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| 1973 |
"Orange" formed in Adelaide, Australia. Originally, John Swan (Swanee)
was to be lead vocalist.
His younger brother James Dixon Swan alias Jimmy Barnes, a rough but well hearted
16 year old teenager became their lead vocalist. |
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| 1974 |
"Orange" renames as Cold Chisel.
For the next four years the band tries to get a record contract, playing in hotels
and halls in every corner of Australia. |
| 1977 |
 |
September 9
Cold Chisel sign to WEA Records Australia
Nov/Dec
Gig around Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide in between recording demos |
|
| 1978 |
January 9
Recording commences at Trafalgar Studios with Producer Peter Walker.
April 11-18
National tour supporting Foreigner.
April 24
Self titled debut album released Peaks at 38 in National
Charts.
May
East Coast tour. Single Khe Sanh / How Many Times released.
July 30
Alberts Studios recording second album with Richard Batchens handling production.
August
The classic Khe Sanh given a " classification"
{not suitable for airplay) due to lyric content. However, the song goes to 4 in Adelaide
and attains a national position of 43. |
|
September 11
Release single Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye) / Georgia
November
Embark on national tour supporting Peter Frampton.
November 20
Release You're 13, You're Beautiful and You're Mine a
limited edition "Live" EP featuring five tracks Peaks in National Singles
chart at 36. |
| 1979 |
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|
February
Breakfast at Sweethearts is released and Chisel
tour Australia and New Zealand billed as "Special Guests" of Rod Stewart.
National top five album.
March
The band begin a national three month tour. Breakfast
at Sweethearts is released as a single.
June
Single Shipping Steel is released
July 23
Cold Chisel begin recording sessions at Paradise Studios However, the producer and
the band are not compatible, which leads to an introduction to Mark Opitz. |
Aug/Sep/Oct
Chisels Set Fire to the Town tour with 45 dates over two months on the Queensland
leg of the tour, Gold Coast press slam the band, Management and Record company for
"Bad Taste" in choice of publicity posters {a picture
of a burning monk). This does not in the least deter thousands of fans who pack
venues to break house records The ensuing controversy to emerge, defines the band
away from a run of the mill, barrel house rock and roll band, as the public and the
media begin to fully distinguish Cold Chisel's image and the social, political awareness
in their songs The "Burning Monkî is their first blatant statement and sets
the standard for forthcoming tours and promotion.
September 19
As local band "Heroes" play their final chords, over-zealous Newcastle
youths riot at the impending closure of their favourite hotel, inspiring Don Walker
to write the brilliant "Star Hotel'' Ironically, over a year later, when Chisel
themselves play in Newcastle, newspapers imply a riot during the band's performance.
October
Back at Paradise with Mark Spitz Choir Girl is born out
of these demo sessions and released as a single in November. It is this ballad that
gains across the board acceptance for the band and charts nationally at 14.
Nor 23-Dec 2
A break in recording for the "Pooled Resources" tour. This is the first
time Australian bands combine services for a National large venue concert tour. Along
with management stable mates The Angels (Angel City) and Flowers, Cold Chisel take
the risk on a financially demanding five date tour. The shows are ill-fated. In Adelaide
Jimmy sprains his ankle, in Sydney soaring temperatures keep attendances down. The
equipment truck rolls, forcing one show to be cancelled and torrential rain falls
as the gates open for the final concert. Although the tour is not as successful as
originally thought, a precedence is set for Australian rock and roll. |
| 1980 |
 |
January, 1980
Presented with gold disc for debut album and platinum disc for Breakfast
at Sweethearts.
May
The members of Cold Chisel holiday overseas, leaving Mark to finalise mixes on EAST.
Jimmy goes to Japan to meet up with his Thai girlfriend then on to England where,
at dinner with Jimmy Page he honestly vocalises his thoughts on Led Zepplin's non-touring
policy. Ian, Phil and Steve tour England and Europe and Don America. While staying
at the Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, Walker meets and talks with Bruce Springsteen.
May 9
Cheap Wine is released and immediately added to playlists
all over Australia. The flip side, Rising Sun, was penned
by Jimmy when his girlfriend returned to her family in Japan. The single goes top
ten nationally. A first for the band. |
June 2
EAST released The initial 10,000 pressings include a
bonus "live" single of "Knockin' on Heavens Door". Contributions
by Phil Small and Steve Prestwich make East the first Cold Chisel album containing
songs written by every member of the band. Cold Chisel commence their Youth in Asia
tour.
June 9
EAST goes gold Debuts in national charts at 44. one week later the album is top ten
and climbs to 2 where it stays for several weeks After 26 weeks East still holds
a top ten position.
June/July/Aug
Youth in Asia tour. 64 dates covering 15 major cities in 88 days drawing a total
of 120,000 people: ie. 98% full houses
August 29
The last gig of the tour. East has sold 100,600 copies- double platinum status
September, 1
Single My Baby / Misfits released
September 25
Melbourne: "Under 18ísî concert in conjunction with radio station 3XY. 6,000
teenagers
October
Play Darwin Amphitheatre breaking the attendance record, previously held by Rolf
Harris, by 531. During the show, members of the six thousand strong audience jump
on stage bowing to Ian and Jimmy.
October 18
Tickets go on sale in Perth and sell out within 4 1/2 hours.
October 24
Perth Entertainment Centre. Capacity audience 8,000
November 30
The "Summer offensive" tour kicks off at the Roundhouse in Sydney where
the doors are closed on 3 1/2 thousand people. Previous house record, 1,700.
December 15
Cold Chisel resign to WEA Australia. Presented with triple platinum disc for sales
in excess of 150,000. |
| 1981 |
Dec/Jan/Feb
"Summer offensive" tour. 54 dates over 3 months drawing 102,000 people:
an average of 1,900 people per show.
January 26
Chisel headline third day at Sweetwaters Festival in New Zealand. 40,000 people.
Reviews suggest Chisel stole honours against Roxy Music.
February
Cold Chisel emerge triumphant in the Ram Rock Poll, and take out nine firsts including
Top Australian Group, Best Australian Album and Top Album in the T. V. Week National
Rock Awards.
Band causes major controversy by smashing up their equipment and verbally slamming
the sponsors TV magazine "TV Week", accusing them of cashing in on the
rock market.
Ampex award the band "The Golden Reel '' for Australian recording excellence.
February
After 37 weeks EAST is still 16 in the national chart. |
|
February
Bathurst jail concert. Although Cold Chisel have been playing jail gigs since their
early days, this concert is particularly significant as Don's song Four
Walls was inspired by the Bathurst jail riots of 1978.
March 23
Release Swingshift. A double live album recorded at
various Youth in Asia concerts. The swingshift, according to the band, is the midnight
to dawn shift that staff in asylums dread: the hours when the crazies go crazy.
EAST released in US.
April 6
Swingshift debuts No. 1 in Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide and Newcastle, No. 2 in Brisbane,
Melbourne and Perth. Debuts No. 2 Nationally Kent Report.
April 13
Swingshift No. 1 Nationally. Ships platinum. East sales over 200,000.
April/May
My Baby released as 1st single in US. Band tour major markets doing five shows to
promote Swingshift. East debuts Cashbox No. 193.
May 24
Band sign US/CANADA recording deal with Elektra Asylum.
June 1
Swingshift released in New Zealand. Debuts at No. 9. 115 AOR Stations playing East
in US.
|
|
June 25-26-27
Band tour New Zealand Three sold out shows. Set house record in Auckland concerts.
Band sign worldwide recording deal excluding the US/Can/Aust/NZ with Polydor International.
June 28
Band arrive in US. East album 173 Billboard, 180 Cash box. Album has peaked.
July 5
Band commences US tour supporting acts like Heart, Joe Walsh, Ted Nupent, Loverboy,
Cheap Trick and Marshall Tucker Band.
August 17
Band return to Australia. |
August 24
Khe Sanh released in US as second single.
September
Band commence recording Circus Animals album.
October 11
Band headline concert in Darwin in Australia. 6,500 people. Over 10% of the population
attend.
December 14
Single You Got Nothing I Want released in Australia.
Debuts nationally at 47.
Band fly to Lake Eyre salt lake to shoot album cover of Circus Animals |
| 1982 |
January 1
Band commence national Australian tour at Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne- 6,000 people.
Newcastle Motordrome - 8,000. Noosa Football Ground, Queensland -12,000.
January 19, 1982 Commence New Zealand seven date tour culminating in headlining Sweetwaters
Festival with Ultravox. 60,000 in attendance.
February 2
Single You Got Nothing I Want peaks at No. 12 on Australian national chart. Band
continue Australian tour.
March 8
Circus Animals LP released. In New Zealand. Album
goes to No. 3 nationally in Australia, second week in. By the third week of release,
Australian sales over platinum status. New Zealand album debuts at No. 11.
Forever Now released as second single from album in
Australia.
April 5,
New Zealand - album No. 10.
April 19
Forever Now No. 17 nationally Australia. Band perform under circus tent at Wentworth
Park in Sydney for two nights to over 10,000 people. Show incorporates a mixture
of circus acts and rock ëní roll.
May 3
Circus Animals LP released in Germany and Holland. Forever Now No. 5 nationally in
Australia. |
 |
May 10
Circus Animals No. 1 nationally, Forever Now No. 5 in Australia. Album has slipped
to 43 in New Zealand. official double platinum status in Australia.
May 17
US. release of Circus Animals and Forever Now single. Forever Now single peaks at
No. 4 in Australia.
June 7
Album has turned around in New Zealand and heads back up the charts. Forever Now
released in New Zealand as second single. Band commence a four week pub and club
tour of Melbourne and Sydney.
June 21
Forever Now released in Germany. Single No. 23 album No. 17 in New Zealand.
Album still at No. 8 in Australia nationally.
July 5
New Zealand, album No. 13, Single No. 5.
July 27
Band begin 9 date New Zealand nationally tour. Album No. 7 and Single No. 3 in New
Zealand.
August 2
Album No. 1 and Single No. 2 in New Zealand. Tour is a sellout.
September 11 & 12,
14,000 payers at Memorial Drive in Adelaide.
September 18
Darwin open Airñ8,000 people.
September 21- October 9
Band tour Northern Queensland culminating in two sellout shows at Her Majesty's Theatre
in Brisbane. To coincide with the Commonwealth Games being held in Brisbane the concerts
are called the Black and White Parity ball and feature special guests the aboriginal
band "No Fixed Address".
October 22
Elektra recording contract officially terminated.
November 23
Band commence European tour. Beginning with two sellout concerts at London's Marquee
Club the band play dates in Paris, Holland, Denmark and six dates in Germany.
December 9
The group headlines at London's Venue and sellout again. They follow this success
with an eight date tour as special guests to Slade around England culminating in
two sellout concerts at London's Hammersmith odeon. |
| 1983 |
|
|
January 30
Band headlines the Narara Festival. 30,000 people attend the three day festival.
March 11
Band play three nights at the Playroom on Queensland's Gold Coast to co-incide with
the Stubbies International Surf Classic being run at Burleigh Heads Steve Prestwich
is taken to hospital for tests on a recurring back problem. Gary Young (Daddy Cool,
Jodo Zep) sits in for Steve.
April 2
With Prestwich back behind the drums the group play an outdoor concert at Bathurst's
Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit during the Australian Grand Prix Motorcycle Championship.
April 19
Two nights at Castle Hill RSL and three at the Maroubra Seals Club in Sydney.
April 28
Four sold out shows in Perth. |
May 1
Band flies to Germany to support Roger Chapman Band on a 25 date tour of Germany.
June 12
Band arrive back in Sydney.
June 17
Steve Prestwich drummer with the band since 1973 leaves. A permanent replacement
is sought
July 8 & 9,
Two concerts at Silverwater Womens Prison and Long Bay Gaol in Sydney. Ray Arnott
(Spectrum and solo artist) sits in for the dates
July 12
Band commence 20 date tour of Melbourne, Adelaide and culminating with three dates
at the Jindabyne snow resort. Ray Arnott again fills in drum position.
August 17
Band and management have meeting and decide that they will disband after a final
New Zealand and Australian tour. They decide there will be one more studio album
and to coincide with their tenth anniversary in October they will go their separate
ways.
August 22
An official press release is sent out from Dirty Pool offices in Sydney notifying
the press that the band is officially disbanding and announcing the dates for the
final tour.
September 12
Band commence recording at Sydney Capitol Theatre using a Jands Mobile.
September 20
New Zealand final tour sees four shows all sold out.
September 25
Band arrive back in Sydney.
September 27
Band commence final tour
Newcastle 3 nights
Canberra Bruce Stadium
Brisbane Festival Hall 2 nights
Bombay Surfers Paradise 2 nights
Melbourne Entertainment Centre 4 nights
Perth Entertainment Centre 1 night
Adelaide Apollo Stadium 4 nights
October 10-26
Hold Me Tight / No Sense
single released.
A decision to move the first Sydney Entertainment Centre show to Sunday is made because
Jim Barnes has developed a severe throat infection. The second show goes ahead but
Jim 's throat deteriorates badly and a decision to postpone the remaining four shows
is made. In total close to 60,000 people alone have paid to see the band in Sydney.
The first show being sold out in 35 minutes. By the end of the first day of pre-sales
37,000 tickets have been sold.
October
Decision is made to postpone final four shows in Sydney till 12- 13- 14 December
as it is the first available time for venue and sound and lighting.
November 1
Band spend four weeks recording new album.
November 14
Hold Me Tight/No Sense peaks nationally at 14.
December 12
Final four shows are on film for a forthcoming feature film on the band. All the
shows are recorded.
|
| 1984 |
Cold Chisel's last studio album Twentieth Century was
released. The recording had begun in September 1983 one month before the Last Stand
Tour commenced. Drummer Steve Prestwich who had already left the band is only heard
on three of the 13 songs. His replacement was Ray Arnott. |
| 1987 |
The first Cold Chisel compilation Razor Songs is released. |
| 1991 |
The Cold Chisel compilation Chisel is released. It
contains an old B-side called "Misfits" which was writte more than 10 years
before for a Health Commission documentary called "The kids" which was
never screened because it was too tought for the Health Commission's liking. |
| 1992 |
The Last Stand album is released. It contains the
motion picture soundtrack of the original "Last Stand" film which was released
in 1983. |
| 1994 |
The album Teenage love is released. It contains 16
songs which were "offcuts" from recordings made between 1976 and 1983.
Almost at the same time a three single CD digipack is released called
"Three Big Three Hits" which contains some of the songs featured on "Teenage
love" plus two additional studio songs and 6 previously unpublished live recordings. |
| 1995 |
A new version of the compilation Chisel is released.
Published as a double CD with the live EP "You're thirteen, you're beautiful
and you're mine". |
| |
See Also:
Liner notes by Don Walker
All their desperate harmony by John O'Donnell
Petrol Heads by Toby Creswell
Steve Hands |
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