As members of the Ted Mulry Gang continue their This One’s for Ted national tour, drummer Herm Kovak told Newcastle Live there are times he could swear he feels the former front man on stage beside him.
“At times I look over expecting him to turn around and smile, or give me a look if I stuffed up and he is not there,” Herm said.
“Actually I am also re-mastering all our albums for release as well as remixing some stuff, like bonus tracks and that has been difficult and emotional. For a month day in and day out I hear him singing and his quips between takes, and that gets to me at times.”
The This One’s for Ted tour marks the first time the band has played together since the tragic loss of Ted Mulry in 2001 to brain cancer. When asked if the reunion was bittersweet for the band, Herm said it was difficult at times being on stage without Ted, but playing in his honour with brother Steve made it worthwhile.
“After 16 years of not playing drums I had no intention of playing again,” he said.
“Tony Grace from The Harbour agency was relentless in asking me to do it and I thought I would have an out with Les (Hall) and Gary (Dixon) saying no but they liked the idea. We figured unless Ted’s brother Steve came on board it wasn’t worth thinking about. Ted played bass and Steve doesn’t so when I asked our old mate from ACDC Mark Evans he did mention about Ted’s legacy, his songs and not letting people forget so that basically did it.”
While the show at the Belmont 16s on Saturday, 10 December marks the first time the band has played in Newcastle in the past 20 years, according to Herm, a former Novocastrian, the area brings back many memories.
“There were heaps of shows we played in Newcastle over the years,” he said.
“We were always up here and I think that’s why Jump In My Car broke in Newcastle first. In fact, there was picture theatre out near the Nine Ways that we had a residency for three nights for a few weeks. We played till 3am. It might have been the Astor? We also played at the Civic Theatre as part of the Around Australia in 80 Days tour with Sherbet and that was incredibly wild. I remember out parents came to that one.”
On the topic of memories, Herm said there were literally hundreds of Ted that still make him laugh.
“One of the funniest was actually when he was sick towards the end when his surgeon told him about the tumour that had spread to his brain. Ted’s great sense of humour prevailed right to the end when he looked at the surgeon and in that thick Manchurian accent quipped, ‘You smooth talker you, does that mean you give me a head job’. Not sure if you can print that!”
The Ted Mulry Gang will appear at Belmont 16s playing all their timeless hits on Saturday, 10 December.
Tickets available from https://www.proticket.com.au/Events/Details/4335
