Since forming in Adelaide in 1973 and blasting onto the national scene in the late ’70s, Cold Chisel has created a uniquely Australian fusion of rockabilly, roughhouse soul, and blues. Between 1978 and 1983 the original line-up of Don Walker, Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss (guitar/vocals), Phil Small (bass) and Steve Prestwich (drums) recorded five studio albums that became Australian classics. 1978’s self-titled debut and 1979’s Breakfast At Sweethearts initially received little support from mainstream media but eventually went gold based on nonstop touring. 1980’s East was their huge commercial breakthrough and 1982’s Circus Animals saw them top the charts. However, by the time Twentieth Century was released in 1984 the band had already flamed out, making their unforgettable Last Stand in arenas around the country. In 1998 Cold Chisel reformed briefly for a chart-topping album and tour called The Last Wave Of Summer. An ‘unplugged’ style run of dates called Ringside followed five years later, then in 2011 the group was working on a new studio album that became No Plans when Steve Prestwich sadly died from complications during surgery for a brain tumour. Eventually Charley Drayton agreed to step in to help complete what Steve began and he’s played drums with the band ever since, including on the record-breaking Light The Nitro Tour and 2015’s platinum certified The Perfect Crime.
 
The band is currently putting the finishing touches to some more new music they recorded earlier this year with Charley and they plan to release at least some of it before the Blood Moon Tour. Further announcements will be made about that in the weeks or months ahead.
 
Over the course of their career Cold Chisel has sold almost 7 million albums across vinyl, cassette, CD, downloads and streaming. They’ve been inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame and received the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music. However, their greatest achievements are their songs. It’s a body of work that has defined and echoed who we are. For more than 40 years Cold Chisel has defied the odds, ignored the trends, and blazed their own trail. The band has endeared themselves to all sorts of Australians because their uncompromising attitude articulates our hopes, fears, alienation and humour, and because they are simply one of the most ferocious live rock ‘n’ roll outfits on earth.