Ian Moss is a legend of the Australian music scene. We were introduced to him and fell in love with him as a member of Cold Chisel. But, those strong feelings only grew with the release of his debut solo album Matchbook in 1989. Taking home multiple awards – including Song of the Year for Tucker’s Daughter at the 1990 Aria Awards, he was set to head out on a special 30th Anniversary Tour of the album last year, before COVID-19 changed those plans.
But the tour is back on and heading to Cairns this Month as ‘Mossy’ prepares to perform at our beloved Tanks for the first time. I was lucky enough to spend a few moments with him talking about the album, the tour and being a Dad.
Ian’s Musical Childhood and Career
Bec: I can’t believe it’s been 30 (plus one and a half years) since Matchbook was released. How does it feel for you?
Ian: “As we all know, unfortunately the older you get the quicker everything goes by. It’s just great to see that the album has endured and is still popular with people. Tucker’s Daughter sat at number one for six weeks and when a song gets that big you really ensconce or entrench yourself in people’s hearts and minds and memories. You never take that for granted, that’s for sure. Same with the Matchbook Album. It got up there and that’s well and truly embedded in Aussie culture and Aussie rock and pop culture. I’m so very fortunate and glad that I can be a part of that, and this much down the line to keep touring and playing.”
Bec: How did you discover such a great love of music?
Ian: “You do, don’t you – if it’s in you. I realised from a pretty early age, singing, being part of singing groups and doing little performances for my parents in my home town of Alice Springs when I was five years old.”
Bec: Were your parents musicians?
Ian: “Neither of my parents were musicians, but who knows if they had any musical abilities. Both my parents were the youngest of large families. Families that were struggling to put food on the table, let alone buy anyone an instrument. I always wondered how they might have gone, had they been given the opportunity, ‘cause it’s got to be in the genes somewhere. My older brother and older sister are quite musical – my sister got to grade eight in classical piano. My older brother did and still does strum a good rhythm guitar and sings a mean Bob Dylan. Yeah, I guess, it’s in the family.”
Parenting as a Musician
Bec: As a parent yourself, you’re giving your son Julian opportunities to develop his musical talents. That must be an amazing thing for you to be able to share with him?
Ian: “Yeah, absolutely. I’ve been shepherding him toward music right from the get go. He was on trumpet there for a few years. It’s only the last couple of years he’s fully gotten stuck into the guitar and he’s coming in leaps and bounds. He’s nearly 18 now and he’s got a fabulous voice. We’re nurturing that and an incredible natural ability. It’s great to see, and expected because his mother’s a very talented musician as well.”
Bec: What does he think about what you do and who his Dad is? He must be proud of you.
Ian: “I don’t know if he’d show it too much, he wouldn’t want me to get a big head. He might not have appreciated it in the early years, then Cold Chisel got back together and he saw us playing for crowds of 30,000 people and more, and it really started to hit home for him then.”
Don’t miss Ian Moss on his Matchbook 30th Anniversary Tour live at the Tanks Arts Centre on April 16 and 17.
Tickets are $63.50 and available through ticketlink. For your chance to WIN two tickets to Friday’s show, enter HERE.
Listen to our podcast episode with Ian Moss here.
