Fifty years. That’s a lot of singing along to “Khe Sanh,” a lot of lighter-waving during “Flame Trees,” a lot of pubs claiming to be the birthplace of Aussie rock legends Cold Chisel. Seven is set to mark the band’s golden anniversary with a new documentary, “Cold Chisel: The Big Five-O,” airing Sunday, 11 May at 8:00 PM.
The film tracks the band’s aptly named Big Five-0 tour, which drew over 250,000 fans across Australia. Expect plenty of electrifying concert footage, filmed at Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl, a venue practically built for singalongs of epic proportions. But “The Big Five-O” isn’t just a concert film. It digs into the archives, unearthing rare photos and footage, tracing the band’s journey from Adelaide’s Largs Pier Hotel to stadium-filling rock royalty.
Along with the concert footage, viewers get exclusive interviews, adding new perspectives to a story that’s already etched into Australian music history. And, of course, the film pays tribute to the men behind the music: Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, Don Walker, the late Steve Prestwich, and Phil Small. The creative team behind this documentary is noteworthy, with Paul Clarke, responsible for the Logie Award-winning “John Farnham: Finding The Voice,” acting as writer/producer. It’s directed by Andrew Lord (Splendour in the Grass) and produced by Frank Chidiac and Susanne Morrison.
“Cold Chisel: The Big Five-O” airs this Sunday, 11 May, at 8:00 PM on Seven and 7plus.