ROSS WILSON

Ross Wilson is probably the only person in Australian rock music who can't make a comeback simply because he's never been away.

In a career that spans over 30 years Ross remains one of this country's most respected artists. From Daddy Cool to Mondo Rock, as a solo artist, or as songwriter of A-grade classics such as "Eagle Rock", “Come Back Again”, “Cool World” & "A Touch of Paradise", or producer of the legendary Skyhooks, Jo Jo Zep, & recently The Screaming Jets, Ross's involvement with success has continued unabated.

Daddy Cool exploded out of the 70's playing rootsy 50's sounds. Mondo Rock surfed the contemporary scene from the mid 70's to the late 80's. As a solo performer and major songwriter he continued to achieve success & make his mark through the 90's to the present with his songs being recorded by artists as diverse as Jimmy Barnes, John Farnham, Def-FX, Custard, Jennifer Rush, Troy Cassar-Daley, You Am I, Renee Geyer, Christine Anu, Elkie Brooks, Lee Kernaghan & Anne Kirkpatrick, Beccy Cole, and the Wiggles!

2001 saw Ross back on the front line as the result of a decision to return to regular live performing & recording. A new solo album "GoBONGO GoWild!" was released in April 2001 & displays the vital influence that blues-based music, such as early R&B and jazz, continues to have on his performance & songwriting styles. 

Rave reviews for GBGW! led to an alliance with Shock Records & the November 2001 release of “Now Listen! The Best of Ross Wilson", a 30 track, 2CD retrospective distillation of Ross's career to this point. From his first release with The Pink Finks in 1965, to brand new & previously unreleased early recordings, this wide-rangeing compendium is the official 'history of', as selected by the man himself.

In 2002 Ross continued to prove his ability to span eras & genres with capacity attendances & over the top reviews for his shows at the Port Fairy Folk Festival & Byron Bay’s East Coast Blues & Roots Festival.

August thru September 2002 RW hit the road with the Long Way To The Top national tour. Featuring major Oz Rock heritage acts, & selling out 18 major arenas, LWTTT became the rock event phenomena of the year as well as spawning a gold ‘live’ CD, platinum VHS, & multi-platinum DVD.

The summer of 2002-03 saw RW continue an ever expanding live date schedule with major Music Festival appearances including the Queenscliff Music Festival 23/11/02, A Day On The Green 1/12/02, Tamworth Country Music Festival 22/1 & 23/1/03, Melbourne International Music & Blues Festival 8/2/03, Music By The Bay 16/3/03 & the Canberra Blues & Rock Festival 17/3/03.

June 2003 While Ross Wilson & The Urban Legends embarked on a mainland National Tour - Melbourne/Darwin/Perth/Brisbane/Gold Coast/Byron Bay/Adelaide/Canberra/Sydney; every state & territory except Tassie, playing to full houses all the way - Ross’s CGI alter ego King Mondo was charting nationally with The Wiggles version of Eagle Rock, an excerpt from their animated space adventure DVD Space Dancing (due for US release in September). 

On a more serious level his 2003 CD release Country & Wilson completes the ‘roots of Ross Wilson’ CD trilogy that commenced with ‘Go Bongo Go Wild!’ (blues-based) & continued with ‘Now Listen!’ (rock’n’pop). Country & Wilson includes tracks produced by Nash Chambers (Kasey Chambers brother/producer), with hot pickers from both North & South of the Mighty Murray River enlisted to get the best from these great new songs. Since its release in late February Country & Wilson has received unanimous praise from reviewers as airplay & sales continue to grow with the track Nothins Right Nothins Wrong being circulated on national country music sampler NFS#80.

Make sure you experience our own national music treasure & thriving living legend, Ross Wilson, when he comes your way.