The Source: Kiss ready to cover Crowded House cancellation

The rock gods are booked to play an Australian farewell show in early October but are ready to make the trip Down Under a week earlier to bail out the Grand Final.

Kiss could be called upon to bail out the AFL’s Grand Final entertainment.

Putting the squeeze on Victoria’s movers, shakers and headline makers.

US rock legends Kiss have emerged as potential saviours to rescue the AFL Grand Final halftime entertainment show after a string of high profile cancellations.

The supergroup, fronted by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, are playing a farewell show in Sydney on October 7, and would consider making the trip to Australia a week earlier to play at the MCG.

It would be the last-ever show by Kiss on Melbourne soil.

The band, 50 years strong, and doing a farewell lap of the globe, will retire permanently after two shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden on December 1 and 2.

Sources say behind the scenes planning is already being discussed if Kiss gets the SOS call to rock Melbourne one last time.

The plans include changing the lyrics of the signature song, Rock And Roll All Nite, to Rock And Roll All Day to suit the afternoon event.

They would also perform on the ground, in the round, with a full fire and white pyro production. The white pyrotechnics would ensure the explosions can be seen in daylight.

Kiss’ longtime Australian tour promoter, Andrew McManus, told The Source: “I am more than happy to speak to the band about this opportunity.”

Simmons at the 2022 Round 23 match between Carlton and Collingwood.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Crowded House sensationally pulled out of playing at the AFL Grand Final, leaving the league just 54 days to find another act.

The band, fronted by Neil Finn, was rumoured to have been locked in for the pre-game performance months ago, but bailed on the coveted slot.

The AFL has now been left with less than two months to lock in another act as impressive and widely loved as their first choice, with the Crowdies last playing a show in Melbourne in November last year.

AFL spokesman Jay Allen said “the pre-match entertainment for the 2023 AFL Grand Final will be announced in September.”

The AFL also pitched the 2023 Grand Final entertainment slot to pop princess Kylie Minogue, but she knocked back the offer due to prior commitments.

Kiss anthems include I Was Made For Loving You, Love Gun, God Of Thunder, and God Gave Rock ‘N’ Roll To You.

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Steve Vizard returns to comedy stage

Showbiz recluse Steve Vizard is returning to the comedy stage.

Vizard, a high profile businessman who first shot to fame in the TV sketch comedy hit Fast Forward and the Letterman-esque Tonight Live With Steve Vizard, will open a benefit show for comedian and former radio king Steve Bedwell.

The gig, Benefit For Bedders, at St Kilda’s Memo Music Hall on September 1, features an all-star comedy line up including Vizard, Tom Gleeson, Colin Lane, Jeff Green, Richard Stubbs, Scared Weird Little Guys, Tania Lacy, Bev Killick and Dave O’Neil.

Bedwell, who has hit hard times after being diagnosed with dementia, was head writer on Vizard’s late night chat show.

He also co-hosted Triple M’s Timbo (Tim Smith) and Bedders, a breakfast show that dominated ­ratings from 1998 to 2001.

Vizard will open a benefit show for former radio king Steve Bedwell. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Bedwell also worked as a writer and producer on The Footy Show, Russell Gilbert Live, and The Eric Bana Show.

“Comedy is a cutthroat game,” Bedwell said. “More often than not, you’re looking out for number one. but when one of your own is going through tough times, or suffering, they stand up, and they help.”

Once a wealthy man when he ruled the radio airwaves, Bedwell said life without a job, or steady income, is difficult.

“When you get a $270 electricity bill, that knocks you around a bit,” he said. “But you give up things. I’ll occasionally not eat to save a bit of money, but I’m doing OK.”

Alex Fevola takes ‘Aussie glow’ global

The Fevolution Era is back.

It began as a holy hybrid, morphing the Blues legend Brendan Fevola to the cold hard fact that his no-fuss throwback approach to the game was revolutionary.

“Sometimes the old way is the gold way,” one commentator mooted back in the day.

“Saving footy from a dour, robotic, dystopian future was a job for no regular man.”

However, 20 or so years since those high-flying heydays, another Fevolution is rising.

But this time, it’s Alex Fevola, wife of the AFL champion, leading the rebellion.

Alex, a make-up artist, entrepreneur and founder of the beauty brand Runway Room is set to go global.

Since opening a bricks and mortar store in Armadale this year, Alex will take her business to Britain in 2024.

“It’s such an incredible opportunity for us and we are so excited to take our Aussie glow to England,” Alex told The Source.

“Our style is very understated, and I think the British will love our products.”

She added: “We are hoping to expand into the rest of Europe from there”.

But the hardworking mum of three daughters must now grapple with difficult questions as she prepares to take on the world.

The first: Who will babysit Fev while she’s away?

Mia, Brendan and Alex Fevola at the Melbourne Runway Room flagship store.