The riveting narrative of a man who propelled Cold Chisel into the limelight of rock and roll stardom.
At the tender age of 18, Rod Willis embarked on a journey to London, the epicenter of 1960s music and fashion.
A decade later, having worked with UFO, Savoy Brown, and Fleetwood Mac in the US and Europe, Rod returned to Australia fueled by an intense desire to elevate an act to the pinnacle of success.
His quest led him to the undiscovered talents of a band named Cold Chisel.
Little did Rod anticipate that taking on the role of their manager would mark the start of a remarkably triumphant 32-year alliance.
Established in Adelaide in 1973, Cold Chisel is an Australian pub rock band founded by core members Ian Moss on guitar and vocals, Steve Prestwich on drums, and Don Walker pllaying piano and keyboards.
The lineup expanded with the addition of lead vocalist Jimmy Barnes, and in 1975, Phil Small joined as the bass guitarist. While the band disbanded in late 1983, they have regrouped a few times for various concerts.
With their peers such as The Angels and Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel earned a reputation as one of the most electrifying live performers of their era. Early in their trajectory, their concerts consistently transformed into sold-out spectacles.
However, the band was equally notorious for their unrestrained lifestyle, notably embodied by the hard-drinking Jimmy Barnes. Embracing his role as one of the wild figures in Australian rock, Barnes was a fixture on stage with at least one bottle of vodka, often reaching a level of inebriation where maintaining an upright stance became a challenge.
Dirty Pool Management Agency
Along the way, Rod Willis played a pivotal role in founding the groundbreaking Dirty Pool Management Agency, reshaping the landscape of the local music industry.
In the late Seventies, Dirty Pool co-founders John Woodruff, Ray Hearn, and Rod Willis revolutionized the Australian live music industry by embracing the ‘door deal’ concept, originally pioneered by bands like Dragon, and scaling it up significantly. With a client roster featuring Cold Chisel, The Angels, Flowers (Icehouse), and Debra Conway, Dirty Pool bypassed the middle man, engaging directly with venues.
Contrary to the prevailing practice of artists receiving a fixed fee for their performances, determined by agents and venues, Dirty Pool introduced a groundbreaking model.
Under this new approach, artists received ninety percent of the entry fees from their shows. This innovative strategy redirected more funds into the pockets of artists.
‘Ringside‘ invites you behind the scenes of studios and beer barns, the crucibles that nurtured bands like Cold Chisel, unraveling the story of how they ascended to become Australia’s premier musical ensemble.
Despite initial challenges, their breakthrough came with the 1980 album ‘East,’ a chart-topping success and one of Australia’s highest-selling albums. Rod steered ‘Chisel’ until 1983, culminating in their unforgettable Last Stand tour.
In 1996, Rod orchestrated Cold Chisel’s return to both the studio and the stage, a seemingly improbable comeback that resulted in the 1998 ‘Last Wave of Summer’ album and the groundbreaking ‘Ringside’ tour of 2003.
“They say there are 8 million stories in the Naked City well I couldn’t get that many in the book, but there are some crazy times for sure in RINGSIDE”
Rod Willis
Throughout his 50-year odyssey, Rod encountered a kaleidoscope of experiences and personalities, ranging from The Beatles and notorious groupies to mobsters and music industry legends. Amidst these encounters, he witnessed the creation of a musical legacy that has become an indelible part of the great Australian songbook.
Ringside: A tale of music and mayhem from the man behind rock and roll superstars Cold Chisel
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