Last month, in the first of a multi-part series looking at crucial Aussie pop TV shows from the '70s to now, ILYOS looked back at the likes of GTK, Sounds, Flashez, Rockturnal, Nightmoves, and the big one, Countdown.
Of course, some of these shows lasted well into the next decade, but in part two we look at the shows that appeared in the '80s and are defined by the '80s, including Rock Arena, Rock Around The World, MTV, The Factory, Countdown Revolution and the beginnings of the eternal reward that is Rage. Enjoy, and stay tuned for the '90 up next time!
Rock Around The World (1981-1984)
When the Government-funded national multi-cultural network 0-28 / SBS started in 1980, it was probably no surprise that someone had the idea of a multi-cultural pop show. That someone was producer Bernie Gannon (the man who had started GTK for the ABC back in 1969 - see here) who recruited Polish-born Basia Bonkowski as host. We remember plenty of Nina Hagen and Herman Brood, but the show focussed on a lot of the same US and UK stuff that the others did – we also remember Basia making some witty comment about "Van", the singer for American up and comers Van Halen – albeit from a more alternative angle. It was no doubt the left-of-centre approach endeared Basia to Melbourne's Painters & Dockers, whose 1984 single "Basia" became a big alternative hit. The show started out as a weekly Friday night thing before changing to four nights a week at dinner time.
Check out this rare Rock Around The World clip on YouTube and the video for the Dockers' classic.
Rock Arena (1982–1989)
Another fab program for the more discerning music fan, Rock Arena started on the ABC in 1982. It went through a few hosts – LRB singer Glenn Shorrock even had a stint in early '84 - before the delightfully unaffected Suzanne Dowling took over in July '84; at which stage the program was sufficiently funded to record half-hour live performances in the ABC's Ripponlea studios, as well as the occasional set live in a pub. These were aired as full sets amongst the videos and interviews. We remember attending performances by both The Huxton Creepers and The Zimmermen; Rock Arena, like Rock Around The World, looked at the alternative world more than anything. Rock Arena aired late in the evening on Tuesdays.
The program's live sessions were gold, so here are four of them, from some fo Australia's finest. Check out a young Kate Cebrano and I'm Talking live in Melbourne '84, Deborah Conway and Do Re Mi in '85, a clip from the aforementioned Huxton Creepers 1986 set, and a complete early Crowded House show, filmed and broadcast to see in the new year at the very beginning of 1987.
Music Video (1983–1987)
On the Ten Network, this imaginatively named program was one of the first all-night music programs, showing clips and running interviews and reviews. Basia Bonkowski replaced John Torv as host in 1985 after she wound up at SBS. Here she is, getting deep and meaningly as she reads out a viewer's letter regarding Bucks Fizz.
Beatbox (1985–1988)
Beatbox was the first of a string of ABC shows that continues with today's The Set; youth-oriented music programs that eschewed slickness and professionalism for spontaneity and the occasional bit of anarchy. Flashez perhaps got the ball rolling back in the '70s but then there was a big gap when Countdown ruled the roost. Beatbox took "youth-oriented" further than most; it was put together by a co-operative of unemployed kids from Sydney's Western suburbs and a team of ABC people. Screening on Saturday mornings, it covered youth issues in a genuine way, and received good support from musicians. Check out Rob Hurst's Beatbox intro, together with some down and dirty interview footage including Jimmy Barnes and the late, great and very large John the Beast of Sydney metal band Escape. Authentic is the word.
Edge of The Wedge (1986)
This short-lived program followed Beatbox's lead and tried to keep things real. It had an Australian-only music policy, was hosted by Triple J's Mark Dodson (and had a decidedly Sydney focus) and was presented in a magazine format touching on youth affairs. Like Flashez in the '70s, it screened during the week around dinner time, and it made an effort to engage with local music. The episode we present here, which was re-screened in its entirety some years back on Rage, includes some classic live footage of Died Pretty, Ed Kuepper and Paul Kelly & the Coloured Girls alongside multiple interview segments with then-Paul Kelly manager Stuart Coupe and Died Pretty manager John Needham. Indeed the entire Paul Kelly set, which was videoed at Sydney's Hopetoun Hotel as the band was on the brink of success, is also up on YouTube. Watch it while you can!
Video Hits (1987–2011)
Back to the mainstream. Channel 10's long-running Saturday and Sunday Morning music program started in 1987 and ran until 2011. For the first decade and a half it existed without a host and played clips back to back, initially based purely on the Australian Top 40 of that week. Not the most creative television music show but it did change a lot later on, with the introduction of a host or two in 2004 (Faustina "Fuzzy" Agolley had the gig from 2006 until the end and thus was the show's longest-running face) as well as interviews. At one point the program claimed claim to be the second longest-running in the world – second to the Eurovision Song Contest. Given that the next program we're looking at started some three months later and is still going strong, Video Hits can forget about anything better than third. Here are a couple of Video Hits opening titles from the '90s.
Rage (1987– current)
A genuinely iconic program that has impacted generations of music fans and which shows no signs of flagging, the ABC's Rage has survived by being open-minded and creative. It's all about the music, and its low production costs have no doubt helped its longevity. The introduction of guest presenters in 1990, and the fact that Saturday nights are themed, has helped make each weekend's viewing more of an event; and in 2004 Rage started re-screening old highlights and episodes of Countdown, Rock Arena, Flashez, Beatbox and more, ensuring older audiences were not left behind the influx of new sounds. Of course, there's only one video we need to show you here...
MTV (1987–1993)
Pay-TV hadn't arrived in Australia in the '80s, so when MTV looked to start here, it had to work with an established free-to-air network. Thus MTV began in Australia on Channel 9 in April 1987 – the same month as Rage – as a late-night Friday & Saturday music program. Most notable perhaps these days for introducing host Richard Wilkins to our world , the program was mainstream oriented and mixed videos with interviews and other segments. Check out this LA poolside chat with Aussies Kings of the Sun, complete with clips of "Serpentine" and "Black Leather".
The Factory (1987–1989)
Yet another music program that started in 1987 – the same year that Countdown finished up incidentally - The Factory took over from Beatbox. Hosted by Andrew Daddo and Alex Papps, with reporters including Tania Lacey and Karen Leng, The Factory presented more of an in-studio music approach and more frivolity. Although it's live Saturday morning timeslot meant the young hosts sometimes took a while to wake up, as is evident from Daddo and Papps' introduction to a show below. We'll follow that up with one of the most loved Factory appearances, by Melbourne teens God, performing their indie smash "My Pal".
Countdown Revolution (1989–1990)
It wasn't gone long, but it would never be the same. Countdown Revolution took over from The Factory, with Tania Lacey staying on to host (joined by fellow yeller Mark Little). But it wasn't the old Countdown (which the younger kids probably didn't want anyway), and it wasn't The Factory either; the overt old-school mainstream record company commercialism didn't sit well with the supposed spontaneity. Let's check out Poison's appearance from the very first episode, and then the event that signalled the end of the show, when Lacey and Little protested on air about the artists having to lip-sync. The protest didn't go well – less than 10 minutes in the ABC put up the end credits. As Lacey said, "If you're not here next week, you'll know why."
Next time we'll look at the '90s – Recovery, Video Smash Hits, Take 40 Australia and more.
Keep the party going with our Hits Of The 80s playlist on Spotify:
