RocKwiz star Brian Nankervis reveals his sacred music mementos

Six long years away from our screens has allowed RocKwiz star Brian Nankervis to discover what’s most important in music and life.

After a six-year hiatus from our TV screens, Brian Nankervis, the co-host of Australia’s recently revived and much-loved music trivia show RocKwiz says “change is good” – just not necessarily when it comes to his beloved Melbourne suburb Balaclava.

“We’ve been pretty solidly based here for 10 years,” Nankervis says.

“We’ve got the St Kilda Botanical Gardens very close, the Peanut Farm – we love it. It’s a really wonderful part of Melbourne.”

Brian Nankervis, host of Foxtel's RocKwiz. Picture: Eugene Hyland

After a renovation, the back section’s open plan kitchen leads to a light-filled sitting area.

“Our friend Rachel did the design and another friend Tony did the build,” Nankervis says. “My wife is a documentary filmmaker and could also be an interior designer. She has been the guiding light in creating a beautiful space.”

The home is a lifelong love letter to the arts.

“A mix of photos and artwork by favourite artists who we’ve got to know over the years – Penelope Metcalf, Peter O’Doherty,” he says.

“I love being surrounded by books. All the kids’ books that they grew up with, all my diaries are here [along with] an incredible collection of CDs and vinyl.”

Of revamping RocKwiz, Nankervis says, “The change was inspiring”.

Brian Nankervis and RocKwiz are back. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Who: Brian Nankervis

Where: I live in Balaclava, Victoria, with my wife Sue and children Claudia, 28, Lola, 24, and Henry Joe, 20. It’s a classic terrace. We overlook a park, which is beautiful (and) we’re a fairly brisk 10-minute walk to the beach.

Favourite space: We’ve got a beautiful study … filled with books, CDs and vinyl. It’s got a wraparound desk and I find myself in here most nights after dinner.

Home means: Family. The absolute central feature.

ROCKWIZ STAR BRIAN NANKERVIS’S FAVOURITE THINGS

Actor award

Top Gong. Picture: Eugene Hyland

This was the first award that we won for RocKwiz. It’s an AFI award that we won for Best Light Entertainment Television Series in 2007. We’d been making the show at that point for three years so it was very, very exciting. It was a real affirmation or confirmation that we were doing something right.

Family photo

Togetherness. Picture: Eugene Hyland

We’re a very loving family … so there’s plenty of photos around the house and of the children in various stages. I could’ve picked Henry Joe as a two-year-old doing tricks with his head, or Lola dancing, with her hair cut like Rod Stewart, or perhaps Claudia playing the saxophone, but I chose this one because it’s just a wonderful shot of togetherness.

Gorgeous Jerry

Jerry the Great. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Jerry Seinfeld, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jerry Garcia came into our lives about nine years ago. I resisted the idea of a dog for many, many years. The kids were all keen, Sue was keen … now I can honestly say that Jerry has changed my life. I adore him.

Rolling Stones poster

Start me up. Picture: Eugene Hyland

My first overseas trip was in 1976. I went to England backpacking with a couple of pals. On the train from Heathrow into London, I bought a copy of Time Out, opened it up and saw an ad for a show that the Rolling Stones were doing at the Knebworth Fair – and we went. I was 20 years old and to see the Stones in England was a huge thrill.

Charlie Watts portrait

Artwork of Charlie Watts by Yarraville Insta artist Lin Tobias. Picture: Eugene Hyland

About a year before Charlie Watts passed away, I bought this painting. I think the artist Lin Tobias had put it up on an Instagram. She’s a wonderful artist and she did a run of English rock stars. I just saw this one of Charlie Watts and loved it and followed up and bought it.

Frisbee and scorecard

Frolf? Picture: Eugene Hyland

During lockdown I got together with some very dear friends … within our 5km zone to play frisbee golf. Each of us designs a hole (and) every throw is a stroke, so it’s like golf. It was really something that kept us fit and sane. We still play, we haven’t stopped.

Ukulele

A reminder. Eugene Hyland

A present from Mitch (Bane) and Danny (Katz). Mitch is an artist and painted a ukulele (depicting) me strumming the ukulele (with) Jerry the dog on a boat out at sea. It’s really beautiful. It sits on my shelf as a reminder of the power of music (and) friendship. I read the poem The Owl and the Pussycat for their wedding, so … it’s a little reminder of that.

Robur Teapot

Sterling silver Robur vintage teapot. Picture: Eugene Hyland

I’m an enthusiastic, committed tea drinker. My wife bought me this very distinctive looking Robur teapot. They’re a beautiful sterling silver with an internal strainer cup. It’s quite compact. I wrap it up in a tea towel and take it with me if I go on the road for RocKwiz. We did quite a lot of touring last year and I always pack my Robur teapot.

RocKwiz airs Fridays at 7.30pm on Foxtel.