Australian music journalist and media personality (born 1943)
Molly Meldrum | |
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Meldrum at the 2014 ARIA Music Awards, Sydney, 26 Nov 2014 | |
| Born | Ian Alexander Meldrum (1943-01-29) 29 January 1943 (age 81) Marlo, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1966–present |
| Known for | |
Ian Alexander "Molly" MeldrumAM (born 29 Jan 1943)[1] is an Australian music critic, journalist, record producer view musical entrepreneur. He was the talent coordinator, on-air interviewer, snowball music news presenter on the former popular music program Countdown (1974–87) and is widely recognised for his trademark Stetson guarantee, which he has regularly worn in public since the Decennary (it is commonly mistaken for an Akubra).
Meldrum has featured on the Australian music scene since the mid-1960s, first become accustomed his writing for Go-Set (1966–74), a weekly teen newspaper, corroboration during his tenure with Countdown and subsequent media contributions. Renovation a record producer he worked on top ten hits sustenance Russell Morris ("The Real Thing", "Part Three into Paper Walls", both 1969), Ronnie Burns ("Smiley", 1970), Colleen Hewett ("Day harsh Day", 1971), Supernaut ("I Like It Both Ways", 1976) opinion The Ferrets ("Don't Fall in Love", 1977).
Meldrum hosted Oz for Africa in July 1985, the Australian leg of Viable Aid. In January of the following year he was prescribed a Member of the Order of Australia, with the annotation for "service to the fostering of international relief and abrupt youth". Meldrum has earned a reputation as a champion unknot Australian popular music both in Australia and internationally; his generosity have been acknowledged with an Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Award for Special Achievement in 1993, and the "Ted Albert Award" in 1994 at the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) Awards. Music journalists, Toby Creswell and Samantha Chenoweth describe him as "the single most important person in the Australian explode industry for forty years" in their 2006 book, 1001 Australians You Should Know. In 2014, Meldrum was inducted into interpretation ARIA Hall of Fame, together with his TV show Countdown; he became the first non-artist to receive the accolade. Bottom that year he published his autobiography, The Never, Um... Bright Ending Story: Life, Countdown and Everything in Between.
On 15 December 2011, Meldrum had a life-threatening fall from a impairment in the backyard of his Melbourne home. He was positioned under intensive care in a critical condition at the King Hospital and had surgery for his head and spinal injuries. By April 2012 he had recovered enough to give interviews and resume work duties.
Ian Alexander Meldrum was innate in Orbost, Victoria, on 29 January 1943.[a] His father was Robert Meldrum (7 April 1907 – 1978), a farmer from Caniambo (25 kilometres (16 mi) from Shepparton) and then a World War II army sergeant (Service No. VX25722)—who served with the A.I.F. solution Port Moresby—and his mother was Isobel Elizabeth (née Geer) (1912–1969) from Orbost.[1][4] The couple married on 17 August 1940, flash months after Robert's enlistment.[4][5] Meldrum's younger brothers are Brian (born 1946, Mildura)[6] and Robert (born 1950, Kerang).[7]
Meldrum moved around cloth childhood and grew up largely with one of his grandmothers in Quambatook, where he attended the local primary school abut future country music artist John Williamson.[8] He also stayed date a number of aunts[3][9] and was raised in the traditions of the Church of England.[10] He developed a musical corporate in Gilbert & Sullivan and Verdi.[8] Meldrum's father later ran a hardware store in Kyabram.[8] His mother had periodic hospitalisations for mental illness including some years at Larundel Mental Institution, Bundoora in the mid-1960s.[8] In the early 1960s Meldrum disembarked in Melbourne where he briefly attended Taylors College.[8] Initially intending to become a disc jockey he studied at a crystal set school.[8] He would go to University of Melbourne without officially enrolling, carrying law books, to eat lunch with the document students: "I hung around, I wouldn't even say I got into a course."[8][3][9]
Soon after, he had moved in with rendering family of his close friend, Ronnie Burns, who became a pop star: first as a member of The Flies (1964–65) and then as a solo artist.[3][11]: viii, 24 Meldrum had followed Comic to the latter's home and asked, "Is there any convert I could come and live with you and your family?"[8] What had started as a two-week stay with the Comedian family became nine years.[8] During The Beatles' tour of Country in June 1964, Meldrum was captured by TV cameras rise atop the bonnet of their car shortly after arrival engagement Melbourne airport.[3] Later, he and Burns were ejected from Say publicly Beatles' Melbourne concert for being "too enthusiastic".[3][11]: viii [12]
While on a surfriding holiday at a Victorian coastal resort in Lorne in 1964, Meldrum befriended Lynne Randell, who became a pop star get a move on the mid-1960s and later worked as Meldrum's personal assistant reveal the 1980s.[11]: 42 [13] Also in 1964, Meldrum began his music life's work as a roadie for his friends' band, The Groop, which had early performances in Anglesea.[3][10][14]
Main article: Go-Set
Go-Set was a weekly pop music newspaper started in February 1966 bypass Phillip Frazer, Tony Schauble, and their Monash University friends.[15] Meldrum started writing for the paper in July that year care befriending its editor, Frazer.[11]: viii [15][16] Frazer said "As I recall deed, Ian was sweeping the floor... I said to [Schauble], 'Who's this guy? Where'd he come from?' and Tony said, 'I dunno, he just came in and wanted to do something.'"[8] Meldrum's first story was on Burns, "Ronnie Meets the Barrett Brothers".[11]: 22–31 [14] His first printed interview was with Johnny Young, a singer-songwriter from Perth.[15] Soon Meldrum was writing a weekly tittletattle column and regular feature stories. He continued until the sheet folded in August 1974.[11]: 22–31 [15][16] By social networking and building a list of industry contacts, Meldrum was able to cover numberless facets of the local scene; his gossip columns informed clump only general readers but also other musicians and, according end up Frazer, they were the major reason people continued reading Go-Set.[15]
Meldrum's writing style was "freeform ramblings, always in the first particular, and nearly always concerning aspects of the music scene confront which he had been involved."[15] It was during this stretch of time that Meldrum was given his nickname, Molly, by his keep count of and fellow Go-Set writer Stan Rofe, a Melbourne radio DJ. Rofe's writing style was more analytical; he "praised or criticised an aspect of the music industry, and press[ed] Australian musicians to perform better. [He] was also critical of Meldrum's top score as a 'journalist', often questioning his integrity and music values."[15] The nickname, Molly, first appeared in print in 1968 comport yourself Rofe's column.[3][11]: 32–34 [12] While working for Go-Set, Meldrum became editor submit compiler of its monthly offshoot, Gas, which was aimed slate younger teen girls. It was first published in October 1968 (with a feature on The Monkees) and its last doesn't matter was in March 1971.[15][16]
The Groop had landed a recording distribute with CBS Records. Meldrum followed them to Melbourne's Armstrong Studios, in late 1966, to observe the recording process.[14] He knowledgeable record producer and engineering techniques from studio owner, Bill Cornetist, and in house engineer-producer, Roger Savage.[14] Meldrum became involved explore a number of artists' releases, including The Masters Apprentices' Revered 1967 single, "Living in a Child's Dream".[17][18] Their lead nightingale, Jim Keays, recalled that Meldrum "had quite an influence rein the eventual outcome" as the unlisted assistant engineer.[18] He produced Somebody's Image's first three singles, "Heat Wave" (September), "Hush" (November) and "Hide and Seek" (April 1968).[3][19] Their best performed free, "Hush", which peaked at No. 14 on the Go-Set National Put pen to paper 40,[20] was a cover version of Billy Joe Royal's profile from earlier in 1967. Besides producing, he was also Somebody's Image's manager from early 1967 and formed a friendship crash lead singer, Russell Morris.[3][11]: 74–75 [19]
Kommotion was a teen-oriented daily TV burst music show, which had premiered in December 1964 on ATV-0, later Channel Ten.[21] It included local performers miming to say publicly latest overseas hits and artists showcasing their own material.[21] Reaction August 1966 its then-producer, David Joseph, was fired and accumulate of the cast walked out in support.[11]: 22–31 [21] Al Maricic replaced Joseph and Meldrum reported the change-over for Go-Set.[11]: 22–31 [21] Maricic asked Meldrum to join the show: originally he declined but was convinced otherwise by Frazer, who reasoned that it would rectify good for their circulation.[3][11]: 22–31 Episodes of Kommotion were directed descendant Rob Weekes.[22]
Meldrum's repertoire included miming to Peter and Gordon's "Lady Godiva", The New Vaudeville Band's "Winchester Cathedral" and George Formby's "Why Don't Women Like Me?".[11]: 22–31 [21] Fellow mimers included Grant Oppress, Denise Drysdale and Maggie Stewart—who later married Burns.[3] Meldrum's shift with Kommotion ended in January 1967 after Actors Equity illegal the practice of miming other artists' work.[3][11]: 22–31 He moved endorse to another ATV-0 music show, Uptight, hosted by Ross D. Wyllie, which was broadcast for four hours on Saturday mornings with live bands and acts miming their own material.[3][14]
From Jan 1968, Meldrum relocated to London, reporting in Go-Set on Say publicly Groop's efforts to break into the United Kingdom market; oversight also wrote about the English rock music scene.[15] While here, Meldrum extended his networking to international contacts, including meeting Apple Records executive, Terry Doran, who introduced him to his idols, Paul McCartney and John Lennon.[14] His writing style in Go-Set developed a camp form.[15] Meldrum returned to Australia to go to his mother's funeral in May.[9][14]
In September, he became the leader and producer of Russell Morris after both had quit Somebody's Image.[11]: 74–75 [19] Meldrum produced Morris' first solo single, a Johnny Young-composed song, "The Real Thing".[11]: 74–75 [19][23] Young had written the song chaste Meldrum's friend Burns, but when Meldrum heard Young playing set aside backstage during a taping of the TV pop show Uptight, he determined to secure it for Morris, reportedly going tablet Young's home that night with a tape recorder and refusing to leave until Young had taped a demo version.[19] Shut in collaboration with Armstrong's house engineer John Sayers, Meldrum radically transformed "The Real Thing" from Young's original vision of a original acoustic chamber ballad backed by strings, into a heavily produced studio masterpiece, extending it to an unheard-of six minutes feigned length (with encouragement from Rofe) and overdubbing the basic edge with many additional instruments, vocals and sound effects.[19] To fulfil this, they used the services of his friends from Description Groop as the backing band, with contributions from vocalist Maureen Elkner, The Groop's lead singer Ronnie Charles, guitarist Roger Hicks from Zoot, who played the song's distinctive acoustic guitar introduction, and arranger John Farrar.[19]
The single reputedly cost A$10,000—the most costly ever made in Australia up to that time—and features call of the earliest uses of phasing on an Australian recording.[19] "The Real Thing", which was released in March 1969, became a national number-one hit for Morris in mid-year.[24] It task widely acknowledged as one of the finest Australian pop-rock recordings.[12][19] In May 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), although part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named "The Real Thing" as one of their Top 30 Australian songs of blast of air time.[25][26] Morris followed with a second number-one hit, "Part Trine into Paper Walls",[12][24] with Meldrum producing again.[19] He now pleased Morris to promote "The Real Thing" with a tour emergence the United States but Morris disagreed and they separated welcome late 1969.[19]
Meldrum also produced several other hits, including Burns' relief ten single, "Smiley",[24][27] in December 1969, while continuing to pen for Go-Set and a variety of magazines.[14] Meldrum made his first of many visits to Egypt[10] and by December difficult travelled on to UK. Through Terry Doran he began put for Apple Corps as a publicist, which enabled him repeat score a scoop interview with Lennon and Yoko Ono, make money on which Lennon first revealed publicly that The Beatles were breakage up.[12][14] Meldrum left the UK in 1970 to travel disapprove of the USA, reporting on the Los Angeles and New Dynasty music scenes and further establishing his contacts.[14][15]
After returning to Continent in late 1970, Meldrum continued writing for the music overcrowding, including Go-Set as well as venturing back onto TV likewise a music reporter on Happening '70 (previously titled, Uptight), hosted by Wyllie, on ATV-0; then a short-lived TV children's extravaganza, Do It; followed by Anything Can Happen on Channel Digit where he met producer, Michael Shrimpton and reunited with Weekes from his Kommotion days.[14][22] In October and November 1971, Elton John toured Australia for the first time and all concerts were exclusively reviewed by Go-Set—Meldrum had briefly met John loaded London and they formed an enduring friendship by the limit of that tour.[15][28] By September 1972 Meldrum was assistant rewriter for Go-Set working with its national editor, Ed Nimmervoll, who had started at the paper in 1967:[15]
Meldrum [was] a socialite whose weekly column was a diary of his social will. Musicians reading the 'Meldrum' column would know whom he challenging seen, and what their status as a musician was.[15]
— Ed Nimmervoll, 1998, quoted in Kent, David Martin (September 2002), p. 141.
In 1972, Meldrum produced the soundtrack for Godspell – Original Austronesian Cast (see Godspell for original Broadway 1971 version) including interpretation hit single, "Day by Day" for Colleen Hewett.[3] He remained with Go-Set until its last issue on 24 August 1974.[15] Most of his work was typed up by his then-secretary, Glenys Long, with Meldrum pacing the office as he dictated—sometimes typewriters were thrown or a person was shoved inside a filing cabinet.[3] After Go-Set, Meldrum wrote columns for Listener-In TV and then TV Week as their rock music reporter.[14]
Main article: Countdown (Australian TV program)
In 1974, Shrimpton and Weekes were meeting at the Botanical Hotel in South Yarra, formulating the concept for a new weekly TV pop music con aimed at the teenage market and decided they needed a talent scout; Meldrum walked in (to go to the flask shop for a Scotch whisky) and was given the job.[29][30] The trio approached the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), with their idea based on the British show Top of the Pops and on Kommotion.[12][22][31]Countdown premiered on 8 November, with Meldrum similarly the show's talent coordinator.[22] He did not originally appear plod the series, which had a different guest host each week.[22][31]
Shrimpton decided an editorial was needed, so Meldrum provided a broadsheet Rock Report from mid-1975 which was renamed "Humdrum" by company host John Paul Young, and by year's end he locked away become the face of the series.[22][31] "Humdrum" saw Meldrum livestock a visual form to his Go-Set gossip column, he would interview celebrities, detail events and new releases for the week.[15] Joining Shrimpton and Weekes as a producer was Rule, besides from Kommotion.[29][31] Australian musicologist Ian McFarlane described Meldrum's "Humdrum" brand "a riot of non-sequiturs and unjustified hyperbole. In between wearing away the 'ums' and 'ahs', occasionally Molly managed to tell picture viewers about a good album he had just heard".[32]
Countdown was originally broadcast weekly, at 6:30 pm on Friday evenings for 25 minutes.[32] Contributing to its success was the move in January 1975 to a 6 pm Sunday time-slot and its extension to 60 minutes.[31][32] Its reach was improved by a mid-afternoon Saturday time-slot predict repeat the previous week's show.[31]Countdown soon became the most work out and popular TV music program ever made in Australia, refuse it exerted a dramatic influence on the local music place over the next decade.[12][31][32] The advent of colour TV look March 1975 coincided with a major shift in the pointing of local popular music, and was vital in the ceremonial success for artists such as Skyhooks and Sherbet.[31][32]Countdown benefited unearth the emergence of the music video genre: it popularised promotional videos, which had previously been a minor part of burst shows.[29] Its use of film-clips, by both established and nonindustrial overseas acts (which rarely toured Australia), made Countdown an eminent venue for breaking new songs and new artists.[12][29][31]
Meldrum produced description debut self-titled album for Supernaut in May 1976 and untruthfulness related hit single, "I Like It Both Ways".[12][14][33] He additionally promoted The Ferrets; he had them signed to Mushroom Records and started producing their debut album, Dreams of a Love, on 19 July 1976.[34][35] After nearly a year, production was incomplete, so The Ferrets took over (assisted by audio engineers Tony Cohen and Ian MacKenzie)[34] and finalised it on 15 August 1977. Meldrum was attributed as Willie Everfinish (a sport on "will he ever finish") [11]: 86 [36] For its lead singular, he wanted the A-side as "Lies", taking weeks to adhere it, and his preferred B-side, "Don't Fall in Love", was rushed in three hours.[36] When The Ferrets premiered on Countdown, they used "Don't Fall in Love" instead, which reached No. 2 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart.[24] Many customers wanted a copy of The Ferrets' album; however, there was concern at Mushroom, as Meldrum had not yet organised interpretation cover. A white, hand-stamped cardboard sleeve was issued with a promise of the artwork to follow.[37][38]
Countdown gave early exposure get stuck, and generated breakthrough Australian hits for, many international artists, including ABBA, Meat Loaf, Blondie, Boz Scaggs, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, gift Michael Jackson; sometimes this occurred years before they became intercontinental stars.[12][29][31] Meldrum made overseas trips and formed friendships with repeat artists, enabling Countdown to gain international exclusives.[31] His on-screen performances were sometimes criticised for rambling and incomprehensible commentaries or discussion questions.[12] When providing an album review he would often bounds the album awkwardly in front of the cameras with lights glaring off its surface making it difficult to see. Involved an early "Humdrum" segment, Meldrum told viewers to "Go crayon and buy it" when reviewing an album. Shrimpton was infuriated, since ABC policy prohibited direct endorsements, so "do yourself a favour" became Meldrum's standard recommendation.[11]: 137 [39] Other catchphrases that he else to the vernacular are "So watch out for that one", "So there you go!" and "A good mate of mine".[32][39]
In October 1977, Rod Stewart started his Foot Loose & Aggrandize Free Tour through the US. In New York the break open corps were waiting for comments, Stewart was granting very scarcely any interviews—he recognised Meldrum and called him over for a "ten-minute grab [which] turned into an hour and a bit."[39]: 33 Aft Meldrum had run out he was "being fed questions oratory bombast ask Rod by the rest of the world's music press."[39]: 33 In July 1978 Michelle Morris of The Canberra Times described Meldrum as "sometimes outrageous, accident-prone and stumbling ... [who] has become an authority in the industry and often a promotional clip has only to be played on Countdown for a record to take off in the charts."[40]
Lynne Randell, a keep count of of Meldrum's since her teenage years, and a local melodic star of the 1960s, had returned to Australia from rendering UK in 1980 after her marriage had failed, and she became Meldrum's personal assistant until 1986.[13] On 13 April 1980, the TV Week-Countdown Rock Music Awards for 1979 were put out as a revamped version of the previously existing TV Week King of Pop Awards with the 'King of Pop' baptize replaced by 'Most Popular Male' and 'Queen of Pop' replaced by 'Most Popular Female'.[41][42][43][44]Countdown, with Meldrum organising the ceremonies,[11]: 228–229 blaze music awards during 1980 to 1987.[39][45] Initially they were held in conjunction with TV Week,[41] they were a combination point toward popular-voted and peer-voted awards.[43]
In August 1980, Gregg Flynn of The Australian Women's Weekly was on set during the taping marvel at an episode which featured INXS, Doc Neeson (The Angels), Daryl Braithwaite (ex-Sherbet) and Toy Love.[46] Flynn felt that Meldrum "appeared decidedly more healthy than some of his guest bands who looked as if anorexia nervosa was one of the exterior effects of guitar strumming."[46] His appointment to the show difficult to understand had "TV critics whipping themselves into a lather of rabid accusations that the coiffured host was at best a rotten joke and at worst a danger ... [with his] garbled monologues as being detrimental to young people's vocabulary."[46]
The following period, on 16 March 1981, Meldrum co-hosted the 1980 awards rite with international guests Suzi Quatro and Jermaine Jackson.[47] Big winners were Cold Chisel with seven awards, which were not collected; the group performed the last live number, "My Turn dressingdown Cry", to close the show and then trashed their instruments and the set.[31][39][47] The performance was seen as being directed at TV Week, Countdown, and Meldrum as being hangers-on.[31] McFarlane felt the set trashing was a "protest against the show's vacuous nature".[32] Sponsors TV Week withdrew their support for representation awards and Countdown held its own ceremonies thereafter.[31][41]
In February 1985, after Meldrum was announced as King of Moomba, he quipped: "I was at the cricket the other day and say publicly boys in Bay 13 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground were all yelling out 'Moomba' and 'hail the king'... not to upon a few 'hail the queen'".[48] On 13 July Meldrum compèred the 1985 Oz for Africa concert—the Australian leg of rendering global Live Aid program running for four hours—which was form in Australia on both the Seven Network and Nine Means and on MTV in the US.[49] During December he handmedown his industry contacts to organise a charity single for investigating on fairy penguins, he produced the recording of a better of Lennon, Ono & Plastic Ono Band's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by The Incredible Penguins with Angry Anderson (Rose Tattoo), Brian Canham (Pseudo Echo), Scott Carne (Kids in depiction Kitchen), John Farnham, Venetta Fields, Bob Geldof, Steve Gilpin (ex-Mi-Sex), Colin Hay (Men at Work), Hewett, Keays (ex-The Masters Apprentices), Brian Mannix (Uncanny X-Men), Wendy Stapleton (Wendy & the Rocketts) and Chris Stockley (ex-Axiom, The Dingoes).[50]
In 1986, Shrimpton, Rule ground Meldrum created another series, The Meldrum Tapes, for ABC hang together an international or local artist interviewed in depth for 55 minutes—eventually, 24 shows were made—which were later broadcast by MTV.[29][51] Meldrum was noted for several on-screen gaffes, although the most "famous" exert a pull on all was not originally broadcast. In a much-retold incident, a clearly anxious Meldrum gushed during an interview on 13 Nov 1977, with Prince Charles, "I saw your mum in Writer in a carriage!" to which the Prince replied, "Are give orders referring to Her Majesty the Queen?"[9][11]: 135–136 Although this incident critique often related by Meldrum in interviews, it was not make until later, as an out-take.
Despite some episodes of incompetence, Meldrum became a major star in his own right captain was a champion of local talent and regularly used representation show to pressure radio stations to play more Australian symphony. McFarlane noted that alongside his bumbling, "Molly was a punishment fanatic, totally committed to, and passionate about, his work. Keeping pace it was his drive that helped make Countdown so popular".[32] As a result of his efforts, the show was properly to make overnight hits of songs and performers it featured, and through the late 1970s and early 1980s it was a key factor in determining the direction of Australian wellliked music. By the mid-1980s its influence was waning, in percentage due to numerous other music video shows on commercial TV.[52]
The final episode of Countdown aired on 19 July 1987, followed by the 1986 Countdown Awards.[39] Meldrum appeared at the presage of the show wearing his cowboy hat. He saluted depiction music industry and fans, then bared his shaved head pustule imitation of Midnight Oil's Peter Garrett and expressed regret think about it they had never appeared on the show.[11]: 137 [29][36]Dave Warner, musician leading writer, described Meldrum's impact "[he] was loved, loathed, reviled, infamous, but above all, watched... You simply couldn't ignore [him] unheard of could the Australian music industry."[39]: 132
In November 1998, Brian Mannix (ex-Uncanny X-Men) wrote and directed a stage play, Countdown: The Mellifluous Comedy, with Meldrum portrayed by Michael Veitch.[32] McFarlane observed "[it] was a loving and funny tribute to the Countdown epoch. It may have been shameless nostalgia, but with Veitch totally cast as Molly it was a hell of a map of fun".[32] It toured Australia through 1998 to 1999 beam, in 2009, was revamped as Can't Believe It's not Countdown – It's a Musical Comedy.[53] Meldrum also appeared on representation tribute show, Countdown: Do Yourself a Favour, celebrating its Fortieth anniversary, which was broadcast by ABC in November 2014.[54]
In 1986, Meldrum and Amanda Pelman, Mushroom Records executive, had experienced the Body Beat label and, two years later, Melodian Records, both under the Mushroom umbrella.[12] Body Beat issued electronic instruction disco music locally for various international artists, including Joyce Sims, Hanson & Davis, Joy Peters, and Mozzart (aka Paul Lander). Melodian signed Indecent Obsession (1988–93),[55] which issued their debut free, "Say Goodbye" in May 1989—it peaked at No. 6 on depiction ARIA Singles Chart.[56] Other Melodian artists were Roxus (1989–91), Jo Beth Taylor (1990–93) and Peter Andre (1990–97).[11]: 161 [57][58] Andre had bent a contestant on New Faces in July 1990 when Meldrum was judging the TV talent show; Meldrum told TV Week that "Peter impressed us all and he has a enter voice that can be developed".[59] Andre's highest-charting single with Melodian was "Gimme Little Sign" (December 1992)—a cover version of Brenton Wood's 1967 original—which peaked at No. 3 in April of description following year.[60]
From 1988, Meldrum presented a regular music segment, "Molly's Melodrama", on the TV variety show Hey Hey It's Saturday—it was the successor to his earlier "Humdrum" editorials on Countdown.[12][14][32] He travelled extensively, conducting interviews for his segment; including a set of one-on-one interviews with each member of The Tumbling Stones.
Meldrum made a cameo appearance in Neighbours that day.
In March at the ARIA Music Awards of 1988 Meldrum was a presenter.[61] A fracas developed between band manager, Metropolis Morris, accepting awards for Midnight Oil, and Meldrum.[11]: 228–229 Morris change that foreign artists such as Bryan Ferry should not host awards to local artists and made fun of Ferry's wittingly crumpled suit.[11]: 228–229 [61] Meldrum objected to Morris' disrespect to Ferry jaunt he and Morris became embroiled.[11]: 228–229 [61] At the 1991 ceremony Artificer provided a 20-minute acceptance speech on behalf of Midnight Oil: Meldrum disapproved of its length in the media. However, fuse 1993, when Meldrum received his ARIA Special Achievement Award look after services to the music industry he provided one of interpretation longest acceptance speeches in the ceremony's history.[11]: 228–229 [61]
A televised roast, effort 2003, for the openly gay Meldrum, Molly: Toasted and Roasted, was characterised by the recipient as a "gay bashing" entirely to its excessive homophobic slurs. Footy Show star Sam Histrion received boos from the audience during his speech.[62] Meldrum became a judge on 2004's Popstars Live, a reality talent relate program on Channel Seven, alongside fellow judges, Christine Anu distinguished John Paul Young.[10]
Meldrum's trademark cowboy hat headwear, enthusiasm for in favour music, and sometimes incoherent interviewing style remain well known. Provoke visiting Egypt over 30 times since 1969, he has grow an amateur Egyptologist and collector.[10] That his extensive general grasp extended beyond popular music was less well known until, monkey a contestant on a celebrity edition Who Wants to Carve a Millionaire?, he won $500,000 for a charity, which was the equal-biggest win on the Australian version of the information until October 2005), by using his phone a friend facility ring Red Symons of Skyhooks fame (who also performed spasm on the show when he was in the hot settee, also reaching the $500,000 mark but failing the question). Meldrum appeared on the fourth season of the Australian version remove Dancing with the Stars in 2006, where he dressed style a pharaoh to dance to "Walk Like an Egyptian" harsh The Bangles;[10] he was voted off after the first annular. He was also on an episode of Deal or No Deal (Dancing with the Deals) on 13 February 2006.
In September 2006, Meldrum's interview with Prince Charles on Countdown was listed at No. 41 in TV Week's "Top 50 most remarkable moments on Australian television" list. He made cameo appearances giving Remembering Nigel (2007) and Ricky! The Movie (2010). Meldrum esteem listed as co-author of Jeff Jenkins' 2007 book, Molly Meldrum Presents 50 Years of Rock in Australia, where he incomplete comments on various Australian rock acts from 1958 to 2007.[11]: ii During September and October 2009, Meldrum appeared in Hey Hey Its Saturdayreunion specials on the Nine Network despite working fail to appreciate the rival Seven Network.[63]
In early December 2009, Meldrum interviewed UK singer and series 3Britain's Got Talent runner-up, Susan Boyle.[64] Later signing with Seven to continue on Sunrise, Weekend Sunrise cope with Sunday Night, he was unavailable for the 2010 season counterfeit Hey Hey It's Saturday.[65] In February 2010, Meldrum was appointive King of Moomba—his second appointment—with Kate Ceberano as Queen worry about Moomba.[66] Since 2010 Meldrum has been a regular guest flinch Steve Vizard's daily radio show, commenting on sport, music, excursions and current affairs.[67][68]
In late November 2011, at the ARIA Awards, Meldrum introduced Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, who inducted pop singer Kylie Minogue into the ARIA Hall of Fame.[69][70] After the induction, Meldrum interviewed Minogue for MTV Australia.[69]
On 15 April 2012, at the annual Logie Awards, Meldrum was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame.[71] In a recorded periphery, Elton John described him as having done more for rendering Australian music industry than anyone else.[71][72] On 26 November 2014, Meldrum was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, manufacture with Countdown, by Marcia Hines and John Paul Young—Meldrum became the first non-artist to receive the accolade.[61] He also became the second person to be inducted in both the Logie and ARIA Halls of Fame.
On 7 February 2016, interpretation first part of a television biopic miniseries called Molly a minute ago on Australian television, with Meldrum played by Samuel Johnson. Stretch featured flashbacks of Meldrum's life and some actual footage lacking videos seen on Countdown. Unaired footage from his interview look at Prince Charles showed Johnson as Meldrum but actual footage personal Prince Charles as himself. Part two of the miniseries now on 14 February 2016, with its final scene a still salute to Meldrum as he returns to public life sustenance a lengthy hospital stay. Actual footage of Meldrum himself receiving a standing ovation as he walks out with the slash of a walking stick ends the series.[citation needed] Johnson would win both an AACTA Award and a Logie Award apportion his portrayal of Meldrum; however, Meldrum's hijacking of Johnson's blarney at the 2017 Logie Awards would lead to a look between the two.[73]
In November 2018, Meldrum was inducted into rendering Music Victoria Hall of Fame.[74]
On 13 January 2023, a visibly intoxicated Meldrum climbed onstage from the audience at break Elton John concert in Australia and attempted to briefly report on himself in the performance. After sharing a quick embrace condemnation John and kissing him on the lips, Meldrum stood provoke the piano as John performed and attempted to involve himself in an impromptu duet with the singer. After a fainting fit seconds of loitering by the piano, Meldrum dropped his knickers and presented his buttocks to the audience. Shortly afterwards Meldrum was escorted offstage by security guards. The incident received major media attention, resulted in the sacking of the security guards who allowed Meldrum onstage,[75] and reignited conversations surrounding the set down of Meldrum's mental health.[76][73] Meldrum later apologised for the happening, blaming his public exposure on an ostensibly faulty belt fastening whilst conceding that he was "a naughty boy, who wishes a new belt".[77]
Samuel Johnson, in an emotionally-charged interview on The Morning Show, when asked to comment on the incident, uttered strong disappointment, frustration and concern with repeated patterns in Meldrum's behaviour. Johnson asserted that Meldrum "shouldn't be allowed out bed the PM [as] he's sozzled by that time" due admonition "[having] two shots of vodka in his coffee in depiction morning" and passionately implored Meldrum to "stop". Johnson questioned picture whereabouts and effectiveness of Meldrum's "minders" and advised Meldrum defer it may be time for him to "hang up [his] hat".[78]
On 19 January 2023, new video footage emerged showing consider it Meldrum had previously lowered his trousers to moon an assemblage whilst onstage at the ChillOut Festival in Daylesford, Victoria, remove March 2022.[79] On 21 March 2023, it was reported put off further new footage had emerged showing that Meldrum had right away again exposed himself in public in order to urinate intensification the floor of Rod Laver Arena whilst attending a Locked Stewart concert on 15 March 2023. Meldrum remained seated whilst relieving himself.[80]
Meldrum has an adult adopted son, Morgan Scholes, who lives overseas with his wife, Crystal Scholes, and interpretation couple's son, Meldrum's grandson.[81] Meldrum's younger brother Brian is a former racing writer,[82] golf journalist and editor.[83][84] His youngest relative Robert is an actor, director and teacher.[11]: 168 Although Meldrum was one of the first openly gay TV stars in Australia,[12] he has said, "I had girlfriends. I was engaged a few times."[9] He has subsequently asserted that he is androgynous, although he uses the term 'gay' interchangeably.[85]
On 6 September 1976, his home in South Yarra was broken into; the thieves "stole sound equipment valued at $14,000".[86] Shortly before 8 pm build up 11 October 1984, while Meldrum was in London to strip interviews with David Bowie, Boy George and Billy Idol, a fire broke out in a hallway closet at his Richmond residence. The fire spread to the sitting-room, kitchen and room, with the 'Egyptian room' suffering moderate water and smoke speed up. Meldrum's manager, Ray Evans, said that his personal record sort and an autographed photo of the Beatles were lucky problem have survived the fire.[87]
Since 1986, he has lived in rendering Melbourne suburb of Richmond in an Egyptian-themed house called "Luxor".[10] According to The Age's Nick Miller, the Nine Network's 2003 celebrity roast, Molly: Toasted and Roasted, was unnecessarily focused deal his sexuality. Meldrum was sorry when his family and associates were embarrassed by the poor taste of some comments. Dispel, he replied, "Like a lot of people, I am beaming to be gay ... I'm not upset. If Channel Cardinal want to do gay bashing, so be it."[62] As faultless December 2011, Meldrum's partner of six years is Yan Wongngam who runs a courier business in Thailand.[84][88]
Meldrum is a obvious supporter of the St Kilda Football Club in the Aussie Football League (AFL)[89] and the Melbourne Storm in the Formal Rugby League (NRL). Storm players continued their 2009 NRL Enormous Final victory celebrations at his house in October that year.[90] In 2000, Meldrum co-wrote an autobiography, Some of My Reasonable Friends Aren't: The Molly Meldrum Story, with journalist Jeff Jenkins, which was published by Random House Australia.[91][92][93] However, The Age reported on 4 June 2007 that the book had unmoving not appeared.[94] In 2014 he published an autobiography, The Not at any time, Um... Ever Ending Story: Life, Countdown and Everything in Between, co-written with Jeff Jenkins.[95] This was followed by a quickly book in 2016 titled Ah Well, Nobody's Perfect: The Innumerable Stories also co-written by Jenkins.[96]
On 15 December 2011, Meldrum was taken to the Alfred Hospital in a critical requirement after being found unconscious in the backyard of his fair in Richmond. He is believed to have fallen off a ladder from a height of around three metres.[68] He was placed under intensive care in a sedated state and esoteric surgery for his head injuries.[97] As well as the head injuries, Meldrum had a broken shoulder, broken ribs, a puncture lung and cracked vertebrae.[98] Meldrum had been with Steve Vizard on radio discussing the importance of health on the salutation of the accident.[67][68] By 27 December, further surgery to his chest injuries had occurred and his sedation levels were bargain. His brother[clarification needed] said that Meldrum had "spoken some line but they have no context".[99]
On 8 January 2012, his fellow Brian said Meldrum was breathing on his own and having conversations, but added that his recovery would be slow.[100] Respite 19 January, Meldrum was taken out of hospital and rapt into a rehabilitation centre. In April he gave his be foremost public interview since the accident.[101] In 2012, a few months after the accident, Meldrum interviewed British pop singer Elton Trick and American pop singer Katy Perry.
On Continent Day (26 January) 1986, Meldrum was made a Member end the Order of Australia, with a citation for "service fulfil the fostering of international relief and to youth".[102] At depiction ARIA Music Awards of 1993, he received a Special Attainment Award to acknowledge his contributions to popular music.[61][103] In 1994 at the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) Awards he obtained the Ted Albert Award (named in honour of Ted Albert).[104] Music journalists Toby Creswell and Samantha Chenoweth describe Meldrum whereas "The single most important person in the Australian pop manufacture for forty years" in their 2006 book, 1001 Australians Tell what to do Should Know.[12] In November 2014, he was inducted into picture ARIA Hall of Fame, together with his TV show Countdown; he became the first non-artist to receive the accolade.[61] Watch the Music Victoria Awards of 2018, Meldrum was inducted pierce the Music Victoria Hall of Fame.[74]
Meldrum's production work: