The first time I came to Perth, WA, was exactly 25 years ago, as a busker. Christmas 1991. We had a brilliant 10 days, and – incredibly – each made enough to cover our return airfares. At the time, I was living and working in Singapore, where busking was prohibited. Something about it being against the...Read More

I have a philosophy on management which goes – if you notice the manager, then management has gone wrong. Good management should be invisible. It happens behind the scenes, allowing the parts to move together efficiently and the whole organisation to work effectively. Good managers select great people, self motivators, give them the tools to do the job...Read More

I have been fortunate (twice) to see the best rock and roll band that ever strutted the planet, the Rolling Stones, in concert. The first time, 16th July 1990, at Cardiff Arms Park, was possible only because the band had to cancel a few Wembley gigs due to Keith Richards’s injured hand, meaning they threw on the Cardiff...Read More

I think I was on my first long haul airplane flight 30 years or so ago when the idea struck me. Back then jumbo jets took 30 hours to fly to Australia from the UK with 5 stop overs. At your seat you could flick the channel of the entertainment system’s handset to hear comedy, the latest pop hits,...Read More

[tweetmeme source=”ChazGunningham” only_single=false] Next year I turn 50. Yes, I know it’s hard to believe dear reader. But who’s older than me? Rolling Stones, that’s who. For 50 years ago  on this very day, at the Marquee Club in London, the ramshackle collection of pulsating testosterone that was Michael ‘Mick’ Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Dick...Read More

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHPOzQzk9Qo] A poll last year asked people for their favourite comedy song of all time – way ahead atop the pack was Monty Python’s Always Look on the Bright Side of Life from the Life of Brian movie. Legend has it that the Python crew were holed up in Tripoli shooting the movie and...Read More

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exwn6fuF9y0] About as perfect as song as you can get – the fabulous Tim Minchin and ‘Not Perfect’. Saw him live in Perth (his hometown) with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, a brilliant performance. This song was the encore. Thought provoking, funny, touching. Excellent end to an excellent night.Read More

The other day a newly released DVD caught my eye as I was browsing for TVs. It was the Rolling Stones’ 1978 ‘Some Girls’ tour film, never before released, digitally remastered from the original 16mm movie.  So I had to have it.  (We also later bought a new TV.) ‘Some Girls’ was the first album...Read More