The gloves are on! The Frontier Touring Company and Premier Artists in conjunction with Chin Music announce the ultimate confrontation in a three round, winner-take-all bout of Australian rock’n’roll.
Following intense negotiations, fits of bravado, bluster and denial, three of the giants of the modern day fight game have agreed that it is indeed time to go head-to-head on the boards of venues around the country.
It's taken many years of intense preparation, countless under-card bouts and feats of stamina and staying power that have been the envy of many contenders and pretenders, finally the Hoodoo Gurus, Radio Birdman and The Stems are slugging it out toe-to-toe in September, with bouts scheduled for Sydney, the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Wollongong and Newcastle.
This is the dream card you never thought you’d see; no pretenders, three contenders who never surrender.
The main event sees the Hoodoo Gurus, fresh from earning their ARIA Hall Of Fame Title, taking the favoured red corner. They’re the bookies' favourites, much tipped to be the last band standing and prancing around the ring with the champions belt each night. Their seemingly unbeatable combination of hits makes them a formidable combination that make it highly unlikely the night will end with a points decision. The Gurus are fight-fit and experienced – nine albums, countless world tours, combined with an early 2007 America tour that included a showcase at the South By Southwest music festival finds them in the best pre-fight condition – physically and musically - of their career.
But in the fight game nothing is certain. Their opponents, Radio Birdman, have the form, the history and the unpredictability to take it right up to the Gurus. They hit hard, they hit often and they hit from the moment they enter the ring. Also parading their ARIA Hall Of Fame belts, Birdman will have recently returned from a gruelling tour of North America where observers know they always punch above their weight. Radio Birdman started raw and intense back in the mid 1970s and despite a few tentative attempts to quit the ring they’re found that if this caper is in your blood then there’s no escaping the smell, the intensity and adrenaline rush of real combat. They’ll be match fit, edgy and ready for a memorable scrap.
And no-one who’s observed the sport over the years will take the first bout for granted. The Stems are one of Australia’s musical wildcards. They may not have the profile of the main attractions but they’re wily, cagey and blessed with an under-stated, deceptive class that gives them every chance of slipping under the guard of their more favoured opponents. One of Australia’s greatest power pop and garage rock outfits, The Stems will be more than worth turning up early to see, and could just emerge as the surprise packet of this bout.
The Clash Of The Titans is the card of the year. Thankfully the promoters have elected not to go to the stadiums for this encounter. They want the tickets to be affordable, the audience to be ringside and close enough to feel the sweat and the clash of gloves on jaws. This is a fight for the ages and is specially priced for the fans and the aficionado’s of pugilistic endeavours.
This event will not be televised either on pay or free to air TV. The Clash Of The Titans can only be experienced live. Unlikely to be repeated, this is not for the faint of heart – and nor should it be.
Tickets on sale Monday 23 July.
