The H Files with Kevin Hillier

Long, long time ago Don McLean had a hit with American Pie. Fifty five years later, we still love the song and Don will be playing it live during his October Australian tour to celebrate that 55th anninversary. Don chats about his life and times, including American Pie and why he is still performing at the age of 80. The ongoing musical autopsy on the song American Pie is not a concern to Don, as he tells me "It is the hand I have been dealt. And it is a winning hand." I also ask Don: Is American Pie his greatest work? How did it feel to have a classic song written about him?  Who are the three men he admires most ?  Don McLean's American Pie 55th Anniversary Tour begins October 10 at Mareeba. Tickets at Ticketmaster and more at https://donmclean.com/       By comparison, the relatively youthful Mental As Anything are only celebrating their 50th anniversary. Reg Mombassa and Peter O'Doherty, musical and real life brothers, join me to discuss the new tour, the documentary that chronicles the band's history and some of their favourite moments from those heady days.  Described as an ambitionless band, the Mentals had a string of top 40 hits spanning three decades, sold out shows across Australia and international success when they least expected it. The Mental As Anything 50th Anniversary Tour starts June 12 at The Gov in Adelaide tickets at Ticketmaster. More at  www.mentalasanything.com  Coming soon Episode 36 with Eric McCusker of Mondo Rock fame.        Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media © 2026See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the eve of his farewell tour of Australia, Ralph McTell joins me to chat about his many Australian experiences, his enormous catalogue of songs, his love affair with his guitar and the ups and downs of having such an iconic hit as Streets of London.   My other guest is David Briggs, another man known for his prowess with the guitar. It was that skill which brought him to our attention as a long time member of the Little River Band in their halcyon days. Not only a guitarist, David wrote one of the band's biggest worldwide hits, Lonesome Loser. The story behind that song, his days on the road and in the studio with LRB plus life before all that are discussed in part one of this interview.        The H Files with Kevin Hillier Episode 33 with Ralph McTell and David Briggs. Ralph is touring across Australia from May 7th tickets https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=RALPHMC26 Coming soon Episode 34 with Francis Rossi of Status Quo fame and David Briggs Part Two.  Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media © 2026See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Skyhooks were a rare combination of fan favourite, media darlings and respected musicians. They wanted to be noticed, and they were.The H Files brings you stories and recollections about Skyhooks from many different people, inside and outside the band. It is not a Skyhooks history lesson, more a homage to a very exciting era of music and a band that led the way with an original sound and look that captured the nation.  In Part 5 you'll hear Ross Wilson, who saw the band in the very early days, signed Greg to a music publishing deal and then became the producer of the first three Skyhooks albums. Ross' memories take you inside the studio, on the road in the USA and more.   3XY disc jockey Mark Irvine got teamed with Shirl in 1984 for a short term Rocktober on-air promotion that became a permanent pairing. They became a very successful radio team and a professional and personal partnership was formed. Peter Green was a 70s Wollongong teenager who loved the music and that passion led him to Melbourne, where he is now official historian and the man behind the Official Skyhooks Facebook page and YouTube channel, plus curator of Skyhooks memorabilia.      Musical excerpts in this episode  Hey What's the Matter   featuring Steve Hill  live Benefit Concert  Living in the 70's     Shirl solo Live soundcheck Melbourne Music Festival 1988 Love's Not Good Enough    From Ego is Not a Dirty Word  Blue Jeans   from Straight in a Gay Gay World  Women in Uniform  from Guilty Until Proven Insane Jukebox in Siberia     The Latest and Greatest       Ego is Not a Dirty Word    Ross Wilson featuring Bongo Starkie  Five Decades of Cool Palais Theatre 2009 Every Litte Bit Hurts    Shirley Strachan solo single  Crazy Heart    from Straight in a Gay Gay World 3XY Shirl & Irvine Show    1988  courtesy of Ken Francis  Love on the Radio    live from the In the Heat of the Night concert Myer Music Bowl Melbourne 1975 Let it Rock       Hits and Riffs  Meglomania, Life in ther Modern World and Don't Take Your Lurex to the Laundromat    from ABC TV Special  Guilty Until Proven Insane  The H Files with Kevin Hillier  Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media www.howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts © 2026See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Skyhooks were a rare combination of fan favourite, media darlings and respected musicians. They wanted to be noticed, and they were.The H Files brings you stories and recollections about Skyhooks from many different people, inside and outside the band. It is not a Skyhooks history lesson, more a homage to a very exciting era of music and a band that led the way with an original sound and look that captured the nation.  In Part Three, guitarist Bob Starkie - universally known and loved as 'Bongo' - shares his memories in one of his final interviews before his passing in November 2025. We retrace the early days, pre replacing his brother Peter in Skyhooks, meeting Greg for the first time, being in studio with Ross Wilson, the American tour and life after Skyhooks, including his Rio adventure with Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs.  Recorded only weeks before his death, Bob also talks about his health battle and his positivity is testament to the man. Ross Wilson also pays tribute to Bob in a small excerpt from his full Skyhooks chat, which will be in Part 4.    Music in this episode  ‘Hey What’s the Matter’    Sydney Opera House 15th of September 1974. ‘Ego is not a Dirty Word’  Bridgeway Hotel, Pooraka South Australia Sunday 24th September 2023     Vocals Laura Davidson ‘Mercedes Ladies’    from  Ego is not a Dirty Word ‘Every Chase a Steeple’   from Ego is Not a Dirty Word ‘Is this America’   from Straight in a Gay Gay World ‘Carlton Lygon Street Limbo’   'Bongo' Starkie performing with fellow Skyhooks members Greg Macainsh and Bob Spencer 'Rockin' for the legendary Doc Neeson - The Voice of The Angels' in 2013 at Cherry Bar. ‘Horror Movie’      Bongo Starkie's Skyhooks Show performing 'Horror Movie' at the Harley Davidson National Hog Rally Saturday - 23rd September 2023 ‘Party to end all Parties’        from The Skyhooks Tapes ‘Balwyn Calling’      Skyhooks featuring Ross Wilson Rockwiz October 2015 ‘All My Friends are getting Married’     Bongo Starlie’s Skyhooks Show  Adelaide  October 2024  featuring  Sasha Theunissen  on vocals      The H Files with Kevin Hillier  Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media www.howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts © 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Skyhooks were a rare combination of fan favourite, media darlings and respected musicians. They wanted to be noticed and they were. In the first of a four-part series, The H Files brings you stories and recollections about Skyhooks from many different people, inside and outside the band. It is not a Skyhooks history lesson, more a homage to a very exciting era of music and a band that led the way with an original sound and look that captured the nation.  Part One features Greg Macainsh, the man who wote the songs, and what game changing songs they were - Living in the Seventies, Balwyn Calling, You Just Like Me Coz I'm Good in Bed, Toorak Cowboy, Women in Uniform and Ego is Not a Dirty Word. Greg created the sound of Skyhooks and lyrically shattered the stereotypical rock song.  Greg shares some of his thoughts on the band, the music, fame and much more.  You will also hear from David Briggs, the former Little River Band guitarist and songwriter given the task of remastering some Skyhooks material over the years.          Songs excerpts included in this episode in order Toorak Cowboy  (demo with Steve Hill on lead vocals) Living in the Seventies Horror Movie  All My Friends are getting Married  Women in Uniform Balwyn Calling Love's not Good Enough    (3XY Rocktober Concert 1984 Hey hey It's Saturday)  Powdertown Carlton ( Lygon Street Limbo)      The H Files with Kevin Hillier  Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media www.howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts © 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy Kim has been a star for a very long time and his musical footprint started in the legendary Brill Building in New York, the mecca for budding songwriters from all over the world. When a young, wide-eyed Canadian walked in for a meeting with Jeff Barry, it was a life changing experience, and the start of a Hall of Fame musical career. Andy talks about writing Sugar Sugar, a worldwide number one song for The Archies, and his solo hits like the classic Rock Me Gently. Success opened many doors, including backstage with Elvis and having a Beatle present him with his Gold Album.  Andy Kim has enjoyed a long and colourful musical journey and he shares much of it here.            The H Files with Kevin Hillier  Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media www.howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts © 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buzz Bidstrup is a jack of all trades and master of plenty - including storytelling - and does he have a story or two to tell. The man behind the drum kit for The Angels is also a founding member of Gangajang, record producer and sound engineer for many of this country's best artists, manager, promoter, songwriter (No Secrets - no less) and now author of the book No Secrets (Harper Collins) that tells the behind-the-scenes story of all those shenanigans and more.  From being booted off the Kinks tour of the USA and booting himself out of The Angels to  forming Gangajang and meeting and working with Jimmy Little, Buzz has great stories and tells them beautifully in both print and voice.     The H Files with Kevin Hillier  Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media www.howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts © 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Carrack is a great singer. That is a fact, not an opinion, and he is a genuinely nice bloke to chat to, as I found out when we caught up to discuss his latest musical offering “The Country Side of Paul Carrack”. Paul's voice lends itself to any style of music as he has shown across his career from the early days with Ace (How Long), UK Squeeze (Tempted) and Mike & the Mechanics (Silent Running) to his many successful solo projects, the man can sing anything brilliantly, even a telephone directory as Phil Collins once jokingly suggested. Paul chats about all his work as a singer and as a much sought after songwriter. On the eve of his Australian tour, former Motorhead guitarist Phil Campbell pops in to tell fans what they can expect when Phil Campbell and The Bastard Sons land in a few days' time. Suffice to say they won't be disappointed with what Phil has to say.          The H Files with Kevin Hillier  Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media www.howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts © 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the old 'Let's get the band back together' and after a 51 year hiatus, the original Alice Cooper Group returns with Alice and a new album - The Revenge of Alice Cooper.  Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith and Michael Bruce talk about what happened, what's happening and how this new album came together, including an appearance from ther late Glen Buxton. As you will hear, they have lost nothing in the half a century between albums.  To finish this episode, a timely dive into the H Files Vault and out pops Alice as guest on the national radio show Rocksat in 1989. It's classic Alice, talking to fans across Australia, teasing Kevin and showing why he is a timeless star for any generation.         The H Files with Kevin Hillier  Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media www.howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts © 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The British musical invasion of the sixties might have been led by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones but Manfred Mann were in the front row of that first fleet of artists that dominated the charts and became the soundtrack of a generation. Who can forget songs like Pretty Flamingo, Mighty Quinn, Do Wah Diddy Diddy, Just Like a Woman, Come Tomorrow, Fox on the Run and at least a dozen more? Tom McGuinness was a member of Manfred Mann through those halcyon days and shares his memories of those days as the band produced hit after hit. After Manfred Mann, he enjoyed more success with McGuinness Flint and then toured and recorded extensively with The Blues Band.            Even today, Tom is performing with The Manfreds across Britain. It is a musical life chock full of great stories punctuated by the biggest hits of the day and it's all here.       The H Files with Kevin Hillier   Post-production by Chris GatesFor Howdy Partners Mediawww.howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts© 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gilbert O'Sullivan and Dion Pride join Kevin for a chat as they prepare for their tours of Australia. Gilbert's songs have been part of our lives since he debuted back in the early seventies with unforgettable and timeless songs like Clair, Get Down and Alone Again Naturally. He talks about those songs, his songwriting, the early days and much more.   Dion, a very talented musician in his own right, is the son of the legendary Charley Pride. He is touring the country, proudly presenting the songs that made his father famous in a faithful tribute to one of country music's biggest stars, who happens to be his Dad.     The H Files with Kevin Hillier    Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media www.howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts © 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An undisputed musical legend, Dion might be 85 but he is ageless and still rocks with the best of them. Dion and his friend Adam Jablin have collaborated to produce a new book full of Dion's great stories, life experiences and sage advice. The pair join Kevin for a fascinating chat about life and those classic Dion musical memories - The Wanderer, Ruby Baby, touring with Buddy Holly and his Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame induction by Lou Reed.     Pseudo Echo has topped the charts all over the world and the band's main man Brian Canham is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Love an Adventure album by touring Australia. All those 80s memories come flooding back as Brian again takes you to Funky Town.  Dion's book The Rock 'n' Roll Philosopher available via  https://diondimucci.com/ Get all the dates  and news for Brian   https://www.pseudoecho.net/ The H Files with Kevin Hillier    Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media www.howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts © 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Todd Rundgren is undoubtedly one of the most interesting musicians of our generation. He slips between musical genres with ease and has always kept the critics and fans wondering about what is coming next. On the eve of his latest Australian tour, Todd talks about a wide range of subjects including sport, his family, how to blow up AI, becoming a stage singer rather than a studio vocalist, his thoughts on producing other artists and how he makes a live studio album. All the things that make Todd such an interesting human being.  Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media www.howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts © 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.