VALE STEVE PRESTWICH

Steve Prestwich (left) and his Cold Chisel bandmates: Ian Moss, Don Walker, Steve Small and Jimmy Barnes. The best band I ever laid ears on.

Not many people outside of Australia know the name Steve Prestwich.

But if Steve and his band, Cold Chisel, had come around 10 years later than they did, or been formed in the U.S., he and his mates would be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame today.

I've mentioned "The Chisels" in this blog before. For my money, they were Australia's finest-ever band -- and the best pure rock band I ever heard.

I may be biased. But I followed Cold Chisel closely back in the day, from the early Sydney gigs when there were literally less than a dozen people in the room, through to their massive sellout farewell shows in 1983. (They've played occasional gigs since -- some to huge audiences, and some smaller gigs which have sold out in as few as three minutes. I also read that The Chisels reformed for some gigs recently and are apparently releasing a new album later this year.)

Steve was Cold Chisel's drummer from Day 1, when they started out in Adelaide in 1973. He was born in England but landed in Australia when his family migrated in 1971. Not only was he a top-notch drummer with a distinctive style, he was a drummer who actually wrote songs as well. Bloody good songs.

One of my favorites is "Flame Trees" which he co-wrote with keyboard player Don Walker.

Prestwich and co. were a huge part of my youth, and that of scores of thousands of other Australians. So this is a big loss for many people. And it makes you feel old.

But then you turn the volume up on a Chisels album and you can smell the sweat and beer and smoke like you're back in one of those great pubs, front and center, watching them "set fire to the town" in their prime.

That kind of spirit never dies.

Take care,
Adrian Zupp

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