NEW PODCAST EPISODE #60 — Steve Kilbey at The Church's ARIA Hall of Fame induction, 2010
The Church had two singles voted into Australia's Triple J Hottest 100 singles of all time and are one of our greatest bands with classics like 'Under the Milky Way' and The Unguarded Moment'.
In 2010, they were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. Steve Kilbey, Peter Koppes, Tim Powles and Marty Wilson-Piper were reluctant inductees. They’d passed up the honour previously and, as Kilbey explains in this episode, reluctant speech makers too. ‘We weren’t going to say anything … we all thought we were too aloof and clever to do this sort of thing …’
As the night unfolded and fellow inductees produced heartfelt speeches, it dawned on Kilbey and his bandmates that somebody would have to speak or it would seem rude and churlish. While entree was being served, Kilbey was trying to nut something out, using the old skills he’d honed as part of the ACT’s school debating team, where he took on (and lost to) Malcolm Turnbull’s NSW team!
The speech that followed has become a classic in the history of the ARIAs. It was so funny, the anecdotes soared, and Kilbey shed his reputation for being a serious artistic type to bring the house down. There is a hilarious moment where former manager Michael Chugg is on his feet, in shouted conversation with Kilbey, and he yells ‘why couldn’t you have been like this fucking 25 years ago!’ (it’s at the end of this Part 1 on YouTube)
I was recommended this speech by so many music industry people when I first started Speakola. I got to speak to Kilbey thanks to a good word from Sean Richards who runs our footy tipping competition and has been a tour manager for The Church, Cold Chisel and many other legendary Australian bands. Readers, if you can make an interview happen for me with another excellent speaker, I’d be so grateful. It’s finding the energy to make approaches and convince people to come on that’s slowed down my output. Guess who knocked me back this week?
Oprah Winfrey! You can’t say I’m not aiming for decent guests!
The basic structure of Kilbey’s speech is this:
Icebreaker with George Negus - ‘would you represent us in Waverley District Court’
‘I didn’t prepare a speech’
Salute to Australian music past and present
Salute to the other inductees
Anecdotes from the road
We’ve had ups and downs but we’ll keep going!
Here is Part 2 of the YouTube:
A great performance and such an excellent podcast episode — so interesting and covers quite a bit of Kilbey’s rock ‘n roll life. His description of his first gig aged eleven is life affirming!
Thanks for your time, Steve Kilbey. A real thrill for me.
Best wishes
Tony Wilson
Race Around the World Tips
For people aspiring to apply to the 2026 season of the Australian travel-documentary show Race Around the World, I’ve been posting some tips and thoughts on personal newsletter Good one, Wilson, as well as my own application videos and writings.
Christmas book orders at tonywilsonauthor.com
I’m an author with books available. The most popular titles are Harry Highpants (ages 4-7), The Cow Tripped Over the Moon (ages 1-5), 1989:The Great Grand Final (adult) and The Selwood Boys (middle grade). There are another dozen titles too, and I also have Ange & The Boss movie posters that I’ll make available asap. Order in the next week to ensure things arrive by Christmas.
