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PLEASE BE WARNED
this episode contains discussions of drug use and mild course language

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A band can survive bad luck. It can even survive bad habits. The real question is whether it can survive itself.

We sit down with Craig Bloxam of VSpy VSpy to trace the full arc: the teenage moments where loud guitars and screaming crowds flip a switch in your brain, the first gigs that make it feel possible, and the leap into the Sydney music scene where chaos and ambition live side by side.

Craig talks candidly about the era when drugs were everywhere, how squat living in Glebe turned into a makeshift creative engine, and why writing original songs became the only way forward. If you care about Australian rock history, pub gigs, and the lived reality behind iconic records, this one goes straight to the source.

From there, we get into the turning points music fans love and musicians need: the last-minute gig that starts the phone ringing, the backstage moment when Midnight Oil manager Gary Morris offers a path to a record deal, and how Countdown could change a band’s life in a single Sunday night. Craig also breaks down album titles, songwriting process, and what it took to turn rough ideas into records that still hold up.

We close with the 40th anniversary story: reissues on vinyl, rebuilding the live band with players like Paul Greene and Bob Spencer, rehearsing deep cuts, and taking the show back around the country.

If you’ve ever wondered what fairness looks like inside a band, Craig’s long-running decision to share royalties equally is a masterclass.

Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with an Aussie music lover, and leave a review with your favorite Spy Vs Spy song.

What is Andrew Farriss up to at the moment? Let's find out

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Suggest an interview for Cheryl Lee or let us know who your favorite interviewee is so far

Join Cheryl Lee - That Radio Chick on STILL ROCKIN' IT for news, reviews, music and interviews with some of our favourite Australian musicians

That chorus chant didn’t start as a plan, and it definitely didn’t spread because of the internet. It spread because crowds loved it, passed it on, and turned one Angels song into a piece of Australian culture. We’re joined by Australian music legend John Brewster for a relaxed, funny, and surprisingly moving chat that reaches far beyond a single hit.

We go back to the roots: four generations of music in the Brewster family, from classical Adelaide and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra connection to the “black sheep” moment that pulled John toward rock and roll. John shares the records that shaped him, from the Everly Brothers to Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, plus what it meant to see Dylan live in 1966.

Along the way, we talk about learning music by ear, why lyric-writing mattered to The Angels, and how today’s world of YouTube changes the learning curve for young players.

Then we dig into the big milestone: the 50-year celebration of “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again,” the national tour, and the wild path from early flop to all-time anthem.

John opens up about working with Harry Vanda and George Young, the creative pressure of the AC/DC era, the moment the band heard the chant explode in Mount Isa, and the sad real-life story behind the lyric.

If you love Aussie rock, classic Australian bands, and the real mechanics of how songs become legends, this one’s for you.

Subscribe for more conversations, share this with a mate who knows the words, and leave a review so more music lovers can find the show. What’s the one song that instantly takes you back?

What is Andrew Farriss up to at the moment? Let's find out

Get out when you can, support local music and I'll see you down the front!!

Visit: ThatRadioChick.com.au

Suggest an interview for Cheryl Lee or let us know who your favorite interviewee is so far

Join Cheryl Lee - That Radio Chick on STILL ROCKIN' IT for news, reviews, music and interviews with some of our favourite Australian musicians

The older I get, the more I want artists to tell me how the work really gets made, not just how it gets marketed. That’s why this chat with Andrew Farriss hit so hard. You might know him from INXS, but he’s here as a songwriter first, walking us through his solo album The Prospector and the singles getting attention now, including Rolling Home and Honesty. We talk about what happens when you put introspection on the record, and why “searching” is more than a theme, it’s the engine behind the songs.

Andrew takes us back to the early spark: seeing The Beatles up close in 1964, then slowly building toward a band life through writing, jamming, and taking the unglamorous gigs that teach you how to perform. From there, we pivot into the modern music industry: streaming, corporate layers, and the way big tech can sit between human artists and the audience. Andrew makes a strong case for why Nashville works as a talent pipeline, and why Australia needs better structures, stronger local radio support, and a serious national commitment to Australian music.

We also dig into specific tracks on The Prospector, including the anti-war edge of I’ve Got Eyes On It, plus the joy and challenge of collaboration with writers like Jess Chalker, Ciaran Gribbon, and country music figure Lawrie Minson.

And yes, we even touch on farm life, cattle, grains, and the need for rain, because that’s part of who he is now.

If you care about songwriting, country music in Australia, and what it takes to build a lasting career after the headlines fade, you’ll get a lot out of this one. Subscribe, share this with a music friend, and leave a review with your favorite moment from the conversation.

What is Andrew Farriss up to at the moment? Let's find out

Get out when you can, support local music and I'll see you down the front!!

Visit: ThatRadioChick.com.au