Rewind: from mosh pit to main stage

Starring

• Cold Chisel: Countdown Awards 1981
• Kylie Minogue: Live at the Apollo 2003
• The Easybeats: Top of the Pops 1966
• Archie Roach: Why I Write Music 2007
• The Beatles: Australian Tour 1964 

Cold Chisel - Countdown Awards 1981

Rock chaos and a vodka exit

At the 1981 Countdown Music Awards, Cold Chisel weren’t in the mood for speeches. After winning seven gongs for their album East, they skipped the acceptance speeches, changed the lyrics to ‘My Turn to Cry’ to take a swing at awards sponsor TV Week, then unleashed pure rock chaos.

Guitars met amplifiers. The set took a beating. Jimmy Barnes grabbed a bottle of vodka and walked off as the curtain dropped – abruptly.

In this clip from Cold Chisel’s Last Stand (1984), Jimmy breaks down the infamous moment before the footage rolls. It's a wild, unfiltered snapshot of a band playing by their own rules – and an unforgettable piece of Australian music history. Watch it unfold.

Explore more Cold Chisel

Kylie Minogue: Live at the Apollo 2003

A masterclass in movement and control

Kylie Minogue brings full pop spectacle to the Apollo Theatre in this 2003 live performance of her biggest hit, ‘Can’t Get You Out of My Head’.

Originally streamed online and later broadcast on Network Ten, the concert features slick camera work, flawless sound, and a signature Kylie aesthetic – from the angular choreography to her striking red outfit, a dramatic contrast to the regimented moves and monochrome styling of her backup dancers.

Written by Cathy Dennis and Rob Davis, the track hit No. 1 in 40 countries and cracked the US top ten, cementing Kylie’s global icon status.

Kylie’s live shows are known for their choreography, costumes and theatrical polish – qualities celebrated in exhibitions from Melbourne to the V&A in London. This performance proves why she’s pop royalty, and why that hook still lives rent-free in your head. 

Explore more of Kylie's career

The Easybeats: Top of the Pops 1966

A breakout performance and an instant success

This long-lost clip of the Easybeats performing on Top of the Pops in 1966 is the stuff of pop culture gold.

Found during a clean-out of former ATN7 director Tony Culliton’s belongings, the 16mm film captures the Aussie band’s breakout UK appearance – a turning point that rocketed them to international success.

With 15 million people tuning in, the song hit No. 17 in the British charts. The track, written by George Young and Harry Vanda, became a Friday anthem for the working week – youthful, defiant, and full of anticipation.

Most episodes of Top of the Pops from the ‘60s weren’t preserved, so this rediscovered footage is both rare and hugely significant. And it still hits like a Friday arvo high.  

Read more about 'Friday on My Mind' 

Archie Roach: Why I Write Music

Reflections on truth, healing and storytelling

The late Archie Roach used music to make sense of the world – and help others do the same.

In this 2007 concert excerpt, the Gunditjmara and Bundjalung Elder reflects on how songwriting became a form of self-therapy. Each album, he says, holds a mirror to his life at the time of writing – from trauma and grief to love and healing.

A powerful storyteller, Archie was also an author, advocate and performer who paved the way for future generations, often alongside his partner Ruby Hunter.

In his memoir Tell Me Why, he wrote: ‘I don’t try to sing to impress or educate. I sing to honour... Respect and truth are the cornerstones of my life now and when I play, I play to respect the stories.’

His song ‘Took the Children Away’ was added to the NFSA's Sounds of Australia in 2013.

Explore more of Archie Roach's career  

The Beatles: Australian Tour 1964

When the Fab Four rewired pop culture

The Beatles touched down in June 1964 for their first – and only – Australian tour. Cities came to a standstill. Fans screamed. Youth culture shifted.

Over ten concerts in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, the Fab Four caused a frenzy. Their arrival changed the face of Australian music media and made headlines around the world – especially when 350,000 people lined the streets of Adelaide to welcome them.

This newsreel captures the chaos and joy of the moment, with concert footage from the Sydney Stadium in Rushcutters Bay. The sound was dubbed over – reportedly because all you could hear in the original audio was the crowd losing their minds.

Explore more of the Beatles' connections to Australia

Looking for more? 

• Do yourself a favour and read 13 surprising facts about the impact of music show Countdown
• Discover 10 songs that capture the flavour of an era in our 1984 time capsule
• Take a deep dive into the career of Jimmy Barnes

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Main image: crowd of people at a rock concert, iStock. Photographer: Anton Vierietin