FRANKIE J HOLDEN AND WILBUR WILDE

Take two of Australia’s legends of Rock and Roll - who also just happen to be household names through their work on TV stage, radio and film - put them together on stage with a hot band, and you have the recipe for a superbly entertaining, energetic and professional showstopper event! 

​

Frankie J Holden and Wilbur Wilde first came to prominence in the mid-seventies with the legendary Aussie rock band OL’55, and since then have both enjoyed incredibly diverse careers on stage and screen. They are both individually instantly recognisable to any Australian as classically Australian, and when they are together, well, they are a couple of classics. 

​

Frankie J Holden was born in 1953, the same year as the FJ Holden was first manufactured and during the course of his diverse career he has become as much an icon as his automotive namesake. 

​

On screen he has created some of Australian television’s most memorable characters through leading roles in: Embassy, Round the Twist, “Police Rescue, Something in the Air, Underbelly and currently, A Place to Call Home. 

As one of Australia’s best known actors, Frankie J has been recognized with many accolades within the industry including two Best Actor Awards and two nominations for Best Supporting Actor from the AFI, and has appeared in over thirty films both here and overseas. 

​

In theatre, Frankie J has toured with The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Grease, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll and most recently Don Parties On for the Melbourne Theatre Company. 

​

As a popular TV presenter, Frankie J has shared his experiences roaming around the globe with millions of viewers on Channel 7’s The Great Outdoors (1993-1996); hosted In Melbourne Tonight(1996 – 1999), and is currently co hosting with his wife Michelle Pettigrove What's Up Downunder on the TEN Network. 

​

Additionally, Frankie J is an outstanding presenter in high demand as a celebrity host for corporate events, bringing to the forum a highly professional, entertaining and energetic show regularly alongside his great mate and saxophonist Wilbur Wilde. 

​

Wilbur Wilde first rose to fame as saxophonist with the great Aussie rock bands OL’ 55 and Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons. Over the years he has performed and recorded with some of the biggest names in the music industry including Skyhooks, Elvis Costello, Tom Jones, Split Enz, Roy Orbison, Cold Chisel, Dire Straits, the Angels, Dragon, James Reyne and Jimmy Barnes. 

​

Wilbur instantly became a household name as the resident saxophone player/comedian/nuisance on the phenomenally popular TV show Hey Hey Its Saturday from 1984 to 1999. That gave Wilbur Wilde two hours exposure every Saturday night in millions of lounge-rooms across Australia for 16 years! 

​

Since then he has made a number of guest appearances on shows such as The Flying Doctors, MDA, The Paul Hogan Show, Blankety Blanks, Sale of the Century, Celebrity Squares, MTV, Getaway, Postcards and Spicks and Specks. 

On screen, Wilbur has had roles in Mad Max 1, Coolangatta Gold, Dead End Drive-In and in theatre in the ground breaking production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in the mid 1990’s.

​

Coupling a huge personality, well honed sense of humour and a contact list the envy of Richard Wilkins, Wilbur has also has a long career as a radio presenter on numerous Melbourne stations, most recently as Drive host on Vega 91.5. 

Together, Frankie J Holden and Wilbur Wilde bring to the stage great music, featuring the hits of OL’55 (On The Prowl, Looking For An Echo, Ruby, Two Face Have I, Rockin’ Christmas etc.) and a cavalcade of classic songs from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.

​

But wait, there’s more: Frankie J and Wilbur also bring to the stage their incredible skills and broad experience as all-round entertainers, honed through their work in all the other areas of their long and successful careers. They are musicians, certainly, but they are also raconteurs.... and ragers! They don’t just play the songs, they play the audience, take them on a journey: they make them laugh, they make them sing, they make them dance. They have the versatility to successfully work any audience of almost any age, in any setting. What they present is infectious, and it works! 

​

With Frankie J as the front man and Wilbur on sax by his side, mix in some hilarious banter and performing all their greatest hits from their multi platinum.