Cold Chisel to play Hanging Rock and NRL Grand Final on One Night Stand national tour

AUSTRALIA’S biggest rockers Cold Chisel are the first local act to headline Hanging Rock and will also play the NRL Grand Final to help launch their upcoming album.

Cold Chisel

LEGENDARY rock band Cold Chisel will be the first Australian band to headline at Hanging Rock on a national tour which includes starring at the NRL Grand Final.

It has taken five years for a marquee local act to secure a gig at the historic venue with Leonard Cohen, Bruce Springsteen, Eagles and Rod Stewart — twice — performing at the Mt Macedon amphitheatre.

“It’s great to be the first Australian band to headline at Hanging Rock,” Chisel’s chief songwriter Don Walker said.

“It’s a location with incredible history and mystery. I hope we can add something to that, and I hope no-one goes missing.”

Big gigs ... Cold Chisel will play some of the biggest shows of their career to launch new album this year. Picture: Supplied.

Promoter Michael Gudinski said local businesses and suppliers were back on track with Hanging Rock concerts after suffering losses in the wake of Rolling Stones having to cancel their scheduled concert there twice.

“A lot of people, including myself, were shattered about The Stones and what made it worse was that it happened twice but everyone has made good on that with Rod Stewart and Eagles both playing there since then,” he said.

He said Chisel would be supported by high calibre Australian rock acts including The Living End, Mark Seymour and local sisters Stonefield.

“Hanging Rock has become an iconic gig worldwide and with my passion always focused on Australian music, I have been waiting for the right situation and Chisel is it,” he said.

“It is paramount to me to make a big statement with this show,” he said.

Gudinski said all general admission tickets for the Hanging Rock concert would be capped at $100.

Ent Cent closer ... Chisel added more gigs after their Last Stand concerts in Sydney sold out instantly. Picture: Supplied.

After years of struggling to find the right entertainment for grand final fans, the NRL have booked the rockers to be the only musical act at this year’s end-of-season spectacular with Chisel playing a mini festival set at ANZ Stadium on October 4.

Chisel frontman Jimmy Barnes has had a long association with the NRL having teamed with Tina Turner for the memorable Simply The Best campaign in 1993.

“We look forward to bringing the same intensity to our songs as the two teams who’ll be fighting for the title. Bring it on!” Barnes said.

The band have also agreed to headline the annual Deni Ute Muster, V8 Supercars Gold Coast 600 and Decades Festival in Queensland.

Another major outdoor show will be staged at Hope Estate in December ahead of their final shows of the year at Qantas Credit Union Arena to farewell Sydney’s entertainment centre before it is torn down.

After huge demand from fans when they announced their Last Stand concerts at the old Ent Cent with 20,000 tickets sold instantly, Chisel have also scheduled arena concerts in Cairns, Darwin, Perth and Wollongong.

Homecoming show ... Chisel kicked off the year with a rocking show in their Adelaide hometown for the Clipsal 500. Picture: Noelle Bobrige

The One Night Stand tour will also promote the band’s first new music since 2012’s No Plans, with the untitled record expected to be released within the next few months.

Chisel frontman Jimmy Barnes said the band revelled in playing the big event gigs — or the surprise shows in smaller clubs.

They have performed two shows this year, one warm-up gig in Canberra for their headlining slot at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.

“In March we played a homecoming show in Adelaide to 35,000 people,” Barnes said.

“Then when we announced these two shows in Sydney the reaction was ballistic.

“The demand blew our minds, suggesting that it was time for us to get back out there.”

Barnes said the band want to stage a million-dollar production for the One Night Stand tour.

“This isn’t about money, absolutely not, it’s because we want to do them. A lot of people will make a lot of money off of us and we will make money too but this is about wanting to do something special as we are finding our feet as a band with Chisel at the beginning of a new era.”

New era ... Chisel have continued since the death of founding drummer Steve Prestwich with former Divinyls musician Charley Drayton. Picture: Dean Martin.

The band struggled with the decision to forge ahead after the death of their founding drummer Steve Prestwich in January 2011.

Having engaged former Divinyls drummer Charley Drayton to join the band, Chisel are enjoying a new musical lease of life.

* Cold Chisel perform at the Deni Ute Muster, October 2.

NRL Grand Final, ANZ Stadium, October 4

The V8 Supercars Castrol Gold Coast 600 on October 24

Decades Festival, Strathpine, Queensland, October 31

Cairns convention Centre, November 5

1300Smiles Stadium, Townsville, November 7

Darwin Amphitheatre, November 10

Perth Arena, November 14

Hanging Rock, Victoria, November 21

Hope Estate, Hunter Valley, December 12

Wollongong Entertainment Centre, December 13

Qantas Credit Union Arena, December 17 and 18 (sold out).

Cold Chisel mailing list members pre-sale from 10am on June 1. general tickets available from June 3.

Originally published as Cold Chisel to play Hanging Rock and NRL Grand Final on One Night Stand national tour