Cold Chisel

Cold Chisel

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1973 in Adelaide, Australia
Founder	Ian Moss, Steve Prestwich, Les Kaczmarek, Don Walker
Headquarters	Australia , Australia
Products	Music albums, singles

Cold Chisel is an Australian pub rock ensemble that originated in Adelaide in 1973. The founding lineup consisted of Ian Moss (guitar, vocals), Steve Prestwich (drums), Les Kaczmarek (bass), and Don Walker (piano, keyboards). Shortly thereafter, lead singer Jimmy Barnes joined the group, and in 1975, Phil Small replaced Kaczmarek on bass. Although the band dissolved in late 1983, they have reunited several times since. Musicologist Ian McFarlane praised them as "one of Australia's most cherished bands" and "among the finest live performers," noted for their fusion of rockabilly, hard rock, and soul-infused blues, all marked by a uniquely Australian identity.

They released eight studio albums that entered the Australian top five charts: Breakfast at Sweethearts (1979), East (1980), Circus Animals (1982, No. 1), Twentieth Century (1984, No. 1), The Last Wave of Summer (1998, No. 1), No Plans (2012), The Perfect Crime (2015), and Blood Moon (2019, No. 1). They have secured six number-one albums on the ARIA Charts, with their 2024 compilation 50 Years – The Best Of being the latest. Their singles that reached the top 10 include "Cheap Wine" (1980), "Forever Now" (1982), "Hands Out of My Pocket" (1994), and "The Things I Love in You" (1998).

Recognized with induction into the Hall of Fame in 1993, Cold Chisel’s track "Khe Sanh" was ranked eighth among all-time greatest Australian songs by APRA in 2001. Their album Circus Animals earned the No. 4 spot in the book 100 Best Australian Albums (2010), while East was placed at No. 53. The band received the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music during the APRA Music Awards of 2016. Cold Chisel's impact is predominantly felt within Australia and New Zealand, with lyrics often portraying working-class experiences. Notably, early bassist Les Kaczmarek passed away in 2008, followed by drummer Steve Prestwich's death in 2011.

1973–1978: Formation and Early Years

Originally formed under the name Orange in Adelaide in 1973, Cold Chisel began as a heavy metal outfit featuring Ted Broniecki on keyboards, Les Kaczmarek on bass, Ian Moss handling guitar and vocals, Steve Prestwich on drums, and Don Walker playing piano. Their initial setlists primarily consisted of covers from bands like Free and Deep Purple. By September 1973, Broniecki had exited the group, and seventeen-year-old vocalist Jimmy Barnes joined in December.

The band experimented with various names before ultimately adopting “Cold Chisel,” a title inspired by a song written by Don Walker. Barnes’ unpredictable relationship with the band led to several temporary exits during which Moss took over vocal duties. Meanwhile, Walker emerged as the main songwriter while pursuing studies in quantum mechanics throughout 1974. For a brief period, Barnes’ elder brother, John Swan, contributed backing vocals and percussion but was dismissed following incidents of violence. In mid-1975, Barnes departed to become lead singer for Fraternity, performing alongside Swan.

Following Kaczmarek’s departure in 1975, bassist Phil Small joined Cold Chisel. That November, they recorded early demo tracks without Barnes. The band relocated to Melbourne in May 1976 and subsequently moved to Sydney at the start of 1977 due to slow progress. In May 1977, Barnes announced another exit and briefly performed with Feather alongside Swan. However, after a farewell Cold Chisel show convinced him otherwise, he rejoined the group. The following month, they secured a contract with Warner Music Group.

1978–1979: Cold Chisel and Breakfast at Sweethearts

At the beginning of 1978, Cold Chisel entered the studio to produce their debut album, titled after the band itself, under the guidance of manager and producer Peter Walker, formerly of Bakery. Don Walker was responsible for composing all songs except "Juliet," which featured music by Barnes with lyrics by Walker. Released in April, the album included guest appearances from harmonica player Dave Blight and saxophonists Joe Camilleri and Wilbur Wilde, both from Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons. Despite containing fan favorites such as "Khe Sanh" and "Home and Broken Hearted," the album did not fully capture the intensity of their live performances. It managed to reach the top 40 on the Kent Music Report charts and earned a gold certification.

Their first single, "Khe Sanh", released in May 1978, faced bans from commercial radio due to its provocative lyrics but found an audience on ABC's youth-focused station Double J. Although producers from Countdown requested lyric changes, the band declined to modify the song. The single climbed to No. 41 on the Kent Music Report and ultimately became emblematic of the band’s identity, later receiving a remix for the international edition of their third album, East (1980).

In November 1978, Cold Chisel released a live EP titled You're Thirteen, You're Beautiful, and You're Mine, featuring five tracks recorded at Sydney’s Regent Theatre in 1977 during a show supported by Midnight Oil. This EP showcased their dynamic stage presence and peaked at No. 35 on the Kent Music Report charts.

The track "Merry Go Round" was re-recorded for their sophomore studio album, Breakfast at Sweethearts, which came out in February 1979. The album was produced by Richard Batchens, known for his work with Richard Clapton and Sherbet. Batchens aimed to refine their sound; however, the band expressed dissatisfaction with the final production. The album peaked at No. 4 on the charts and was Australia’s highest-selling domestic album that year, achieving platinum status. Most compositions were penned by Don Walker; Barnes co-wrote the lead single "Goodbye (Astrid, Goodbye)" released in September 1978, while Moss contributed the song "Dresden." "Goodbye (Astrid, Goodbye)" became a concert favorite and was notably covered by U2 during their Australian tours in the 1980s.

1979–1980: East

Despite limited exposure on commercial radio, Cold Chisel gained national chart success and cultivated a strong fanbase. The band developed a notorious reputation, particularly Barnes, who boasted over a thousand sexual encounters and heavy vodka consumption during live shows. By late 1979, Cold Chisel parted ways with Batchens and enlisted Mark Opitz to produce their single "Choirgirl" released in November. Written by Walker about abortion, the song reached No. 14 on the charts.

This single paved the way for their third studio album, East, produced by Opitz and released in June 1980. Recorded over approximately two months, East peaked at No. 2 and became Australia’s second best-selling album that year. Critics highlighted contributions from all band members as songwriters for the first time. McFarlane described it as “a confident, fully realised work of tremendous scope,” while Nimmervoll regarded it as a landmark achievement that cemented Cold Chisel’s status as Australia's leading rock act.

The album displayed a variety of musical styles including rock numbers like "Standing on the Outside" and "My Turn to Cry," rockabilly-inspired tracks such as "Rising Sun," which drew from Barnes’ personal relationships, pop-tinged love songs like Phil Small’s "My Baby" featuring Joe Camilleri on saxophone, alongside the piano ballad "Four Walls," reflecting on prison life. The cover art referenced Jacques-Louis David's painting The Death of Marat, depicting Barnes reclining in a bathtub wearing a kamikaze headband amid a cluttered setting. Ian Moss’s track "Never Before" was notably chosen as the inaugural song broadcast on ABC’s Triple J FM station that year. To promote East, Cold Chisel embarked on the Youth in Asia Tour starting in May 1980.

Towards the end of 1980, Aboriginal rock reggae group No Fixed Address supported Cold Chisel during their Summer Offensive tour along Australia’s east coast, culminating with a performance on 20 December at the University of Adelaide.

1981–1982: From Swingshift to Circus Animals

The live performances from Cold Chisel's Youth in Asia Tour were immortalized on their double live album, Swingshift, released in March 1981. Music critic Nimmervoll commended the album for effectively capturing the band's core energy. In the same month, Cold Chisel secured seven awards at the 1980 Countdown/TV Week pop music ceremony, including accolades for Best Australian Album and Most Popular Group. However, they declined to accept their trophies in protest against the involvement of a television magazine, concluding their stage appearance by destroying the set.

Swingshift entered the charts at number one, confirming Cold Chisel's status as Australia's leading commercial act. Prior to their inaugural American tour in mid-1981, a US edition of East was issued with an altered track sequence. The single "My Baby" managed to break into the Billboard Mainstream Rock top 40; nonetheless, insufficient promotional support from their American record label limited wider recognition. Despite technical issues with the US master tape's audio quality, the album managed to chart within the lower ranks of the Billboard 200 by July. During their US tour, they opened for artists such as Ted Nugent, Cheap Trick, Joe Walsh, Heart, and Marshall Tucker Band, although audience responses varied and included hostile reactions like booing in Dayton, Ohio. Conversely, European audiences—particularly in Germany—were more welcoming.

In August 1981, Cold Chisel commenced recording their fourth studio project, Circus Animals, again collaborating with producer Opitz. To promote this release, they staged performances beneath a circus tent at Sydney’s Wentworth Park and embarked on an extensive tour that featured a Darwin concert attracting attendance exceeding 10% of the city’s population. The album achieved number one positions on both Australian and New Zealand charts and was later recognized as number four in the 2010 publication 100 Best Australian Albums.

The album’s lead single, "You Got Nothing I Want" (November 1981), delivered a hard rock critique targeting the US music industry and subsequently complicated Barnes' solo career prospects in America. Circus Animals juxtaposed intense tracks like "Bow River" and "Hound Dog" with softer ballads such as "Forever Now" (March 1982) and "When the War Is Over" (August), both written by Prestwich. "Forever Now" peaked at number four on the Kent Music Report and reached number two in New Zealand, representing Cold Chisel’s highest-charting singles in these markets.

The song "When the War Is Over" holds distinction as Cold Chisel’s most frequently covered composition—Uriah Heep featured it on their 1989 album Raging Silence, while John Farnham recorded it both during his tenure with Little River Band and again as a solo artist in 1988. Additionally, former Australian Idol contestant Cosima De Vito took the track to number one in 2004. The song was also performed by Bobby Flynn on Australian Idol in 2006. Meanwhile, Australian group The Reels offered a country waltz reinterpretation of "Forever Now".

1983: Disbandment

Cold Chisel's efforts to establish themselves in the United States market were unsuccessful, leading to increased tensions within the group. During a difficult tour in Germany in 1983, keyboardist Walker unexpectedly left the stage. Upon their return to Australia, Prestwich was replaced by Ray Arnott, who had previously played with Spectrum and the Dingoes.

Facing financial difficulties and family obligations, Barnes requested a substantial advance payment, which management refused due to uniform payment policies for all members. After Barnes resigned on 17 August, the band resolved to split up. They scheduled a farewell tour called The Last Stand and recorded a final studio album titled Twentieth Century released in February 1984. Prestwich rejoined the lineup for the tour that began in October. Before the last Sydney performances, Barnes lost his voice, causing those shows to be postponed until December.

The concluding concerts at Sydney Entertainment Centre from 12 to 15 December 1983 commemorated ten years since Cold Chisel's debut. These performances were captured in the concert film The Last Stand, which became Australia's highest-grossing concert documentary released in cinemas at that time. Live tracks from these shows were also featured on The Barking Spiders Live: 1983 (1984) and as B-sides on the Three Big XXX Hits singles set issued before their 1994 compilation Teenage Love.

Recorded intermittently amid ongoing disputes, Twentieth Century featured drum contributions from both Arnott and Prestwich on various tracks. The album achieved the No. 1 spot and generated lasting singles such as "Saturday Night" (March 1984) and "Flame Trees" (August). Co-written by Prestwich and Walker and inspired by Walker’s hometown of Grafton, "Flame Trees" remains a radio favorite; Barnes later performed an acoustic rendition for his 1993 solo release Flesh and Wood, while Sarah Blasko covered it in 2006.

1984–1996: Post-Breakup Period and ARIA Hall of Fame Induction

Barnes embarked on a solo career starting January 1984, achieving nine Australian number-one albums along with chart-topping singles like "Too Much Ain't Enough Love". He collaborated with artists such as INXS, Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, and John Farnham, solidifying his position as one of Australia's premier male rock vocalists. In 1984, Prestwich joined Little River Band, contributing to their albums Playing to Win and No Reins before departing in 1986 to become part of Farnham’s touring ensemble. Moss, Small, and Walker took extended hiatuses from performing.

Small remained musically active through smaller outfits including Pound, the Earls of Duke, and the Outsiders. In 1988, Walker launched Catfish, a solo venture featuring rotating collaborators such as Moss, Charlie Owen, and Dave Blight; however, Catfish's releases achieved limited commercial success. Between 1988 and 1989, Walker composed songs for Moss' debut solo album Matchbook, which included the No. 1 hits "Tucker's Daughter" and "Telephone Booth". Both the album and "Tucker's Daughter" reached No. 1 status, earning Moss five awards at the ARIA Music Awards of 1990. Later solo projects did not replicate this level of success.

Throughout the late 1980s and into the 1990s, Cold Chisel declined several reunion offers, including an alleged $5 million proposal for a single performance in each major Australian state capital. While Moss and Walker maintained frequent collaboration, they did not work with Barnes again until Walker wrote "Stone Cold" for Barnes’ sixth studio album Heat (1993), which Barnes also recorded acoustically for Flesh and Wood (1993). Barnes’ solo achievements combined with continued radio airplay helped preserve Cold Chisel’s enduring reputation.

By the early 1990s, Cold Chisel had sold over three million albums since their breakup in 1983. Their compilation Chisel was reissued multiple times, including a double-album edition released in 2001. The soundtrack for Last Stand was made available in 1992. In 1994, the band released Teenage Love, featuring unreleased demos and rare live recordings that spawned three singles.

1997–2010: Reunion

In October 1997, Cold Chisel came back together with the original members Barnes, Moss, Prestwich, Small, and Walker. Between February and July, the group co-produced their sixth studio album, The Last Wave of Summer, which was released in October 1998. The album entered the ARIA Albums Chart at number one and was followed by a nationwide tour. The band reunited again for the Ringside Tour in 2003 and reunited once more in 2005 to perform at a charity concert supporting victims of the Boxing Day tsunami at Melbourne's Myer Music Bowl. Founding bassist Les Kaczmarek passed away from liver failure on 5 December 2008 at age 53; Walker remembered him as "a wonderful and beguiling man."

On 10 September 2009, Cold Chisel revealed plans for a single performance at the Sydney 500 V8 Supercars event scheduled for 5 December. Their concert at Stadium Australia drew over 45,000 attendees, marking the largest audience in their history. In October 2010, they played one live show at the Deniliquin ute muster. By December of that year, Moss confirmed the band was creating new material for an upcoming album.

2011–2019: Death of Steve Prestwich and The Perfect Crime

In January 2011, Steve Prestwich received a diagnosis of a brain tumour and underwent surgery but died two days later at age 56. Mid-2011 saw the digital and CD re-release of all six Cold Chisel studio albums. Additionally, three digital-only collections—Never Before, Besides, and Covered—were issued alongside a new compilation titled The Best of Cold Chisel: All for You, which reached number two on the ARIA Charts. In July, the band announced the thirty-date Light the Nitro Tour featuring former Divinyls drummer Charley Drayton stepping in for Prestwich; most shows sold out rapidly, prompting extra dates into early 2012.

Released in April 2012, their seventh studio album No Plans, produced by Kevin Shirley, achieved a peak position of number two. Stephen Fitzpatrick from The Australian awarded it four-and-a-half stars out of five, emphasizing lead track "All for You" as a theme centered on redemption. The song "I Got Things to Do," penned and sung by Prestwich, was regarded as a "bittersweet finale," incorporating a previously unheard vocal track discovered after his passing. In mid-2012, Cold Chisel toured the United Kingdom and shared stages with Soundgarden and Mars Volta during London's Hard Rock Calling festival.

Their eighth studio release, The Perfect Crime, arrived in October 2015 with Shirley again producing and reached number two on the charts. Martin Boulton from The Sydney Morning Herald commended its return to rock'n'roll fundamentals, highlighting Walker's keyboard contributions, Moss's guitar work, and Barnes' signature vocals.

Cold Chisel's most recent album, Blood Moon, launched in December 2019 and debuted at number one on the ARIA Album Chart—marking their fifth album to top the charts. Half of its tracks featured lyrics written by Barnes paired with music composed by Walker, representing a fresh songwriting collaboration; Barnes credited his enhanced confidence in writing to having published two autobiographies.

2024: 50th Anniversary Tour

On 29 May 2024, Cold Chisel revealed their The Big Five-O Live tour, commemorating the band's fiftieth year. The tour commenced in Armidale on 5 October 2024 and wrapped up in New Zealand by January 2025. A recording of the tour was made available across multiple formats on 8 August 2025.

Musical Style and Lyrical Content

According to McFarlane, Cold Chisel's initial decade on the road established a reputation "unprecedented in Australian rock history." Celebrated as one of Australia's most cherished bands and premier live performers, their sound integrated rockabilly, hard rock, and soul-blues elements with a uniquely Australian perspective. In 1978, Luis Feliu of The Canberra Times highlighted their sincere work ethic and ability to traverse genres ranging from hard rock to blues and rhythm and blues.

The band’s music was heavily influenced by blues and early rock, especially through contributions from Moss, Barnes, and Walker, while Small and Prestwich infused strong pop melodies. This combination produced intense rock tunes like "You Got Nothing I Want," alongside softer ballads such as "Choirgirl," pop-oriented love songs like "My Baby," and incisive political tracks like "Star Hotel," which drew inspiration from the late-1970s Star Hotel riot in Newcastle.

Their songwriting reflected everyday Australian experiences and culture, shaped by members’ varied origins—Moss hailing from Alice Springs, Walker from rural New South Wales, and Barnes and Prestwich as working-class immigrants from the UK.

Cold Chisel’s emphasis on distinctly Australian themes limited their international reach. Tracks such as "Saturday Night" and "Breakfast at Sweethearts" depicted life in Sydney’s Kings Cross district. The song "Misfits" tackled issues of suburban homelessness near Sydney. Working-class anthems like "Shipping Steel" and "Standing on The Outside" were central to their repertoire, complemented by nostalgic narratives ("Flame Trees") and aspirational stories ("Bow River").

Recognition

In 1993, Cold Chisel was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame at the ARIA Music Awards of 1993. While compilation albums significantly boosted their sales figures, the 1994 release Teenage Love generated two singles that reached the top ten charts. Their reunion in 1998 resulted in a successful album launch followed by a sold-out tour. In 2001, the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) placed their 1978 single "Khe Sanh" at No. 8 on its list of all-time greatest Australian songs.

Cold Chisel was among the pioneering Australian bands to inspire a major tribute album. The 2007 release Standing on the Outside: The Songs of Cold Chisel featured covers by artists including The Living End, Evermore, Something for Kate, Pete Murray, Katie Noonan, You Am I, Paul Kelly, Alex Lloyd, Thirsty Merc, and Ben Lee. Many participants belonged to subsequent generations, underscoring Cold Chisel’s lasting impact. Their album Circus Animals was ranked No. 4 in 100 Best Australian Albums (2010), with East placed at No. 53. At the APRA Music Awards of 2016, they were honored with The Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music.

In March 2021, a laneway adjacent to their initial Adelaide CBD residency was named Cold Chisel Lane. It features a 50-metre (160 ft) mural created by artist James Dodd inspired by the band.

Members

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2 Current members

• Ian Moss – guitar, lead and backing vocals (1973–1984, 1997–1999, 2003, 2009–present)
• Don Walker – keyboards, backing vocals (1973–1984, 1997–1999, 2003, 2009–present)
• Jimmy Barnes – lead and backing vocals, occasional guitar (1973–1975, 1976–1977, 1978–1984, 1997–1999, 2003, 2009–present)
• Phil Small – bass guitar, backing vocals (1975–1984, 1997–1999, 2003, 2009–present)
• Charley Drayton – drums, percussion, backing vocals, acoustic guitar (2011–present)

Current touring musicians

• Dave Blight – harmonica
• Andy Bickers – saxophone
• Juanita Tippins – backing vocals
• Eliza Jane Barnes – backing vocals
• Bek Jensen – backing vocals

Template:Col-2 Former members

• Steve Prestwich – drums, percussion, lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar (1973–1983, briefly in 1983, 1997–1999, 2003, 2009–2011; deceased)
• Ted Broniecki – keyboards (1973)
• Les Kaczmarek – bass guitar (1973–1975; deceased 2008)
• John Swan – percussion, backing vocals (1975)
• Ray Arnott – drums (1983)

Former touring musicians

• Billy Rogers – saxophone
• Jimmy Sloggett – saxophone
• Renée Geyer – backing vocals (deceased 2023)
• Venetta Fields – backing vocals
• Megan Williams – backing vocals (deceased 2000)
• Peter Walker – acoustic guitar
• Joe Camilleri – saxophone
• Wilbur Wilde – saxophone

Timeline

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Discography

Main article: Cold Chisel discography

• Cold Chisel (1978)
• Breakfast at Sweethearts (1979)
• East (1980)
• Circus Animals (1982)
• Twentieth Century (1984)
• The Last Wave of Summer (1998)
• No Plans (2012)
• The Perfect Crime (2015)
• Blood Moon (2019)

APRA Awards

Since its inception in 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), the annual APRA Awards recognize outstanding achievements among composers and songwriters. Template:Awards table ! Ref. |- | 2012 | "All for You" (Don Walker) | Song of the Year | Template:Shortlisted | |- | 2016 | "Lost" (Don Walker, Wes Carr) | Song of the Year | Template:Shortlisted | |- | rowspan="2"| 2021 | rowspan="2"| "Getting the Band Back Together" (Don Walker) | Most Performed Rock Work | Template:Won | |- | Song of the Year | Template:Shortlisted | |}

ARIA Music Awards

Established in 1987 to celebrate excellence across all sectors of Australian music genres annually, the ARIA Music Awards inducted Cold Chisel into their Hall of Fame in 1993.

Template:Awards table |- | 1992 | Chisel | Highest Selling Album | Template:Nom |- | 1993 | Cold Chisel | Hall of Fame | Template:Yes2 |- | rowspan="2"| 1999 | rowspan="2"| The Last Wave of Summer | Best Rock Album | Template:Nom |- | Highest Selling Album | Template:Nom |- | rowspan="3"| 2012 | rowspan="2"| No Plans | Best Rock Album | Template:Nom |- | Best Group | Template:Nom |- |- Light The Nitro Tour |- Best Australian Live Act |- Template:Nom |- |- rowspan="3"| 2020 |- Blood Moon |- Best Rock Album |- Template:Nom |- |- Kevin Shirley for Blood Moon by Cold Chisel |- Producer of the Year |- Template:Nom |- |- Blood Moon Tour |- Best Australian Live Act |- Template:Nom |- -

|}

Helpmann Awards

Since its creation in 2001 by industry body Live Performance Australia, the Helpmann Awards honor outstanding live entertainment and performing arts within Australia.

Template:Awards table ! Ref. |- |- 2012 |- Light the Nitro Tour |- Best Australian Contemporary Concert |- Template:Nom |- -

|}

South Australian Music Awards

Founded in 2012 to acknowledge excellence within South Australia's contemporary music scene, these awards include a Hall of Fame recognizing distinguished contributors.

Template:Awards table ! Ref. |- |-2016 |- Cold Chisel |- Hall of Fame |- Template:Yes2 |- -

|}

TV Week / Countdown Awards

Broadcast nationally on ABC-TV between 1974 and 1987, Countdown was an influential pop music television program that presented awards annually from 1979 to 1987 alongside magazine TV Week. These awards combined categories voted on by both fans and industry peers.

Template:Awards table |- |- rowspan="3"|1979 |- rowspan="2"| Breakfast at Sweethearts |- Best Australian Album |- Template:Nom |- - Best Australian Record Cover Design |- Template:Won |- - Don Walker for "Choirgirl" by Cold Chisel |- Best Recorded Songwriter |- Template:Nom |- - rowspan="8"|1980 |- rowspan="3"| East |- Best Australian Album |- Template:Won |- - Best Australian Record Cover Design |- Template:Won |- - Most Popular Australian Album |- Template:Won |- - rowspan="2"| Cold Chisel |- Most Outstanding Achievement |- Template:Won |- - Most Popular Group |- Template:Won |- - Jimmy Barnes (Cold Chisel) |- Most Popular Male Performer |- Template:Nom |- - Don Walker by Cold Chisel |- Best Recorded Songwriter |- Template:Won |- - Mark Opitz for East by Cold Chisel |- Best Australian Producer |- Template:Won |- -1981 |- themselves |- Most Consistent Live Act |- Template:Won |- -1982 - Circus Animals - Best Australian Album - - -1984 - "Saturday Night" - Best Video - - }}

See also

• Timeline of trends in Australian music

References

General

• Note: The archived online version offers limited features.

Specific