RW digs: John Lee Hooker, John Lee Booker, Booker T, T-Bone Walker, Jnr Walker, Duane Eddy, Eddie Kendricks, Eddie Bo, Bo Diddley, Diddley Daddies, Daddy Cool, Paul Burlinson, Johnny Johnson, Willie Johnson, Willie Steele, Chester A. Burnett, Howling Wolf, Wolfmother, Mothers of Invention, Jimmy Little, Little Walter, Little Milton, Little Richard, Richard Berry, Chuck Berry, Berry Gordy, Lightning Hopkins, Lightning Slim, Slim Harpo, Harpo Marx, Sleepy John Estes, Sleepy Jackson, Jimmy Reed, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Miles, Cannonball, Coltrane, Mingus, Bernie Worrell, The Worrals, Lazy Lester, Lester Young, Gary Young, Young Jessie, Jesse Belvin, Ross Hannaford, RAW, SOVM, Mighty Kong, King Kong, Hong Kong, George Clinton Parliament Funkadelic, Marvin Gaye, Marvin & Johnny, Johnny O'Keefe, Rose Tattoo, Roy Ayers, Ayers Rock/Uluru, Oz Rock, George Duke, Duke of Earl, Earl Bostic, Prince, Queen Latifah, King Curtis, Curtis Mayfield, Percy Mayfield, Motown, Martha Reeves, George Reeves, Eris O'Brien, Eric Satie, Eric McCusker, Skip James, Etta James, James Brown, Brown Eyed Handsome Man, Man Ray, Ray Beats, Hot Wax, Stax, Van Hunt, Beanfield, The Dramatics, The Delfonics, The Stylistics, The Spinners, Tom Bell, Wayne Duncan, Weezer, Rick Rubin.
I like Noir films: e.g. Gun Crazy, Nightmare Alley, Out Of The Past, The Killing, Detour.
And hard boiled crime books including local blokes like Peter Temple, Garry Disher.
***Sign up to Ross Wilson's personal email list at www.rosswilson.com.au *** 'Ross Wilson & The Urban Legends' are Ross Wilson's touring band. Its members are among the finest musos in Australia & New Zealand. Ross has his own website at rosswilson.com.au but this myspace entry is dedicated to info about all the Urban Legends.
***VOCALS - Lead singer Ross Wilson is an Australian music success story who would be remarkable if only for writing the enduring Oz Rock classic 'Eagle Rock', a hit first for his 70s breakout act Daddy Cool. Since its release in 1971 'Eagle Rock' has been heard around the world. Recent outings saw it covered by kiddie kings 'The Wiggles' & included in the soundtrack of international box office smash horror movie 'Wolf Creek'.
***However Ross is also responsible for many other great moments in Australian music. He wrote 'Cool World' & 'A Touch of Paradise' for Mondo Rock & sang the definitive versions of 'State of The Heart' & schoolie anthem 'Come Said The Boy' both written by Mondo Rock's guitarist Eric McCusker (now a member of The Urban Legends).
***KEYBOARDS - Keyboard artistry is provided by John McAll who has his own MySpace entry to fill you in. John brings his jazz background & arranging skills to the ULs repertoire which consists primarily of material from Ross's long & successful career with songs from Daddy Cool, Mondo Rock & recent solo albums. A highlight of their collaboration is 'Mood Swing' from the 'Go Bongo Go Wild' album (2001) with John's piano out front in this sparse & succinct recording.
***DRUMS & BASS - bass Chris Paraha, drums Davey Porter. Both originally from NZ Chris & Davey are much sought after for their adaptability. Playing regularly with outfits in Melbourne that range from funk to jazz, rock to Dr&bs Davey & Chris have carved out solid careers in the Land of Oz though they still side with the NZ All Blacks when it comes to rugby. Davey has a MySpace site.
***GUITAR - While still in high school Eric McCusker started out playing guitar in Renee Geyer's 'Dry Red'. After ditching medical studies for music he did road time with Jeff St.John, Jon English, & The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band before finding himself auditioning his gtr skills & songs for Ross Wilson's Mondo Rock in early 1980. He immediately provided the Mondos with their 1st big hit 'State Of The Heart' (later covered in the US by Rick Springfield). More Mondo hits flowed from Eric including 'No Time', 'The Queen & Me', 'Summer of 81', 'Chemistry' & 'Come Said The Boy' until Mondo Rock disbanded in 1990. Invited to join The Urban Legends circa 2003 Eric has reunited on the stage with Ross and they also participate from time to time in Mondo Rock reunions. Whatever the occasion the combination of Wilson & McCusker is musically potent . His Mondo Rock hits provide a key portion of The Urban Legends repertoire. Eric is also a writer-director of APRA, the Australian Performing Rights Association.
***THE ROSS WILSON TRIO a/k/a RW3 - Ross, Eric, Chris, & Davey perform semi-acoustic gigs as the RW3 with Ross switching from electric to acoustic guitar. The repertoire varies somewhat to that of the ULs. The familiar hits take on a new sound with this approach. Songs such as 'Hi Honey Ho' & 'Come Back Again' sound more like the country blues that inspired them.
Ross Wilson & The Urban Legends's Friend Space (Top 28)
I have been playing the new album quite a lot, it is also on constant rotation in mum's car!
I was aiming to make it to the Revesby show, but will be at the footy that night - I will still be hearing your voice through the speakers! Storm v Eagles... its my favourite thing when Storm play Manly up here.
I hope to make it to the Penrith show the next night!
I'd also like to add I loved what you wrote up about Bo Diddley on your site... I was lucky enough to see him once, and I won't be forgetting it for a long time.
I have just written a small article on Bo for the next Big Beat issue.
Hiya Ross...Thanks for The Friendship...A Great Honour to be Accepted on Your Page... LOVE THE MUSIC.!!!!!!!! Cheers & Support from Me & ALL My Media/Music Bizzos Here... ~Denny & The Team~. p.s. you would know my uncle from the old days...well a few years ago.lol. Have an Awesome Weekend.!!!!!!
Dream of Music of all varieties. When we grow we all feel they rhythms of music within our life
Sadly most of forget how music filled our lives as we all tend to grow up and out of music.
The Dreamers keep all aspects of the music.
To others they follow the general flow and go to show the substance is a cash flow.
The Dream of music has been hidden.
Because of our families, we are all driven to go with societies flow.
No matter how it goes. The dreams of music is never forgotten, Put in a cupboard of mind.. And pressured to conform. The Real dreamers are never forgotten. Their lives are filled with passion, Imagination and regeneration of music.
The note is formed The keys are heard The words are written and all is put together.
In heart, this music flows. To reach your ears, your body, your soul. The music has vibrations that will always grow within you. It matches your vibrations and then it reaches deep within you, you become apart of music and music becomes a part of you.
The Music, just like you, grows.
Man knows that music comes from deep within.
For Music dreamers have been around on from the beginning of time, right up till this very day.
Music Of dreams will always become a part of everyone's heart. This is where every woman, child and man knows', that this is part of everyone's dream. This is where Music and Dreams become one.
Each person feels the music, his or her own way. Each person feels the belonging of music. Each being feels.
HI Ross. You know you're a Truly Great producer when over thirty years later, the Skyhooks still sound as fresh as Robbie Williams on a very good day!!! Lovin your new acoustic album! Great to hear all your classics redone! Personally would have prefered acoustic guitar version of Eagle Rock. That riff is one of the most memorable in music history, yet got lost in the jazz version. Keep up the great work Ross!
Cheers for the add. Your music sounds great! I've been a big fan since I was a kid. Hope to catch a gig soon (maybe in Murray Bridge). Keep those sounds happening. Don't forget to drop by for a listen sometime.
Thank you all for your recent performance at the Waterfront Café. It was so wonderful to hear the Mondo Rock songs live! A big thank you for being so kind to my family and for the photos. Please come back soon and keep on rockin’!
