Aussie music icon, Jon Stevens, ripped it up at The Depot on Beaumont last week. We caught up with him for a quick Q and A.
1 – What’s your most memorable moment on stage?
I’ve had a lot of memorable moments from playing Sydney 2000 Olympics with INXS to playing the Tsunami Relief concert with Noiseworks on the steps of the Sydney Opera House to playing at Madison Square Gardens on stage singing “Highway to Hell” with Billy Joel… that was incredible. I was just watching the gig and he called me up out of the blue, he said “I’ve got a friend here I’d like to invite up”, and I was thinking it’ll be Bruce Springsteen or something and it was ME! It was surreal.
2 – Tell us about the backline for the night.
For this show at the Depot it’ll be my 3 piece acoustic line up, me with bass and acoustic guitars.
3 – Do you ever miss your glorious mullet circa your Noiseworks days?
Well …. no! Considering that my four brothers are all bald, the fact that I’ve still got hair I’m very grateful for. Genetically four brother are bald so I’m the lucky one.
4 – Who’s the best Aussie muso to have a beer with?
Jimmy Barnes without question! He’s great company and he’s a great guy and we always have a laugh when we catch up.
5 – Who’s the worst Aussie muso to have a beer with?
Rolf Harris…kidding. There’s no such thing. Me on my lonesome!!
5 – You broke your leg last year… How did that happen?
I fell over whilst on a fishing trip up at the Top End!
6 – What can you get out of an intimate gig (like the one you played at The Depot) that you can’t get out of a big entertainment centre show?
At the intimate acoustic show you can’t hide up there, it’s really like sitting in your lounge room which is what I love – that intimacy and it’s like one big sing along.
7 – What’s it like to see your own flesh and blood (your son Levi) on stage? Do you get nervous for him?
No I don’t get nervous for him, it’s awesome, I’m really proud of him. He’s really talented. Being a musician singer/songwriter which he is, it’s a calling – a passion – I’m a 100% supportive always. If he was a carpenter I’d be supporting, as long as he’s passionate about what he does. Whatever you do in life you need to be passionate about.
8 – You performed at Madison Square Garden with Billy Joel doing ‘Highway To Hell’. What’s it like to play THE GARDEN?
It was my first time there at the Garden and I didn’t know Billy was going to call me up so it was such a blur but such an honour and a privilege to be invited by one of the true greats of all time.
9 – You’re so busy touring across Australia all the time, what do you do and where do you go when you finally get the chance to take a holiday?
I go fishing. Love Hawaii and other places too!
10 – You’ve had a massive career in the music business, spanning over 20 years now. Is there any signs of slowing down or do you have something big on the horizon?
I love playing music, in whatever configuration and I’m very grateful to do what I love, doesn’t matter what version whether it be acoustic, Dead Daisies full rock show touring around the world, or whether it be Noiseworks. I’m still trying to make it in the music business! You can never rest on your laurels.
