Category Archives: you bloody beauty

i’m a sheila…

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You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but I don’t think it’ll ever stop be weird spending Australia day in the snow
And if you live in Chicago, there’s a pretty good chance, that come January 26th (Australia Day) there’ll be some snow on the ground
Despite that, it’s still a day to celebrate my Aussie-ness
You don’t have to be in Australia to do that

Australians are travelers….and I know there’s Aussie’s all over the globe right now, knocking a few back….in honor of ‘our’ day

Which leads me to ask the question, to all my Aussie mates reading this
What does being Australian mean to you?

For me, it’s not just about where I was born or what nationality is listed on my passport
Being Australian is WHO I am
It’s a pride thing
I’m proud to be from a country that, when I meet new people from other countries, they nearly always say, “I’ve ALWAYS wanted to go to Australia!”
That’s a great compliment, and I love that Australia is held in such high regard by so many people

Australia to me is about mates
Working hard, but knowing how to take it easy
Having a sense of humour
And for me, being proud to have a little bit of BOGAN in me
I love being able to say that I was born in a small (at least it was back then) outback town like Kalgoorlie

I love that our national anthem gives me goosebumps every time I hear it
I love that my daughters (both born in the USA) will eat a Vegemite sandwich with me
I love that after 14 years of hearing me talk, I can still bust out new Aussie slang that Diamond hasn’t heard before
I love that my Dad is an Aussie icon and has been nominated for Australian of the year
I love that my 65 year old Mum has a wetty (wetsuit) and a boogie board
I love that Australia Day is also my Nanna’s birthday
I love meat pies, Paul Kelly songs, the Australian flag, calling flip flops ‘thongs’, red dirt and being a SHEILA!

I love being Australian

Happy Australia Day!

To help get your party started,
For the next 24 hours, just click the link for a free download of
I’M A SHEILA (Jenny Talia)
from my latest album F.O.C.U.S.

Crank it loud at your barbie
I know I will be!

 

 

say hello to my little friend

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My red guitar has been with me for years
We’ve been everywhere together
Only separated when the airlines did what airlines do, and ‘misplaced’ her. I’ve actually lost count how many times that happened
But no complaints here….because I ran out of swear words for those fucktards got her back
Every. Time.
She’s been my gigging buddy from Japan to New Zealand, England to the USA, South Africa to East Timor, Ireland to every corner of Australia. And we did most of those destinations more than a few times together

She still sounds great
She has a few dings in her, or ‘love bites’ as Dad calls them

But her boobs are as perky as ever
And she will always be known as my ‘boobie git-fiddle’

She’ll still come to some gigs with me
As a spare
Because I’m shit at changing strings and sometimes it’s easier to carry two guitars
Also, I’m lazy
Or maybe I’ll just bring her along just to embarrass my nephews, should they ever decide to come to another show
 

So while I’ll miss my red boobie git-fiddle

I’m pretty stoked
‘Cause when I get to Australia (Sydney tour, April…giddyup!)
There’s a new little beauty waiting for me
A brand new, custom made Maton Guitar
Handmade by the über talented head luthier and all-round top dude, Andy Allen
Andy has made all my previous guitars, and each one sounds and looks better than the one before
So I’m ridiculously excited to get my hands on this

And somewhat shitting myself to see what he’s painted on the back of this one.

bugger me basingstoke!

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And when I say ‘bugger me’, I mean like, ‘fuck me dead’
I guess what I’m really trying to say is holy fucking shit you guys made that the most amazing show. Good GOD it was awesome.
For those of you that don’t know, this tour, is Dad’s final one of the UK & Ireland.
And to answer the bazillion dollar question; NO, he is not retiring. But he IS scaling back on big tours. While he *may* come back over here and do  a couple of shows (he may not either…sorry) he won’t ever tour the country again. It’s a pretty intense schedule we keep, and aside from being committed to other projects for the next 3 years (which will make him 68) he just wants to slow down. As he should
He’s been touring on average, 120 shows a year, since his first album came out back in 1984.
But he’s been traveling around the world as a musician since he was 16. So yeah, I reckon he’s earn some ‘take it easy time’. It’s important to him, and Mum, to enjoy the life they have, while they’re still young enough to get out there and enjoy it.
But retiring? That’ll never be him.
Whether he plays live or nor, he will ALWAYS write and record new songs.
So you’ll always have that!

After touring England for almost 30 years, last night was the last England show of the tour (before we headed of to the Ireland shows)|

Now, I have been touring with Dad, on and off for many, many years. And this tour….jesus….THIS tour has been like no other
The way the fans have come out in DROVES to salute Dad, tell him they love him, what he means to them, how much his music has been a part of their life – well, I’ve got to tell you, that, has been fucking incredible
I guess I take it all for granted. He’s my Dad.
But this tour has shown me something amazing. You guys have had us in tears on more than a few occasions, with your kindness and appreciation
It just doesn’t get any better than this.

And don’t think we don’t know it
In a career that has seen Dad work with SO many different people. Hundreds. Some fantastic, and some absolute cunts not so much, along the way.

Touring can be hard slog on a good day. I’m not saying it’s not the best job on the planet, because I know, for me it is.

But a long tour like this can take it out of you. But it’s the people that make it worth it.  The people that buy tickets every night, and the people backstage, that make it all happen.

It has been better than super special to have a team on this tour, that just couldn’t be ANY better.  When you get the right people around you, this whole touring business is a fucking dream.

But you guys…YOU…just added about as much awesome-sauce as we can handle

And Basingstoke, what a way to say goodbye
I truly can’t thank you enough

Last night, and the 37 shows before it, have created so many brillliant memories for all of us on this tour.

If I could give you all a big kiss, I totally would.
And yes, there’d probably be tongue involved.

See you all again next year!!