Michael Chugg, 77, is Australia’s most experienced music promoter. I spoke to him on Thursday.
Fitz: Michael, great to chat again . . .
MC: All good. It’s been chaos, as we’ve got three new albums coming out this week.
Elton John and Michael Chugg celebrating their 60th birthdays in 2007 at Acer Arena (now Qudos Bank Arena) at Sydney Olympic Park.
Fitz: Of course you do. Who doesn’t? But you’ve been doing this for over 60 years. Tell me about how you got into it.
MC: Well, I was 16 years old, at home in Launceston, and I put on a show to raise money for the local amateur cycling club. We ran a dance with Launceston’s top band called The Dominoes. My father was a fireman, and he and his mates were security, and at five shillings a head, we raised 80 pounds. I loved it, loved organising things. I went on to manage the support act that night, The Chevrons.
Fitz: A star is born!
MC: Not yet. I also wanted to be a sports commentator, and actually got a gig as a young fellow at a radio station, 7EX. One night I was calling the greyhound race, had put my money on the very one that came a cropper and, live to air, I said: “Well, I’ll be f---ed, it’s fallen over.” Two hours later, out on the footpath with my belongings, the decision as to whether to pursue radio or promoting was made for me ...
Fitz: You must have moved fast, because as a uni student in the early 80s I remember you being up on stage running huge music festivals at Narara and Tanelorn. I recall rain and mud! You must have had it all on the line, every time?
I’ve sent Bob Dylan love letters for years, and I just got a reply!
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06.04.2024
Michael Chugg, 77, is Australia’s most experienced music promoter. I spoke to him on Thursday.
Fitz: Michael, great to chat again . . .
MC: All good. It’s been chaos, as we’ve got three new albums coming out this week.
Elton John and Michael Chugg celebrating their 60th birthdays in 2007 at Acer Arena (now Qudos Bank Arena) at Sydney Olympic Park.
Fitz:........
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