Kochie channels his inner rock star for 60th birthday bash

THE birthday boy came as his music idol Michael Hutchence, in black and white striped pants, a loose black shirt and a wavy long dark brown hair wig.

AN emotional David Koch reflected on turning 60 at the weekend while channelling his inner rock star at his birthday bash.

The breakfast TV host, who turned 60 on March 7, celebrated with about 80 family and friends, as well as colleagues from Port Adelaide (where he is president of the footy club) and the team that makes up his own family company, Pinstripe media.

“You all mean something to me tonight and it is the people I am closest to,” he said on the night.

“Whether it’s the Port Adelaide gang who came up for the night and to the Channel Seven gang and especially the Sunrise crew,” he said.

“Asked to fill in for three months (on Sunrise) and fifteen years later, it’s been such an important part of my life and thank you all so much for coming.”

Kylie Gillies and Natalie Barr.

Larry and Sylvie Emdur.

Koch built a career as a finance journalist before jumping to TV.

He will notch up 15 years at the helm of Seven’s breakfast show in October.

The birthday party included live music, drinks and food and plenty of embarrassing costumes as every guest took on the rock theme with a vengeance.

Kochie came as his music idol Michael Hutchence, in black and white striped pants, a loose black shirt and a wavy long dark brown hair wig.

His Seven stablemates were all dressed in full ‘inner rock star’ mode too, with Sunrise co-host Sam Armytage doing her Olivia Newton John impersonation as ‘Sandy’ from the movie Grease.

Sports guru Mark Baretts chose Angus Young from AC/DC, while Natalie Barr went for Axl Rose from Guns ‘n’ Roses guns and Edwina Bartholemew opted for June Carter (as in the husband of country legend Johnny Cash) who was played by her boyfriend, Storyful executive, Neil Varcoe.

Michael Pell and Sam Armytage.

Mark and Rachel Baretta.

Kochie’s former Sunrise host, Melissa Doyle and husband John Dunlop also came to the party, showing there is definitely no ill will between the two.

In a quick round of speeches, Libby Koch, his wife of more than 30 years said the pair, like every couple, had their ups and downs.

“There have been of highs and lows,” said Libby, dressed as a spiky haired Alicia Keyes.

“He’s reached over and picked me up over the ledge and made me aim higher and I have reached down and given him a lift and we’ve gone on to have some fabulous highs.

“We’ve fallen into a few ice crevices and we’ve clawed our way out.

“But we have always stuck together because life is never going to ‘tear us apart’,” she said, referring Kochie’s favourite INXS song.

Edwina Bartholomew and partner Neil Varcoe.

Melissa Hoyer and Anna Musson.

Kochie was also anointed a “finance nerd” and “daggy dad” in a fun joint speech by his four grown-up children.

In a philanthropic move, instead of gifts Kochie requested guests donate to Youth Off The Streets.

The night wasn’t complete until Kochie got up on stage to join the band to sing Never Tear Us Apart.