Cold Chisel

Formed in Adelaide in 1973, Australian rock’n’roll band Cold Chisel made their way to the top of the charts with their tough blend of hard rock, rockabilly, and blues. Led by main songwriter and keyboardist Don Walker, guitarist Ian Moss, and drummer Steve Prestwich, the band consolidated its lineup with the addition of singer Jimmy Barnes and Phill Small on bass in 1975. After relocating to Sydney in 1976, the group signed a record deal with Warner Music Group and soon dropped their eponymous 1978 debut, which included the country-tinged single “Khe Sahn.” Despite being censored due to its explicit lyrics, the track quickly became a fan favorite and one of the most played tracks in the history of Australian radio. Though it failed to capture the energy of the band’s live sets, sophomore effort Breakfast at Sweetheart’s (1979) hit Number 4 on the charts and earned Cold Chisel their first platinum album. Following the release of 1980’s East and its subsequent US tour, they delivered a one-two punch with the Number 1 albums Swingshift (1981) and Circus Animals (1982), which prompted a tour throughout Europe and the UK. A lack of interest from American audiences and inner tensions between its members eclipsed the band’s newfound success and eventually led to its dissolution in 1983. After being inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1993, Cold Chisel reconvened in 1998 for a reunion album and tour, surprising their fans with The Last Wave of Summer, their sixth full-length. Propelled by the Top 10 single “The Things I Love in You,” the LP shot straight to the top of the Australian charts and obtained double platinum status. This success helped rekindle the band’s career, who kept performing well into the 2010s and managed to enter the Australian Top 5 with the albums No Plans (2012), The Perfect Crime (2015), and Blood Moon (2019).

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