 or so crowd stood back in the shadows in a manner contrasting with what I had witnessed at the Tennis Centre earlier. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen here in the next half hour when Cold Chisel presented themselves to this cool, unsuspecting audience. In addition to not playing in a venue this size for some time, it was also a long time since they had played to a non Chisel audience.
The backstage area (about the size of a small kitchen) was overflowing with musicians ( I recognised members of Moler & Even), publicists and crew. Jim and Jane occupied a spot, Don and whoever he was talking music to had spilled out of the room into the corridor, while Phil chatted to whoever was around, at one stage myself as I asked him if he knew what they might be playing. He didn't but suggested, "Maybe One Long Day or something like that. You never know what we could play at a thing like this". I asked Ian what was next on the agenda, "Nu Zuland" was his barely intelligible reply. I asked if Germany was still a chance and explained that Rod (CC manager) had been looking into the scene via German music press etc. for some time now. He said that he'd love to return there and we discussed the state of play with Line Records, the band's one-time German label, who went missing at about the time the band sought royalties for their releases in that country .
Word came from the stage that Chisel were to be on next and I headed for the audience, thankful that the only time we had brought a camera to a show was this one. I took a place beside Mark Opitz, about a metre and a half from the stage. As the host announced the band, he added that he could hardly believe it himself, and the band simply walked on to the stage. Using the drum kit, amplifiers and Moler's piano, which Don had been setting up a few minutes earlier, the sound was not as polished as we had heard from them earlier in the night, but this somehow added to the affect.
The band launched into Pretty Little Thing. Beside me, a guy was on his mobile phone, loudly telling someone that he was at the Prince, and "Fucking Cold Chisel are on the stage!" in almost hysterical tones. Ian's guitar amplifier was very loud (as was his shirt!), projecting into the crowd on the left side of the stage (right if you're facing it). This was Cold Chisel as raw as they'll ever be.
I wondered at the juxtaposition of Cold Chisel, straight from the Tennis Centre and 15,000 people, to the Prince, the home of Melbourne's up-and-coming bands. It didn't seem to matter at all as it became obvious that Cold Chisel belonged in a pub like this as much as any band. Merry Go Round was blistering, reminding me of the version on You're 13... By this point many of the stunned punters in the room were waking up. Despite being his second show for the night, Jim's voice was still superb and the entire band were all smiles. It was obvious that they were enjoying this as much as the audience and the room really had a warm feeling, the aim of most live gigs, but rarely achieved.
There seemed to be a little confusion at this point as to what to play next. Don and Ian did a shortened Cry Me A River, perhaps because it may have been seen to fit the occasion lyrically, or to give the others some time to work out what to play after it! This was the first time I have seen this number done with Don playing key boards, Ian didn't even solo on guitar. When the rest of the band returned to the stage they were accompanied by backing vocalists Shauna and Tony and Let's Go Get Stoned was played. The vocal from Shauna enabled me to get a photo of Ian and Jim sharing the mic in classic Chisel pose. Don't Let Go (if I recall correctly, Jim introduced it as a bit of a medley, perhaps he was intending to include Rising Sun with it as well) completed a fine set which was enjoyed as much by band as audience.
Backstage the atmosphere was all excitement as the exhausted but exhilarated members of Cold Chisel mingled. Jim was gone before their publicist could arrange a band photo. Don posed for a photo with Wally from Even, who confessed to being a huge Chisel fan. I overheard Steve introducing himself to a couple of young musicians who were perhaps just finding out what all the fuss was about.