I began The Seaview Ballroom in St. Kilda in 1978. It was the mecca for all the punk/new music at the time and became known internationally.Some of the bands who played The Ballroom are [of course] Nick Cave, The Birthday Party. Nick claimed it as his home away from home. Other names who graced the stage are The Cure, Iggy Pop, The Fall, La Femme, Radio Birdman, The Scientists, Go-Betweens, Beasts of Bourbon, JAB, The Saints, X, The Laughing Clowns, Icehouse/The Flowers, Primitive Calculators, Whirlyworld, Equal Local, XTC, The Gun Club, INXS, Dead Kennedys, New Christs, Sacred Cowboys, The Models, The Zorros, John Lydon's P.I.L, Midnight Oil, Split Enz and heaps, heaps more. Hunters and Collectors played their debut gig there and Fred Negro and I Spit on Your Gravy showed us their 'manhood'!
La Femme were a band I booked very early on, a mixture of punk/metal/glam/rock - their hit 'Chelsea Kids" was my fave [actually a song about sharpie gangs of the early '70's]. Chane Chane was frontman/vocalist and they played at nearly all my venues. Twenty years later, Chane and I remet. That was 7 years ago and we've been together ever since! Weird that all those years ago Chane was known as "The Original Punk", the press labelled me "The Queen of Punk", and the two of us got together 20 years on!
Also I am writing a 'kiss 'n' tell' book about The Ballroom years [you may be in it, or your parents!]. A taste will be in 3RRR's 30 year Birthday magazine - out soon. Hopefully the book will be available by end of 2007. Stay tuned and stay in touch for all the latest music goss!
Our latest project is HushHush, a night of music, magic and always talent. Approximately once a month at a different venue, a selection of the best bands plus our gorgeous Hush Hush Burlesque gals. Log on to the Hush Hush site, www.myspace.com/hushhushau and see you at all our shows!! Love, love Dolores & Chane Chane
