Penny McLeod
AUSSIE rock legend Ian Moss will perform two solo acoustic shows in Tasmania as part of his Matchbook 30th Anniversary regional tour.
The Cold Chisel co-founder and platinumselling solo singer-songwriter says the intimate gigs will honour and celebrate the enduring success of his first solo album.
“It’s an album that hasn’t been forgotten and the songs have stood the test of time,” Moss says.
“I tried to make sure every single one of them was a bit of a gem. There used to be this attitude in the ’70s that all you needed was one great song, just one hit. I didn’t want that.
“And Don Walker [who wrote or co-wrote most of the songs on Matchbook] was just such a stickler for getting every last syllable right.”
Matchbook was released in 1989 — several years after Cold Chisel’s break-up — and peaked at No.1 on the ARIA Albums Chart. It delivered three Top 40 singles for Moss: Tucker’s Daughter, which reached No.2; Telephone Booth (No.7); and Out of the Fire (No.29).
In 2018, Moss released Ian Moss, his first solo album of original material in 22 years.
“I’m someone who keeps trying to learn more theory, more chords and how to write songs better,” he says.
“The Ian Moss album of 2018 was the first time I’d written well over 50 per cent of an album. In the past it’s always been a fairly hefty lean on Don Walker and other songwriters.
“One of the greatest comments I got from people about the Ian Moss album was ‘This sounds like you’.”
Moss plans to record another album soon, in the midst of touring (most recently with Cold Chisel, who regrouped to record a new album, Blood Moon), writing, family life and hobbies.
“I have a PPL — a private pilot licence. That’s my hobby. It’s a good balance and there’s plenty to learn and study,” Moss says.
He will be performing songs from Matchbook and his self-titled album at his Hobart and Launceston shows next month.
“There will be songs like Broadway from the last solo album and my take on one or two Cold Chisel songs, including Choir Girl and Bow River,’’ Moss says.