Australia's first CD

The things you learn from TV!

I try to avoid having the TV on the commercial channels in case the wife sees something that she wants to spend money on, but last night I was watching Talking About Your Generation and one of the questions was what was the first CD made in Australia. It's was the great Farnsey's Whispering Jack in 1986. How about that?

And I can't believe that Farnsey didn't make a farewell appearance at Michael Jackson's big bash.

Michael Jackson Memorial Service

I know I will be up at 3am tomorrow to watch the Michael Jackson Memorial Service.

I may have to sleep in and miss the morning from work, but I am sure they won't mind.

It has been reported that 17,500 people will be attending the service. I am sure that John Farnham would get a bigger crowd than that. I hope I am around to attend.

By Demand

Don't miss out. Tickets are on sale as of today.

And don't forget is is all by demand - http://www.farnhambydemand.com/.

Farnsey is only back because we all demanded it!

Huge news!

Farnsey is back! The rumours are true. And he is on his way to Hobart!!!

From The Age:

Australian music legend John Farnham has announced he's making a musical comeback with a national tour later in the year.

"I'm tired of being retired," Farnham, 59, said as he made the announcement at Sydney's Lyric Theatre.

Farnham said he was inspired to get back into the business after performing his hit You're The Voice with Coldplay at the Sydney Sound Relief concert this year.

"When I walked off stage I was two foot taller," he said.

Farnham also plans to work on an album of new songs.

"The difficulty is finding grown-up songs - I don't want to sing 'ooh baby'," he said.

"I'm not going to hurry this."

His tour called John Farnham Live By Demand will kick off in Sydney on September 3 before going to the Hunter Valley, Hobart, Brisbane, Perth, The Barossa Valley and Melbourne.

Farnham has been in retirement since 2007, after performing live at the Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony in Melbourne in 2006.

Speculation surrounding the singer's retirement has circulated since 2002 when he announced his Last Time tour.

A disgruntled fan who had purchased tickets for the tour lodged a complaint with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission after Farnham announced he would tour again, with singer Tom Jones in 2005.

The consumer watchdog decided not to take action.

Cruel comments about Celine Dion

Celine Dion's version of AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long" has been rated the worst cover song ever.

What a cruel thing to say. Poor Celine must be appalled to hear the result of this Total Guitar poll.

An even more disgraceful aspect of the poll - they didn't rate Farnsey's version of "Help" as the best ever cover version.

I am back

It's good to be back.

I would prefer not to go into too much detail, but there was an over-reaction about the temporary borrowing of the petty cash tin.

My computer access is now somewhat curtailed but I will post as many frugal or Farnsey related issues as often as possible.

Cheers!

The Great Debate

I was very disappointed with the debate between John Howard and Kevin Rudd last night.

While they may have covered tax cuts, climate change and the war in Iraq, where was the rebate for frugalness? Where was the discussion of the arts? Where was the passion for not spending money???

I am heartened by one of John Howard's final act of government before moving to caretaker mode (although only just announced). He has granted $6m to the Bradman Foundation to build a shrine to The Don.

Surely the next logical step is to donate $12m to the Whitey Foundation so that I can build a shrine to The Voice.

Mall queuing

There was a long queue in the Elizabeth St Mall on Thursday, so thinking that there must be a good freebie on offer (why else would people queue up?), I joined the line.

After 25 minutes I got to the front and had Brendan Fevola autograph a John Farnham photo - it was the only thing I had on me.

I hope it will be worth plenty in years to come.

It was 30 years ago today ...

...since Elvis left the building.

A great man. Up there with Farnsey as one of the best.

To celebrate I will be watching a tape of Blue Hawaii that the missus recorded off the TV for me a few years ago.

I have been saving it for this very special day.

Protecting Farnsey

Good to see that Glen Wheatley is looking after Farnsey's reputation and keeping him out the media spotlight.

I am sure Farnsey always pays his taxes.

Glen Wheatley

Two and a half years for tax evasion! What a disgrace. He should have got life for bringing the great man's name in disrepute.

Luckily for Wheatley he had references from Bert Newton (though not Bert's son) and Peter Cosgrove.

Didn't see Farnsey's name mentioned.

Farnsey shrine

Just got back from a one week seminar in Melbourne on "improving efficiency in the public service". 200 people from our department spent Thursday to Monday hard at it, from 9:30am to 4:30pm except for the weekend and the 3:00pm finish on Friday.

The coffee was more extravagant that I was used to - they splashed out on the Black and Gold home brand rather that standard Caterer's Blend.

Other that that, we heard some great talks on how to efficiently empty the stationery cupboard, how to study part time while working and how to maximise expense claims.

The highlight for me was the pilgrimage to the Farnsey statue at Docklands. There is an empty space where the Graham Kennedy statue used to be, but fortunately, the thieves decided to leave the great man behind.

Someone had defaced Farnsey by putting old chewing gum in his mouth. I carefully removed it all, stood back and admired "The Voice" for a few hours and then returned to the seminar.

Just in time for afternoon tea.

The Voice

If anyone needs to book a John Farnham tribute show, please do so at entertain oz.

Michael Castle has an amazing voice and according to the website: "A Tribute to John Farnham - when you can't get the real deal, try second best".

Quoting Michael: "While it's great to be paid for what we do, the most important thing is to keep Farnham's reputation for quality and professionality at it's highest standard. That way we keep him proud and his fans."

I can't wait until he comes to Hobart.

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg has been denied a visa to enter Australia because he failed the character test.

I hope the Americans don't retaliate and stop Farnsey leaving Australia.

More Dame Kiri

Just who does Dame Kiri think she is?

How could someone see themself as more important that Farnsey?

How could someone not like his concerts?

From Yahoo news ...

SYDNEY (Reuters) - An Australian firm is suing opera diva Dame Kiri Te Kanawa for up to A$2 million (789,000 pounds) for pulling out of three scheduled concerts with pop singer John Farnham after she learnt his fans threw panties at him.

A Sydney court heard on Monday that Dame Kiri thought Farnham's live shows were "absolutely horrendous", according to the Australian Associated Press.

She had been scheduled to appear with Farnham in 2005 at Melbourne and Sydney concerts billed as "Two Great Voices", AAP said, but cancelled in March 2004 despite assurances by concert organisers Leading Edge Events that no underwear would be thrown on stage.

English-born Farnham, 57, is one of Australia's best-known performers with a career spanning four decades. But he lacks the international renown of New Zealand's Dame Kiri who sang at the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles to Diana Spencer.

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa

Why would someone not want to appear on stage with the great Farnsey? I know I would love to perform a duet with him.

From the Sydney Morning Telegraph ...

KIWI diva Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is set to be the superstar witness in a Supreme Court trial in Sydney next week, accused of refusing to sing with John Farnham.The breach of contract case, which begins on Monday, will pit the opera great and her agent against Australian promoters Frank Williams and Eileen Newbury of Leading Edge Events, who were forced to cancel a series of concerts featuring Farnham and Te Kanawa two years ago. Tickets for the three shows, scheduled for the Domain in Sydney and Werribee in Victoria, were selling strongly with corporations, who rushed to buy tables at the concerts for $9500 each. Promoted as ``Two Great Voices,'' the naming rights alone were apparently set to bag Leading Edge Events $900,000. Te Kanawa's alleged no-show could cost the diva $300,000. At the time of the cancellation, reports suggested the Dame had complained Farnham was ``too chatty'' when performing on stage.