40 Years of Friendship… Thanks to INXS- with Glenn & Paul: Part 1

For over four decades, Paul Jolley and Glenn Davis have shared a friendship built on music—and a lifelong passion for INXS. 

In this episode, they join Bee France on the Listen Like Fans Podcast and reminisce about unforgettable concerts, meeting the band, attending Michael Hutchence’s funeral, the Concert for Life and the friendships they’ve made through the incredible INXS fan community. A heartfelt conversation filled with memories, a few tears, laughter and the enduring legacy of one of Australia’s greatest bands.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:29

There's something incredibly special about friendships that last this test of time. And today's special guests are the perfect example of that. Joining me are two great mates that have shared a lifetime of adventure, music, laughter, and enduring passion for in Access, from growing up together to playing music together, with Paul behind the drums and Glenn taking the mic. Their friendship has always had music at his heart. Their love of inexcess has taken them on an unforgettable journey. They've attended countless concerts and had the privilege of meeting members of the band over the years, experienced the emotion of attending Michael Hutchins' funeral and stood among thousands at the concert for life. Along the way, they've collected memories that most fans would only dream of. Both Paul and Glenn have both been wonderful supporters of not just one, but both of the podcasts I've been lucky enough to be involved with. They've attended several of our InXS fan events, and like so many others in this amazing community, have formed lifelong friendships along the shared love of the extraordinary band we call InXS. Outside of music, Glenn has built an impressive career as an actor in Australia across TV and film, while Paul continues to keep the rhythm alive playing regularly with his band Little Wicked. Today isn't just about in Excess, it's about friendship, loyalty, music, and memories. So grab yourselves a drink, turn the volume up and join me in welcoming two absolute legends Paul Jolie and Glenn Davis. Hi guys.

SPEAKER_01 2:16

Hello B. Hey Paul, thank you. Howdy.

SPEAKER_00 2:20

Howdy. Right, well, let's let's paint the picture. You're in your garage, but where are you, Paul?

SPEAKER_03 2:27

So I'm about an hour south of Sydney, at the top of the Southern Highlands. So yeah, it's a it's a beautiful spot. It's half an hour out of um the Sydney metro area. And as I like to say, close enough but far enough.

SPEAKER_00 2:43

That's right. You can you can nip in if you like. And and Glenn, you're a bit closer in, aren't you?

SPEAKER_01 2:49

Yeah, I'm at Engleburn, so I'm pretty much one suburb away from where I met Paul back 40 something years ago at high school. So yeah, I I moved out of here, I moved around for a lot of years and ended up coming home. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:05

All right. Well, let's go back 40 years. So how did you two meet?

SPEAKER_03 3:11

It was the Inks shirts. Yeah. I think from memory, Glenn was two years younger than me. And uh there were there were two lads in the school that was pretty full on about the school uniform, but on a Friday there was two lads in particular, you probably find them on screen right now, that would wear these unfamiliar Inks shirts to school and would get cancelled out by the teachers, but we didn't care. And uh that's exactly right, yes. The d the day we walked past each other and we're both wearing uh would have been swing era t-shirts, um the aforementioned Burn for You shirt caught my eye, but Glenn was touting. I think I had a decadence shirt on, the bright pink one, because it was the eighties, and uh we gave each other that knowing smile nod, and uh I think we're on our way to classes, so there was no time to really stop and and chat. But as fate would have it, we found each other at lunchtime and uh started chatting. And did you know this and did I know that? And the the conversation flowed on that.

SPEAKER_01 4:18

I remember I remember you you knew someone that took those photos of the band at the opera house and you had actual photos of it. I remember you came into class and and showed me those pictures, and I was in absolute awe of that. And um Yeah, it was that was my third high school, so i in that 12 months. Um I can't remember what what part of the year it was that I that I ended up at that school at at at our high school, and um, but by that stage I really didn't give a damn. I was sort of very rebellious, I was young. I um I was fully into the Os Rock scene. I I'd had the long hair, and um, yeah, I used to love going to school with my in-excess t-shirt on and and school shirt unbuttoned and and got in trouble for it all the time. Um I remember Paul making a comment and thought, oh good, there's another person here that's on my you know, in my world, and um it turned out he was the drummer of the band at school and the school band, I think you guys ended up recording in a proper studio, and it was a real big thing. Um, you know, 1984-85, um, it was it was pretty big and and over the years we've just stayed in touch. Uh I I we used to run into each other a lot at the train station on the way to work, and you'd tell me about gigs you were, you know. I I think I saw you guys at Campbelltown once in a really rough show. Um if I remember right, someone got stabbed. Stabbed in the audience. Which was right. Yeah, those were the days, but um, yeah, it's been a very long, a long excessive friendship, definitely in excess related, and um, you know, it probably got that MacField's link too, because um anyone that came from the suburb where we grew up, um there's a very strong bond between us all. Like we're all I think you're in the same boat, you're friends with people that you've known for for that period of time as well. So yeah, and and your your mum and dad too, they were fantastic people. But I used to see Wood Paul, I could hear, because we lived in the same street as well, not just went to the same school, and our street was a horseshoe. So Paul was pretty much level to me, like on the other side of the block, sort of thing, where the w but I could hear him drumming after school, but I couldn't hear the music he was drumming along to, but I knew the drum beats, and I knew it was Shibhu Shabar. And I used to hear yes, and I used to hear Paul drumming along to that album, um, you know, all those years ago, and then to get to see him perform multiple shows over the years. I've I've lost track of how many times I've seen you play, but um, you know, it's such a good vibe, and then you always chuck in an in excess song, give me that look, and this one's for you, sort of thing, and uh yeah, it's fantastic. That that bond, that in excess bond just doesn't leave, it's with you for life.

SPEAKER_02 7:08

Oh, that's fantastic.

SPEAKER_03 7:09

There there's a couple of things there too. Um any band I play in, which I all always do covers now. Um Don't Change is a mandatory. Uh any any band I join, I say to them, we must do Don't Change, and it must be the last song we play on the night. And I get looks, but um eventually they get it. So that's right. That's that's one of those things. But you know, it's um like Gwen was saying, he knew the beats and I've never felt separate as an NXS fan, but what drew me into NXS, and it was probably hearing uh a few of the earlier albums, was John's approach to drumming was different to the standard four on the floor that everyone else did. You he you hear songs like I call Black and White the Forgotten Song. It's an awesome it's an awesome song, but no one ever talks about it. Nice and and that that opening with uh you know the the doubles on the road of time and and the kick doing fours. Um that it's like uh original sing, you know. As soon as that drum boot comes in, you know what song it is. Um and that's what I found with In Excess. As soon as the song started, you knew straight away which song it was. Um and that's why I spent countless hours much to the disgust of my neighbours playing pretty much um you know, Shibhu Shabara and and and the swing, because the the drumming on it is is sensational. Um and and then it my melodic style of drumming followed on from there.

SPEAKER_00 8:41

I think Hayden used to affectionately call you Mr. Shabu, didn't he?

SPEAKER_03 8:45

He did indeed.

SPEAKER_00 8:47

It wasn't just you two as the core, wasn't there? There was other friends that have been along the way. I think I've met a few of your friends, Glenn, that were in the pack as well that you used to meet up with.

SPEAKER_01 8:59

Yeah, you've met Shane. He is um big shout out to Shane, he he's a massive NXS fan as well. I took him to his first like he's a couple years younger than me as well. It was wonderful to get people to experience what I was experiencing at the time, like take my friends to a show. Um another mad memory I've got also is we used to buy our tickets under the car park um at Liverpool, Westfield, because the ticket tech was under there. And and you know, I'd be under there and then I'd see Paul and I'd be able to slip a little bit further up the queue or whatever. And and and this was you know, this was every like it was like every year in XS at that stage would play Sydney and you and you you just look forward to that time where you're you know, here we go again, we've got another gig to go to, and and um yeah, it was like that every year until they became a little bit too popular.

SPEAKER_00 9:50

What was the first gig you did together?

SPEAKER_03 9:54

Went to Together might have been Australian Made.

SPEAKER_01 9:57

Oh it was probably actually it was probably earlier. I think it was uh Listen Like Thieves. Oh, at the end. At the entertainment centre, yeah. Yeah, okay, yeah, yeah. Yeah, because I remember we went we we went to that one. The first one I ever the first time I ever saw the band, I went to the countdown awards in 1984. Um my cousin took me and I got to see them win those seven awards and and uh we slipped like where we where we were sitting, we ended up going around to the side of the stage when they performed um with Jenny Morris when they performed um Jackson and Burn and Burn for You. And all all the hats came out of the yeah, that was a w that was an amazing experience, especially from from a kid like my like I was only 13, 14. Um, and I lived on the central coast, and back in those days, it wasn't like the central coast doesn't seem so far away now, thanks to the freeways and that. But it was a billion billion miles away from Sydney. And um to be able to experience that and go to Sydney, that was it. After that, I was like, Mum, we're moving to we're we're we're moving, we're moving. I've got to get out of this place, we've got to get closer to Sydney. So even even though I was still hours out of the city, when when I moved to to the area where I met Paul, it still felt like yeah, we're nearly there, I'm nearly there. I can start to see shows, and I was at that age where yeah, it was just fantastic. It was a different era, you could go see a band anywhere, you could see the same band three days in a week if you if you you know were that fanatical about them. And it was a big it was like supporting your footy team. You just wanted to see them succeed, and uh in excess especially, like you every every achievement they made you felt like you were a part of. Yeah, that was that was what made it so special, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:43

Excellent. So just talking about your mum then. Um I've been to your house and I've seen your scrapbook. In fact, I actually stole your scrap scrapbook for a few months.

SPEAKER_01 11:54

You're the only person I would trust with.

SPEAKER_00 11:57

I was very lucky, very lucky. Um, your mum wrote into the fan club, was that right? Yeah, tell us about that.

SPEAKER_01 12:06

All right, so Paul has mentioned a burn for you singlet. So I lived I I I lived in Kalani Vale on the Central Coast, and uh and I asked mum if I could become a part of the fan club. And um, we grew up pretty poor, you know, and so it was a big thing to pay this $15 or whatever it was to join a fan club, and then I didn't receive anything, and I was getting really upset, it was like a few months, and mum being mum, decided, oh these boys aren't gonna rip my son off, and contacted um Consumer Affairs, and they contacted they they contacted Gary Grant, and then I received this wonderful letter from Gary Grant, which you've read, which I still have, apologizing for the mistake, and they sent me all the back catalogue of what I'd missed out on, the newsletters, with a special gift being this Burn for You singlet, which which I wish I'd kept. It's it's uh yeah, hindsight's a funny thing, but um yeah, I learned my lesson and I've kept everything since, no matter how many holes are in it. Yeah, but that was that was pretty amazing. Like mum, mum was you know, she she didn't realise how big this band was at the time or how big they were gonna get, and and it was just yeah, it was really cool. And and I got all my fan club stuff, plus a little a letter of apology from from Gary Brand. And and got some goodies and never missed out on anything again, and uh and stayed as a member of that fan club for I don't know, ten years or something. That's cool.

SPEAKER_02 13:38

That's a cool story.

SPEAKER_01 13:40

That's it's funny, funny thinking back on it.

SPEAKER_00 13:44

Yeah, having having interviewed Gary, he's such a likable guy, you would have heard that interview, and I can imagine going, We got we've gotta sort this out, you know. We can't have a fan being upset, especially the mum coming, man. I look after the moms.

SPEAKER_01 14:00

Gotta sue in excess, gotta sue them for my $15.

SPEAKER_00 14:04

So, Paul, were you part of the fan club too?

SPEAKER_03 14:07

No, I wasn't. Um, I remember walking past Glenn and Scott, where in the hell did you get that?

SPEAKER_02 14:13

Yeah, pretty much.

SPEAKER_03 14:14

Oh hell, hell yes. And I remember uh because I was pretty across um having all the t-shirts at that stage, and uh I just I'd not seen that and literally stood frozen. I went, where in the hell? But uh yeah, it was a good looking shirt too. I think from memory it was uh the the cartoon of Kirk playing the acoustic guitar on the steps. You see it in the film clip when the the the special afflicts they're they're flicking in and out, and you see, you know, like the the the video image of Kirk strumming away. I think it's got like a straw hat on or something as well.

SPEAKER_02 14:50

That's right, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 14:51

That's the one, yeah. Not that I've pulled on it too much and can remember every detail, Glenn. But um I remember saying to Glenn, if you ever sell that shirt, I am buying it. Yeah, mate, yeah, mate, no worries.

SPEAKER_01 15:05

And you I think it was I think it was already gone by then, and I just said, Yeah, yeah, don't tell him, don't tell him. Yeah, I didn't I didn't really to be honest with you, Paul, I didn't really sell it. I sort of got stood over for that shirt. But anyway, that's another story. All right, then we won't we won't ask.

SPEAKER_00 15:21

Have you ever hunted for it and seen if it comes up on eBay?

unknown 15:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:26

I have and I haven't found it.

SPEAKER_03 15:29

Yes, I have it on. I've seen Glenn wearing it, and that's it. No, it's it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:34

All right, Gary Grant, if you're listening and you have it in your archives. I need another one.

SPEAKER_02 15:41

Two they'll make it three.

SPEAKER_01 15:44

Yeah, three. Bit larger, a bit larger than the one I got when I was recording. Yes, please.

SPEAKER_00 15:52

So it must have been really fun, you two being teenagers and doing all this stuff and knowing about your band. So obviously, Paul um Paul was inspired by John and the strumming. Were you inspired by Michael and his vocals then, Glenn?

SPEAKER_01 16:08

Oh, absolutely, yeah. Um, I remember the first time I saw them live, including the countdown awards, but the first time I actually saw that like the first concert, which which I'm sure was um was Listen Like Thieves or the Cilo Tiennas Moivello. There was two two concerts around the same time at the entertainment center, sort of calling calling all nations, and prior to that, the listen like thieves, I think it was. But um, yeah, it totally influenced me big time. It was like any type, and not just musically either. There was something about being a young guy, you know, into girls, all of this, lacking in confidence, whatever, pimples, and then having this guy stand on stage with greasy long, scraggly hair, acne scars, skinny, but still had this something about him, and it was like, wow, you know, like, and that was more motivation to a guy like a young guy like me than looking at someone, you know, like Duran Duran or something, makeup and all of that. Um, plus we grew up in an era of tough bands like Cold Chisel, Jimmy Barnes, and and the Radiators and Angels and and all these tough bands. Inexcess had that toughness, but but in a professional sort of way, they but yeah, they definitely next level. Yeah, I was I was influenced not just musically and and wanting to be a singer, but I felt like they were six older brothers to me, and someone people I could people I could look up to, and there were times where I'd just used that to build strength and confidence in myself. It sounds crazy, it sounds silly, but yeah, when you're that age, it it really meant it was great, they were great influences. And and they were um very so professional, they weren't like falling off the stage drunk or or anything like that. I used to I used to defend like people would uh especially after Michael died, uh people would say, Oh, about the drugs and all of this. And and I'd always say it's worse than being in a job, like get up to your alarm in the morning, you've got to do these radio interviews, you have to do these promotions, you have to do the rehearsals, you have to do the tour, you're gone from your family for eight hours. I mean, you know, like you wouldn't be able to do what what these guys did if they were on drugs and and you know, in that position. So it was that professionality that kept them going, and and I drew from that as well.

SPEAKER_03 18:30

At the party, uh I said to Kirk, after all the years and after all the separation, was it worth it? And he just smiled and said yes. You know, we knew straight away, you know. Um I think it was at the end of the Australian Made concert where Michael, as he was walking off stage, he still had the mic and he said, Thank you, Australia, thank you, Sydney, see you in a couple of years, and I was only half a dozen rows back, and was like, What? A couple of years I was heartbroken.

SPEAKER_01 18:59

Yeah, because we'd got so used to having our band every you know, even if it was only like once a year to get to see them live, you still had that to look forward to.

SPEAKER_00 19:08

So you felt him slipping away around that era because they were a bit Yeah, having to share him is a b becoming a bit more untouchable.

SPEAKER_03 19:18

Well, share them, I guess.

SPEAKER_00 19:20

Yeah. Must have been so you went to the concert for life, but the falling out in the newspapers, do you think that was sensationalised or do you think there is something in there?

SPEAKER_03 19:31

That was just the Aussie media trying to impress the British media because the British media had the reputation of the the tall poppy syndrome, we'll tear you down. And and I think the Aussie media went through a period where, oh, these guys are way too successful, let's bring them down a peg or two. You know, you found out afterwards, you know, with with the stuff that, you know, like Mark Opert shared, that bringing in the orchestra was to give the full feel of the song, and um, I think NXS were probably a little bit too innocent and and not streetwise enough for the Australian media at that stage, they were too honest for their own good. And they said, Yeah, we brought an orchestra in and we did this and we did that, but that was to give the crowd, and it was a sensational crowd.

SPEAKER_01 20:14

Yeah, it was like an attacker, it was a tall poppy syndrome, and it came back and it sort of bit in excess and and Australia on the in the ass because it wasn't a good look all around. It was a fundraiser for if I remember Vincent Vic uh, what's his name? Victor Chang, um for his research. So it was a very important thing, you know. In excess we're headlining, there was crowded house diesel, it was uh I can't remember who else. It was a a good lineup. But and they put on a fence the day before. No, I didn't, no. I didn't even know they had a sound check the day before. That would have been wicked, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:50

You went to the sound check, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 20:52

Yeah. Um, but yeah, and uh it was only it wasn't a long sound check, but you know, I tick, I got to go to it. Yeah, yeah, that was cool, and by the time I got to the concert, um a little bit under the weather, um, we were right back. We're about a hundred metres back. And uh what wasn't a an intimate experience at all, but it was still you'd hear it hear the music, which is what it's yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:21

It's uh that's the one concert. I just I I don't know, like it it's pretty hazy for me too, that that gig. Like um I remember it, but I think I was pretty smashed that day. So it was it was probably um the only concert where I sort of wasn't just focused on the band, I was more in the atmosphere of the crowd and and all of that. But um, but yeah, I still I still remember it well enough. And I've listened to the whole the audio of the concert quite a few times. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:50

So what would have been your favorite concert then, Paul?

SPEAKER_03 21:55

I think my favorite concert and it really is there's about 10. That came to mind. But I'm going to say the very first time I saw them live, which was end of 83, early 84 at the Horden Pavilion. It was the set list comprised of Shibou Shabara the Swing. The support were the Eurogliders. And I think in that tour, they'll switch in the support act between Sandy and the Sunsets and the Eurogliders from memory.

SPEAKER_01 22:26

Was that the big swing? Was that called The Big Swing?

SPEAKER_03 22:31

The Big Swing was at Heathcote Oval. I went to that too. That was an outdoor gig that had um about six or seven bands. That's the video with John O and Dano are the MCs.

SPEAKER_00 22:41

Oh yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:42

Yep, yep, yeah. I was there for that one too. I um had a really cool mum and dad who used to drive me before I had a license to all the venues and stuff, which was really cool. Um, but yeah, Horden Pavilion, I think it was 84 from memory. Um, distinctive on the night John Ferris broke a bass drum skin, and in between songs, the road crew come flying out and they manically took the skin or broken skin off, put a new one on, and Michael chatted to the crowd, and it was um pretty much like a sardine can in there, but it was great.

SPEAKER_00 23:15

Horden Pavilion, that's pretty uh an iconic venue in Australia, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 23:20

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 23:21

Glenn, how about yourself?

SPEAKER_01 23:22

The most memorable concert, and I've always said this is the Australian mate concert. It was it was there's nothing ever like it. And I think I was 16 turning 17. I was front row from beginning to end. I don't know how I did it. It was almost uh like it wasn't real towards the end of it. It was so surreal, it felt like I was um I I wasn't drinking or doing anything, but I felt like I was on another planet. It just felt so surreal. I don't know if you remember this, Paul, but the stage lifted really high. Yeah, before NXS came on, it was like, hang on a sec, maybe it's not a good idea being this close to the front. It was an incredible experience, it was something I'll never ever forget. And the whole thing, even watching Richard Lowenstein running around filming with the the train set up with the camera and and the whole thing, it was yeah, something something I'll never forget, and so happy to to have had the experience to be there. And the funny thing is, I went out I went out the night before with a friend of mine that had come from the central coast that I hadn't seen for ages, and I took him. We'd gone so 16 years of age, I took him to the city, to King's Cross, to everything. We got home, had half an hour's sleep, and then caught the train back for that concert.

SPEAKER_02 24:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:35

Um, someone woke us up at Central Station and only knew because I was wearing my NXS shirt, and they said, Are you going to this concert? Because you better get off here. And it was like, yeah, from that moment on, it was just crazy. But yeah, Australian made for sure, 100%.

SPEAKER_00 24:49

Yeah, it's great that's that film. So you must love reliving that.

SPEAKER_01 24:54

Well, it's funny because I never saw myself in the crowd because the crowd shots were so blurry until they started doing the you know the 4K update, up upgrades and all of this stuff. And I've sent you the picture, I'm sure, uh, where I'm looking in the crowd and Michael's singing and he's oh and he's got the microphone over and there's hang on, that's me. And I was like, Wow, I finally caught myself um in my purple in excess t-shirt, which which sort of stood out a bit compared to everybody else's. So was that the title? Yeah, the Australian Yeah, yeah. I don't know where I got them from. I ended up ended up having a few and I gave a few away, which won me a few in excess fan friends. But Australian Maid was was the best, but they're all in their own right. Every concert I went to was fantastic.

SPEAKER_00 25:44

Yeah. So we know that Paul is Mr. Shabar. Shabar. Um, what what would you uh go for? What would you pick up first? Or does it depends on your mood, I suppose, as well.

SPEAKER_01 25:57

Um yeah, it's very hard to rate. Um, I mean Shabu Shabar, I s I sort of okay, so when I was 10 years of age, I had this record. It was called In the Bag. It had Devo on it, it had Cure, um Radiators, it had all these old bands, but it also had in XS on there with the loved one. So this was 1981. I didn't realise who they were or anything, but I remember I loved the song and I loved that record. And then it was uh probably three or four years later when the swing came out that I really started getting into the band. I knew of the band, but I I didn't have that connection that, oh, hang on a sec. That's the same band I was listening to all those years ago. I love that song, and I remember the first time I saw that film clip too. I was like, wow, this is sensational. But for me, I think the swing is the one I've probably listened to more than any other album. There's something about that record, um, and you've got to listen to it in full, and listening to it as a record as well. There's just something magical about that album. But if I listen to the swing, I'll instantly want to go back to Shibu Shabar. So I sort of go backwards from there, and then um if I'm listening to, I'll still call it more of the modern day stuff, like um, I'll sort of stick to that period without going backwards. But um, the swing, the swing I'd say be my my go-to album. But even nowadays I listen, I really listen to them, and it's like listening to them all. There's something new about certain songs that I didn't pick up so many years ago, and it still sounds so fresh. It's even elegantly wasted, still sounds so fresh. I still think of that as a new album.

SPEAKER_00 27:35

Yeah. You know? So much to know. Yeah. I mean, 11 studio albums, there's just so much there. Did you get to hear um it's we're not supposed to have heard it, but did you get to hear the sound check of Michael and the band um doing ACDC? Long way to the top. Glenn, you haven't heard it.

SPEAKER_01 27:57

Yeah, I have heard it.

SPEAKER_00 27:59

Yeah, I have.

SPEAKER_01 28:00

No, that's unbelievable. It's fantastic. What a what a what a prize, eh?

SPEAKER_00 28:04

What a find, yeah. What a find.

SPEAKER_01 28:07

And uh and the in excess, like to hear ACDs, but with an in excess influence, it's like, well, it's just I'm getting goosebumps now. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:14

Yeah, yeah. What a find.

SPEAKER_01 28:16

Fantastic.

SPEAKER_00 28:17

What a find. Yeah, that was just uh a warm-up, wasn't it, of Michael's vocals for for a sound check. Yeah, we're so lucky that it it's good, it's just good to hear these new things that just pop up now and again. Um, looking forward to the 50th. We'll talk about that a little bit later and what we're expecting. Yeah. Um, so did you have any other and funny experiences when you got together at uh an EXS concert?

SPEAKER_01 28:44

I don't think we ever ended up actually together in a concert, did we? We're probably we're always in different spots, but we'd see each other sort of before and afterwards.

SPEAKER_03 28:52

Um Well, uh at Australian Maid, because you were in the front row and we actually did the thing through the gate and ran to the the front. And uh uh as fate would have it, unfortunately, I was with a a girlfriend at the time who was all happy to be in the front row for the first hour, and then as girlfriends do, start to complain and wanted to move back and it was too squishy and this and that. And I think by the time Barnesy came on, we're about 30 metres back, and then uh, of course, toilet breaks and morning drinks and all that rubbish. Um by the time NXS came on, I think we're about 50 metres back, and um uh she didn't realise, but that was to her last day as my girlfriend. And you got to see NXS from the front row, and I got to see them from half a football field away.

SPEAKER_01 29:41

So if you just juggle you've just jogged my memory, because I do remember seeing you and I think it was I won't say name, but I do remember and you were just to the left of me at one stage.

SPEAKER_03 29:52

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. And because we we read you you got you're a faster runner than I, and uh you got there and and I I remember you and the the guy with you immediately sat down, which was for me. And I was like, so I left my mate for dead.

SPEAKER_02 30:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 30:08

Yeah, we hit the wall. I ran and hit the wall, and I went, sit down. So we sat down, and apparently that gives you that little bit of extra space, but uh explained how the rest of the day evening panned out for me, which I wasn't very happy about.

SPEAKER_01 30:22

Yeah, because my mate wanted to sit down too up the back, and I was like, I'm not staying I'm not sitting back here, mate. I said, I'm going. I'm going. Yeah, it's alright, see ya. So I I just I didn't see him till the show was over.

SPEAKER_03 30:33

So a quick private joke for Glenn and I right now. Hi, Lynn.

SPEAKER_02 30:41

Everyone's laughing about that now.

SPEAKER_00 30:45

So at what point did you decide that you wanted to meet the band members?

SPEAKER_03 30:52

I actually passed up a few opportunities to meet the band. Um we went to some gigs um at different places and and and I won't name drop, but there were some people that were sort of in with the band, some you know, some you know of. And, you know, you'd sort of hang around after the show was finished as you do and score the odd drumstick or or ple guitar plectrum or or set list. But I remember I was at a after Michael, I was at a show in It was Kudos Bank Arena, but it was downstairs. They called it the the Grand Ballroom, and John Stevens was singing. And uh I remember I got Kirk to sign something for me, and the pen was almost dead, and and he looked around at me smiling, went, Your pen sucks, and I went, Yeah. So I raced out, grabbed a second pen, came back to him and he signed it again, and I just looked at him dead pen and I went, gonna need to see some ID, mate. And he just burst out laughing. He liked how cheeky I was that night, you know, and and then uh I got some really good pictures of John Stevens. And at that stage, John had switched to the white drum kit, and he was wearing uh like a heart a white heart hat. Um that was around the oh I think it was I Get Up was the single they released. So yeah, so it was around that time and uh another time up at Wyong afterwards again those same sort of people in in that circle. Um come backstage and I'm like, nah, it's and and I say this with respect, that's more for the girls, they want to go back and get the photos and and all that. I've always had a thing I I didn't care about the image of NXS, I loved the music, and that was my tunnel vision. I just loved um the this the sound and the endorphins that NXS music releases in my brain takes me to a place that no drug can be. Um and it's funny being in my 50s now, when you go back and listen to the first two albums, if you really can sort of isolate yourself and just really focus on the music, there's some Easter eggs in those songs that you hear in later albums. Um and and it's funny the the podcast, because I was pretty much unashamedly, I'd listened to Shabu through to kick and wasn't overly interested in the other albums. But the podcast, especially when you did the track by tracks, opened my mind again to listening, and and you'd hear something off the self-titled first album, or underneath the colours, you'd hear a melody or a bass run or a drum pattern, or even Michael singing something, and you go, Hey, I could hear, oh that's eh right, you know. And I I won't say that's the museum in me, but I I just recognised um the the level they were out there, and then they did took it to uh to a as they got better, they just took it to that next level.

SPEAKER_01 33:54

Yeah, you could hear those sorts of things.

SPEAKER_03 34:00

But with the obviously as as they progressed up through the world of of music, um the quality of of the the gear and the the producers and and and everything, it sounded different, but it was still the same. You know, it was it was the in excess sound as I as I call it, and that that was something I sort of really picked up on and and and I just call it an Easter egg because it's there but it's not obvious. And um yeah, you hear those things in the music and you go, Oh wow, you know. Yeah. But yeah, me meeting the band and all that i is cool. It's not specifically my thing. Um I think I had about a three-minute conversation with um Kirk when he turned up at the party uh at the start, because it was only about Glenn and I and Shane and and a couple of others there, which was pretty cool. Um we were having the chat and turned around and the KP standing there with a smile on his face. We all sort of had the uh uh uh uh sort of thing, but where did he come from?

SPEAKER_00 35:02

Didn't he just tap you on the shoulder and said something like where's the bar or something?

SPEAKER_01 35:06

No, he he just stood there listening to the colour. Yeah, we were talking and and and all of a sudden I felt someone behind me and uh tap on my shoulder and I look around and it was Kirk and he said something, and I was like, Oh, we were sort of a little bit shocked because you know, we had a feeling he may be, or you know, we thought maybe he will show, but for him to actually turn up and have such a great time that was fantastic.

SPEAKER_00 35:29

Did you get to chat to him too, Glenn?

SPEAKER_01 35:32

Yeah, we had a we had a uh couple of nice chats, and um I got him to do a little recording for Lisa. Um she was pretty unwell at that stage. Yeah, yeah, Lisa Mac, and um he was so like kind enough to to go out into the hall and just let me record a little message for her, which we sent to her that night. And um I think the maddest experience, and and to see that on video the other day where someone's actually filmed it, and you can see me with Kirk, that was like, wow, hang on a sec. I haven't seen this. Yeah, to to experience him watching Don't Change band play and a strip back don't change as well to to play um Never Tear Us Apart, and and that was just like wow. If you'd have told me something like that was a dream if you'd have told me that when I was 14 or 15 years of age, I never would have believed.

SPEAKER_00 36:21

Yeah, that was a dream come true for me to to have um hear in excess's music played stripped back like that, intimate with with a big group of friends that just got it, and then for Kirk to rock up as well. Um about it all. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 36:42

I really hate to say this, Spee, but I don't think you can top that night.

SPEAKER_00 36:46

I don't think so.

SPEAKER_03 36:47

I remember I I dropped um I think it was Paul Bussy, um Glenn home, and then I drove home and I sort of got home and it was stupid o'clock in the morning, and um I I sat there and made a cupper and went out the back and I'm a smoker, so I'm sitting in my bar out the back and I've got my cupper and my smoke, and I was sort of just sitting there and dawn wasn't too far away. And uh I just went that was the perfect day-night party. That's I I say without any doubt, that was the best party I've ever been to. Uh I've I've been to a few over the years, you know, in different different places, but that was just everything. But if you went checklist, what would you like? That was pretty special tonight. Yeah, yeah, and and and so blessed. I feel so blessed.

SPEAKER_01 37:39

Richard Richard Simpkins as well to experience that with Richard talking and to see him to see him and Kirk give you that hug and and and that you know, just to be there and it's like, oh you've got to stop giving me goosebumps. Um that was that was special.

SPEAKER_03 37:54

Not showing off, but if you weren't there that night, you really did miss out.

SPEAKER_01 37:58

That's all that that's if if you know, you know. Like if you if you're in that scene and you understand these people and how important it is, it's it's extremely special. And that night was fantastic.

SPEAKER_03 38:09

And the other thing too, you know, I mean, I got I know you both notice it. I I play in bands and I'm up on stages and stuff, but when I'm in that social setting, I tend to retreat to the back of the room, which I did, but I felt so comfortable that night with people that I met that day. Um, there were people from you know, meeting Danielle and her husband who are the most lovely humans.

SPEAKER_00 38:31

I come all the way from America, yes, with John J Matt.

SPEAKER_03 38:35

Yeah, yeah, and you know, w wishing hubby a speedy recovery from the hit replacement.

SPEAKER_02 38:41

Doing really well, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 38:43

Yeah, absolutely. He just wants to get out and play golf, I've seen. But um, you know, and and Danielle's lovely, and you know, everybody that was there having the same love of a certain band and a and a style of music, and you could just walk up to anyone on the night and and start a conversation and feel comfortable. And you know, like on I don't have choir boy church good looks, so you know, I look like a bit of a thug on the on the best of days, and that particular day, I mean, all black with a black leather vest, so probably look more like security than than I guess. You didn't come out, but you know, it's not not the first time, but um yeah, I could walk up, have a chat to anybody, male, female, um, and the conversation just flowed because we all shared that um community feeling, and and that's compliments to yourself and Hayden. Um that's that's something you've established with with the group that we have. Everyone feels welcome. Everyone, um, whether you're a 1% fan or an all-in 100% fan, everyone's included. And and and and I commend you both for you know continuing on. And it and it's just so cool after the gap to be welcomed back into a community of like-minded people. So thank you.

SPEAKER_00 40:07

Thank you very much. That's very kind of you. We just needed something else, didn't we? Because the band aren't really doing anything, so I had to step up as well to do to to do the events. But um I have a little bit. Um I'm I'm not as as active for a little bit, but I will step up next year when the 50th arises. All of that apart, one special moment was when I was with you two actually, outside the church of Kirk, and the rainbow appeared. And that just still double rainbow between Lily Cry. Yeah, it was like you found you found me, I see you, you you see me from Michael.

SPEAKER_01 40:53

Yeah, that was that was the moment, wasn't it? I remember walking out and I turned around. I think I was talking to Paul, or and I looked over and went, wow, look at that. And then everyone just sort of turned around. We all started taking photos.

SPEAKER_03 41:06

Um was extremely busy organizing the next part, and I went, oi, you know, R see this, check this out. And you and you almost almost went, hang on, and then you seen the determination on my face, and you go, All right then. And when you seen it, I I just seen your shoulders dropping like, oh my god, you know. And it to appear to land right on the top of the church, which was it did really good.

SPEAKER_00 41:30

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I was on the coach ready to go. I was like, come on, we've got to get the party going. But wait. Glad yeah, okay. Oh, yes, that was such a great day. Such a and then we even had a few um ladies uh uh come over from England as well, didn't we? Or they'd come from Spain, but they were English.

SPEAKER_01 41:50

Spain, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. I remember them.

SPEAKER_00 41:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:53

See that that that rainbow and coming out that it reminded me of after the funeral when we all walked out because it was such a hot day. Um and and there was this massive thunderclap just as just as they drove off uh with with Michael's coffin in the back. And I'll never ever forget that it was almost theatrical. It was almost like someone who written a script and said, you know what will be perfect? Massive thunderclap just as they drive off. And and it was like, wow, you know, that very second, and then the rainbow, and then I don't know if you've seen the 60 Minutes interview where Kirk is talking about the weather. I think it's Kirk or John as they start saying, Oh, it's raining, typical Michael. Every time we talk about Michael, there's a storm or there's rain or there's something which which sort of makes you wonder and think, well, maybe he's saying, Thank you. You know.

SPEAKER_00 42:51

Or I know I I should be there with you.

SPEAKER_01 42:53

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 42:54

I think they were at the ABC studios, weren't they? And there was a clash clash of th thunder outside. Well, were you at the funeral as at Michael's funeral too?

SPEAKER_03 43:04

No, I I didn't go. Um well I I kind of did, but I didn't because by the time I got there I got on the a train that was running late and was delayed. Oh wow and you couldn't get you just couldn't get near the place. So um I th I think I was sort of on the the corner of the block across the road where the Woolworths is, and um hung around and sort of seen a little bit bits and pieces, but didn't get into the the the church or anything like that.

SPEAKER_00 43:31

So So the crowd was massive outside, was it?

SPEAKER_03 43:34

Yeah, there was people everywhere.

unknown 43:36

Right.

SPEAKER_03 43:37

And of course you had the people that knew what was going on, and then being right at Town Hall there, um, that's busy on any day, night of the week anyway. So um even when we were there as a group, people were stopping to have a look what we were doing. Um on our bus tour. You know, they're seen all the Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, no, there was a it was a couple of groups. Of people that walked past and were like, well, what all these people wearing the same sort of shirts? And so they walked over and had a listen to you guys talking about a couple of different things and then wandered off. And it was the same on the same on the day.

SPEAKER_00 44:11

Day, yeah. What time of day was that? Was it later on in the afternoon or is it closing in the morning?

SPEAKER_01 44:19

It was middle of the day through to early afternoon, if I remember right. Yeah. I was working night shift at the time and I chucked a sickey to go to the funeral. I didn't tell them that I was going to Michael Hutchins' funeral. I thought I'd just ring in Sick and um they televised it, didn't they? And I was you're on the news. I was filmed a number of times, and uh it was really weird because then I went back to work after that and uh and my boss came up to me. He goes, Oh, he goes, Oh, I I was watching um Michael Hutchins' funeral on television and I saw you a couple of times. He goes, I didn't know you were friends with Michael Hutchins, and I went, I don't really want to talk about it.

SPEAKER_02 45:00

And I just left him at that.

SPEAKER_01 45:04

I rang um my partner at the time afterwards, and I and just to check in and say, I said, I'm gonna go have a couple of drinks, I'll be home soon. She goes, I watched the whole thing on on TV. She goes, uh, you might have to explain yourself because you were on TV about three or four times at specific at specific moments too. So look, you know, in hindsight, like looking back, I'm so glad I went. I got told I wouldn't be able to I got told don't you won't get in or anything like that. And I'm like, Yeah, well that's fine. I I don't mind, just I just want to be part of it. Like Paul just said, there was there was crowds of people, and I I'd literally just walked over and I was just looking into the church doorways through a fence, and I don't know if he was uh it was something to do with the church, he was uh you know, a minister or something. He I saw him just looking at me, and then all of a sudden he just walks straight over to me and says, Do you want to come in? And I'm like, Who me? And it's like, you want to come in? I'm like, Yes, please. And I just followed him, signed the book, and next minute I've I've walked in and I'm looking around, and where I was seated, I remember Peter Garrett and Ian Moss being very close by, and I saw um the rehearsal from with Into My Arms through Nick Cave, which was very um, very emotional. It was incredible. Um, I can't even talk about it. I can't listen to that song. It's very hard to listen to that song. But the whole experience is such a hot day, and and then you had that idiot Peter Hoare do his interruption during the um actual recording of Into My Arms. Um, that was pretty horrible. But um, it was a highly emotional day, surrounded by other people that were feeling exactly the same as me. It was so emotional, and I have watched it a couple of times since, but it took me a long time to watch that funeral.

SPEAKER_03 47:04

Yeah, I've never watched it.

SPEAKER_01 47:06

You should, I'm in it. No, no, it's uh it is it probably now you'd be able to watch it. In but um, yeah, it was it was so surreal. I'd hate to imagine that funeral in this era with mobile phones and and whatnot, because it was very respectful, because it was such a uh an emotional event and and still so surreal. It wasn't a case of, oh my god, there's Kylie, oh my god, there's such and such. Oh look, there's Tom and Jones. It was just a case of oh, that's so good to see them here.

SPEAKER_03 47:39

There was no star starstruckness or it was outside when when they got out of their you know, the cars and and were walking in, the crowd the crowd got sort of a bit pop culture-ish, yeah, which I found in extremely bad taste, but you know, as most Gen Xs will say we didn't really have the iPhones and stuff around then, thank God.

SPEAKER_01 48:00

And um Thank God, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 48:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 48:03

No, I think everybody that was in there were all in the same mind mindset, it was all about farewelling Michael, and uh it wasn't us it wasn't about you know whose autograph you can get or whose photo you can get. It was all just you know, it was it's very, very deep, surreal moment. Um, and you just felt so much for everybody. When I looked at the band uh sitting at the at the front, there it was just one of those moments you can't take back.

SPEAKER_00 48:28

It was quite emotional listening to yourself and Chris McKay and Craig Hicks all tell your individual stories in the church together. How did that make you feel knowing that to to meet people that would had been there?

SPEAKER_01 48:43

It was yeah, that was that was uh that was really nice to to hear that and and like I say, we're to to know we're all experiencing the same thing at the same time. Um also like you know, my lady, my partner, she's her boss was also um at the funeral as well. I met her and we we started talking in excess and and um yeah she was there too, not far from where I was. But yeah, it was it was amazing to be able to to be standing outside that church, you know, so many years later with other people that had experienced the same thing. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 49:18

I'd like to add something about Paula. You saw Paula walk in with Tiger and walked and walked to the front. Um in in Tina's book, um Michael's mother Pat actually told Paula off in the church. Did you see any of that happen?

SPEAKER_01 49:39

No. I remember when Paula turned up, and when Paula was there, there was commotion at the front. There was something to do with swapping seats, there was there was a lot of um the whole atmosphere sort of changed at that point. That's all I really remember is is that um yeah, things sort of seemed to change when she walked in. There was a lot more noise, a lot more of this and that. But um, I I don't really know what happened exactly. But yeah, you could feel you could feel the animosity in the room. Yeah, the band, the band members themselves, I remember they were seemed to be friendly and and whatnot, but I think the family side of things might not have been at the time.

SPEAKER_00 50:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 50:25

Yeah. Which is understandable.

SPEAKER_00 50:27

Oh yes, it would have been awful.

SPEAKER_01 50:31

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_00 50:32

And then you heard the speeches. Um Richard Wilkins spoke on behalf of the fans. Did you think that was the right person to stand up for everybody?

SPEAKER_01 50:43

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I think so at the time. Richard Richard was like the Sydney version of Molly Meldrum, I suppose. He he he was the face of MTV and and whatnot. And um, yeah, uh I remember his speech very well. I remember Andrew and Rhett's speech, and that it was just like I say, it was so highly emotional. It was um it's embedded into my brain like a movie for forever.

SPEAKER_00 51:11

So Nick Cape was there and he sang. Did he did he speak at all?

SPEAKER_01 51:16

He didn't speak, so I so I was sitting where I was sitting, and all of a sudden Nick walked past towards the piano, cigarette hanging out of his mouth as a staple of Nick. Um, and I'm like, that was the only time I really got starstruck. I sort of looked at it and went, Oh my fucking god, that is sorry, that is Nick Cave, like wow. And um that song also I'd had I'd heard that song before and the film clip. If you've ever seen the film clip, it is a highly charged emotional clip with a lot of tears. So if when he performed the rehearsal side of that, it just yeah, that was that was one the rehearsal was stronger than the actual performance that was recorded because it was interrupted by that goose Peter Hoare.

SPEAKER_02 52:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 52:06

Serial offender, serial pest. That was an amazing experience. But so Nick was smart too because he um he knew it was a televised event, but he didn't want that part televised. So that's that section where the interruption happens and all that was never actually recorded.

SPEAKER_00 52:22

Or it or it was, but it was never televised.

SPEAKER_01 52:24

Yeah, televised. Yeah, not televised.

SPEAKER_00 52:28

Yeah. So it was important for you to attend that. Did it give you closure on on Michael's passing? You must have like when we'll we'll talk about how you both heard about where you were um when Michael passed this. I I hope I'm not gonna upset the pair of you because I know that you loved Michael.

SPEAKER_01 52:49

I didn't prepare myself for that, yeah. Um it I don't know if it gave me closure. I think I think it maybe just in a sense, maybe just was a like like a giveaway sign to the next chapter, possibly. But um yeah, closure, I don't think there's ever been closure. Not really. I'm I'm sure you guys can relate to what I'm saying, but yeah, there's never really been closure. Not not when it comes to something like that. Yeah. If it was a car accident or something, yeah, possibly closure, but something like that, I don't think there's ever closure.

SPEAKER_00 53:31

Because we s really still don't know what happened, do we? I mean, everyone can make up all these theories, you know, that you know drugs. Um, we've heard murder, we've heard suicide, we've heard the sex thing, we don't really want to talk about and there's just so much that we don't know and why it's the why, isn't it? Why? Why did that happen? Because if this was the beginning, again, back in Sydney, you hadn't seen them in the how long play.

SPEAKER_01 54:04

Yeah, the Horde and Pavilion show. Um God, I can't even remember what year it was.

SPEAKER_00 54:11

94?

SPEAKER_01 54:13

Yeah, maybe 94, yeah, around 1994, I think it was. And I had my tickets um to see the the upcoming show, so we're so looking forward to that. The Don't Lose Your Head tour, and you know, we all know what happened.

SPEAKER_00 54:27

So And where were you, Paul, when you found out and how did it happen?

SPEAKER_03 54:32

I was I was actually out shopping and uh we're in Liverpool, Gladia Westfields, where we used to buy our tickets from back in the day. And walking through, and a couple of girls walk past, and one of the girls just said, Oh my god, Michael Hutchins is dead and I stopped frozen and dead my my wife who's been with me all those years. Um she just put her hand on my back Yeah went hard.

SPEAKER_01 55:06

I remember I was working um I was working night shift at the time and everybody that knew me knew not to contact me. Do not call Glenn while he's trying to sleep. And I had the old fashioned answering machine and it was Saturday morning and I could hear the phone ringing and I could hear the clicking of the machine and I went out to check it because I thought well it must be important, and it was um my friend Shane who who had heard something and he just left a message going, Glenn, I I I think something's happened to Michael Hutchins. Um I I think he might be dead, and it's like I heard the message and I'm like, oh, well, you're in you know, nothing's happened to Michael, you're tripping. Went to go back to bed, and then the phone started ringing again. And and this is the part that gets the lump in my throat, is is that I'll never forget it. Is um I I walked back down the hallway and I could hear my mum's voice ringing me. And and all she said was, um You okay, Glenn? You okay? And the second I heard her voice, I knew I knew there was something real about the f the phone call beforehand, and um I thought, okay, well, if this is true, there'll be something on TV. And I turned the television on and I was watching the the cricket was on. I went, no, no, the cricket's on, it's all good. And then all of a sudden I saw the cricket flashing across the bottom of the screen, and that was it from that moment on. Yeah, it's still hard.

SPEAKER_03 56:55

It's marvelous all those years on how it's still.

SPEAKER_01 56:58

Oh yeah, but it's still hard. Just remembering my mum's voice and and because she, you know, she knew how much this band meant to me and how important they were, and and um yeah, I'll never forget that moment as long as I live.

SPEAKER_02 57:13

And it's still real, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 57:17

Oh, it's still so hard. It's still so hard. And uh like for me too, I've I've I lost my best friend to suicide uh only three nearly three years ago. And it's so hard to deal with and his name was Michael as well. Um you know, so it touches a nerve thinking about that and and then thinking of you know, I was only early 20s, I'm 55 now. The amount of people I've lost since that, you know, is a is a lot, but that still touches a nerve that that can't, I don't know, it can't be fixed. It'll never be fixed. I think the healing side of it is all of us together and the times we get together and to relive it and to see like don't change band is is the closest. I've seen a lot of cover bands, but they are so respectful to Michael and such a good band in their own right. Um not just to Michael but to the whole band. Um it was such you know, to have those guys be a part of our our special, you know, events and that too just makes it even better.

SPEAKER_00 58:32

I told you to take you both there. I really feel terrible that I've taken you both there, but people who are listening are understanding the pain that you both are still holding on to. Michael was just so special, he he he didn't deserve to go that way at all and to go so long.

SPEAKER_01 58:50

He was sort of like the most non-depressing musician singer you could come across. He's he was so positive, his lyrics were positive, his everything he said was was positive, he's never a downer sort of person. So you'd never really expect to lose him in that manner. Um a drug overdose maybe or or something crazy, but crashing his bike, but not um not that. No.

unknown 59:16

No.

SPEAKER_03 59:17

I honestly believe that the best was yet to come. That's a bit to me. Yeah. You know, the the the back catalogue is you know astounding. Um but I honestly believe the best was yet to come. Yeah, that's that that's what I struggle with is you know, who knows what would have come out of these guys as they matured even more through life and had more life experiences to draw on, and Michael's lyrics, Andrew's music, um plus the contributions of the rest of the band. Who knows? We'll never know. Who knows?

SPEAKER_00 59:53

Yeah, yeah. Well, you did continue to follow in XS when they decided to get back together again um with John Stevens, because you would have known John Stevens Stevens from Noiseworks as well. Did you think that was the right fit? How how did that feel to you seeing John Stevens from In XS?

SPEAKER_03 1:00:16

Did you go to the Metro, Glenn? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I went there.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:21

Yeah, that was that that was more closure than anything, I think. That that show was very special. Yeah, John Stevens was a good fit. Like when they f the first time they got back on stage was the mushroom event, and they did that with uh Jimmy Varnes. They did uh they did Good Times and and a couple of other songs, The Loved One. Um, I thought that was that that moment I'll never forget to see them up on stage again, and with Jimmy, of all people, who who I love as well. Um, but yeah, that concert was amazing with John Stevens. I got to meet meet the guys beforehand. We we just stumbled across them in the lane just outside the metro. Johnny went past first. I was like, oh, this John got a photo, and and then Andrew and and then we jumped in the me and Shane jumped in the Tarago van with Tim, and um that was a funny experience with Shane telling Tim to can you put your cigarette down and your um drink for the photo, please? And all of this, and you know, and oh okay, no worries. And yeah, that was an amazing yeah, that was an amazing experience. There was a few other people there, spy of love. Helen. Helen, yes, Helen. That's when I met Helen and a friend were out front, and she remember she surprised me with the photos that she had from all that time ago. That was that was pretty freaky. Um but yeah, that that concert itself was was so memorable. Um such a special thing.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:50

Lots of tears. Before before they started, I remember being really nervous and almost felt guilty seeing them without Michael. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Again, I I I had my gorgeous wife with me, and uh she sort of stand there making sure I'm okay and stuff, and uh I think by the time halfway through the first song I sort of relaxed, took a took a breath, and uh just enjoyed the show and and hearing the music live again.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:18

Um that was recorded too. There was someone I remember someone with a camera there recording the whole thing, and they've recorded interviews with us and and a few other people, and and I've never seen that footage. So whoever recorded that, I'd love to see.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:31

I think it's Darren, isn't it? Is it Darren Jones? I know that he's got he's got quite a bit of footage.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:39

Oh I had yeah, because I had a good chat with Darren that night. Um that was w one of the first events, and we were talking about how I won the inexcess.com, the inaugural prize, um regarding the inexcess Merry Christmas single. And I wrote my little yes, that's Kirk singing, da da da da da, and and next thing I'd forgotten about it and and got told I won the competition and I'll and I won the autographed um tour book. Yeah, it might have been Darren filming that, but um, I'd love to see it. I'd love to see it again. There is a recording on YouTube of of John Stevens performing with the band, but overseas somewhere. It's not Michael. You know?

SPEAKER_00 1:03:21

It's it wasn't no.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:22

You know, it was sort of like a celebration and uh and and something for the I felt like it was something for us to release, something we didn't get to release. But um yeah, it still wasn't the same, unfortunately. Sorry, John. You're you're pretty good, but not Michael.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:38

No, yeah. But he wasn't really trying to replace him, was he? He was doing it.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:45

No, no, that's what I mean. Yes, exactly. I think he was I mean, for him to have put his hand up and and do what he did, like yeah, it was very grateful that we had someone that we can respect and we know he's a fantastic voice and and a real rock star to do that. That was amazing.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:03

Yeah, I'm amazed that he isn't bigger than he is. Um globally, John John.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:08

Oh, yeah. Reputably he is like a lot of people know who he is, um, overseas musicians and that. Yeah, he did it. I actually got a a single, he did a a single with the band Dead Daisies. Do you remember them, Paul? Yeah, is it Dead Daisies? Yeah, Dead Daisies. That was pretty cool. That was an overseas band. Yeah, nothing will nothing will ever be the same as a proper NXS concert. You could see them with John Stevens, you could see them with JD Fortune. It it's it's just not the same.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:38

Unpopular, probably unpopular opinion. I actually quite liked when uh I think it was the 2000 Olympics and Terence Trent Derby got up with them. Oh for me personally, um that was my favourite of the post-michael singers. Yeah. I think Terence had a style that was unique and different and and it suited the music. Yeah, I know he messed up he messed up some lyrics and stuff, yeah. Okay. But I remember watching it sort of sitting there, arms folded, what are you gonna do? And well once once the song started and his voice with that music for me in my ears, it it worked. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:19

Well he's got that soul voice, hasn't he, that Michael had. He's got his back.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:24

Absolutely he could take the vocals to places that the others didn't. But he's saying that John John, you know, I always sort of say the music for me comes first. Uh the fact that John's still doing half the set list in his shows today, yeah, you're probably in tonight. Um that's testament to the quality of the songs. Yeah, yeah. That everybody loves the music.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:46

Yeah. I think uh we heard that um Gary Beers actually really enjoyed listening to uh Terrent sing the songs as well. And he wishes they'd done more together. I think that was a management thing though, wasn't it? I think there's a bit of footage somewhere of Terrence saying, Oh, the man manager wants me to have more money for this king or something.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:07

So Yeah. Double or something like that. I I personally thought it was a good food. I know many others don't but I did too.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:19

Yeah. I think there is a bit of a line there that some people said they really thought it was good. Were you actually there?

SPEAKER_03 1:06:26

No.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:27

Okay. So the people that were there said it didn't really sound that good. But the people who watched it the video said it was.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:37

So I watched I watched it on tele and it sounded great.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:40

Great.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:41

Yeah to me. That's the that's the problem with outdoor shows. If you're in a bad spot the sound could sound bad. It's a risk you take but um absolutely good to me.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:51

I've seen John a few times and uh there was a show I think it was uh Rugby World Cup opener and NXS with John performed outside. So we didn't go to the rugby but we watched went and watched the concert. We're only about ten meters back from the stage and uh it was awesome. It was absolutely awesome and I think because I'd already seen them at the Metro with John that sort of my brain adjusted to all right this is what it is now and went and seen him a few times and just to hear the music for me was was fantastic. And John a quality vocalist as we all know. And yeah you know he he he did it justice which is all we asked.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:33

Oh my god guys we've been going on for um quite a while and we do need to cut this into two parts so if we can just say goodbye to the listeners and that we'll be back in a couple of weeks with part two is that alright that sounds good I'll be back I'll be back you'll be back bye bye before we wrap up I just want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for listening sharing commenting and being part of the Listen Light fans family. If you've enjoyed the podcast and would like to help to keep the microphones on and keep the interviews and bonus content and special projects we'd be incredibly grateful if you consider being a supporter the link is in the description