Ian Moss reveals 30th anniversary plans for his chart-topping debut solo album Matchbook

A mumbled expletive inspired his smash single Tucker’s Daughter and the video starred a future television star. Ian Moss looks back on his debut album Matchbook ahead of a national tour.

Ian Moss was the king of pop in 1989, his debut solo album Matchbook reigning at the top of the charts for months on end.

Three decades after the Cold Chisel axeman and songwriter launched his solo career, Moss is celebrating the anniversary of the classic Australian album with a national tour kicking off in November.

Moss waited five long years after Chisel’s called it’s first time-out in 1983 as bandmates Jimmy Barnes, Don Walker, Phil Small and the late Steve Prestwich threw themselves into other projects.

Ian Moss hit the top of the charts with solo album Matchbook. Picture: Daniel Boud / Supplied.

“There was a bit of soul-searching going on for the first couple of years,” Moss said.

“It was more traumatic than I thought it would be when Cold Chisel came to an end.

“And then it was a matter of slowly amassing the songs.”

Moss first approached his Chisel bandmate Don Walker for contributions for Matchbook and the pair co-wrote the lead single Tucker’s Daughter, trading cassettes and lyrics between Sydney and Los Angeles where the guitarist was recording.

The title was allegedly inspired by a mumbled expletive by the artist on a demo of the music for the song he sent back to Walker.

“The very first line of my improvised nonsensical lyric ended in the word motherf***. I can only presume this tickled Don and inspired the name Tucker. Within two weeks he had a complete set of great lyrics,” Moss said.

The song went to No. 1 and its video featured a future household name playing his love interest with a young Tasma Walton starring seven years before scoring her breakout role in Blue Heelers.

Mossy’s national tour in 1989 was hit by an airline strike so his crew had to use airforce planes to get around the country. Pictures: Supplied.

Matchbook went on to sweep the 1990 ARIA Awards in Sydney, with the quiet and shy Moss looking decidedly uncomfortable albeit delighted as his name was called out five times during the night.

“I certainly had no premonition, no idea I would do as well as I did,” he said.

“I remember Michael Gudinski telling me I better tuck my shirt in because I was looking like a bit of a mess and me thinking that was strange because I wasn’t going to win anything.”

After the ferocious pub rock sound of Chisel, Moss wanted to explore his love of soul and blues music in his solo work.

Other singles from the record to keep him on the airwaves and charts through the Matchbook era included Telephone Booth, Out of The Fire and Mr Rain.

Ian Moss and Jimmy Barnes are working on a new Chisel album with their bandmates. Picture: AAP Image/ Brenton Edwards.

“With touring I was kind of keen to take it in a different direction to Cold Chisel, embellish my sound a bit more with funk,” he said.

“Also, my dirty little secret is I was inspired by Sting’s Dream of the Blue Turtles which remained a pop album but introduced jazz and funk into the mix.”

Jimmy Barnes beats U2, Madge and Elton John

Mossy’s anniversary celebrations have been unveiled as his Chisel bandmate Jimmy Barnes celebrates a historic No. 1 album with My Criminal Record and Walker prepares to launch his much-anticipated lyric book Songs.

Chisel are also working on a new album which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Tickets for the tour go on sale on June 17 and it kicks off at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney on November 1, Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul on November 8. Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide on November 15, Palais Theatre, Melbourne, November 16, Canberra Theatre, November 22, City Hall, Newcastle, November 23, The Tivoli, Brisbane, November 29 and Crown Theatre, Perth, December 7.

Originally published as Ian Moss reveals 30th anniversary plans for his chart-topping debut solo album Matchbook