There isn't a 80's/90's music lover anywhere in Australia that wouldn't know the chorus of 'Onion Skin'. The creators of this catchy little ditty, Boom Crash Opera, are making their Clipsal 500 Concert debut on the Sunday night, sharing the stage with Kimbra, Guy Sebastian and Keith Urban. When I sat down to chat with front man Dale Ryder, his youtubing Kimbra gave us a great segway into Clipsal, aussie artists in general, and even Ghandi and Shrek! Curious? Read on!
Hello Dale, how are you?
Yeah good, I’m just watching Kimbra (laughs). She’s amazing on stage.
She is! Very beautiful too! How do you feel about getting on stage with Keith Urban?
I’ve never seen Keith Urban but I’m looking forward to it, and Guy Sebastian, so yeah. It’s the best perk about in being in a band, getting to hang out with these guys back stage, and getting in for free is the best part.
It’s the best perk in being a photographer as well believe me!
Yeah, I asked my mate if he needed a back stage pass and he said “nah, I’ve got a camera”. (laughs)
What have Boom Crash Opera been up to lately?
It’s been a long time since we have been touring, so we have all been doing some different things. I’ve got a couple of bands I worked with, Peter Mack and the drummer plays with Hunters (and Collectors) and James Reyne and stuff. We just all farm ourselves out doing other things. I actually did a bit of theatre in the 90’s, I did the Rocky Horror Show which was fun. I’ve got a band that plays every Sunday at the Esplanade in Melbourne and another thing called Absolutely 80’s, where I play with Brian and Scott doing our stuff around the country. I just like to gig you know, whatever, weddings, parties, I just like singing.
I was stalking your Facebook last night and saw that you guys did a gig in Penola. How did that go?
It was great, really interesting. We did a winery sit down kinda wedding looking thing but the crowd were great, and the people that run the winery were really amazing! You know when people are just nice, you just want to be nice back. (laughs)
How did the gig at clipsal come about for you guys?
They just asked us I think, you know, you can’t go looking for things like this, they sort of have to invite you really.
And you straight away jumped at the chance?
Well, you know, when the band gets a chance to get together and play in front of a big crowd with a big PA, there’s nothing better than that. Every year for the past couple of years now we have been doing A Day On The Green shows all around the country with different kinds of bands and it’s just been really good fun. You get a 45 minute set and you bang out your hits and it’s just good fun.
Cool! You recently released a 4 disc box set called "Rattle It Out'. how did it feel going through your back catalogues trying to find songs to put on the rarities disc that is included?
Well, there is a lot of songs, and you have to kull them down to 10 or 15 or whatever. Alot of them get left behind for whatever reason, so we had a listen and thought 'Wow, there is a lot of good stuff here, I wonder why they didn’t make it?' Obviously some A and R guys said they didn't like it, so we thought we would release it as is. We didn’t re-record any parts, we just kind of put it on digi and banged it out again. Some of them were really good to play, and some were really hard to play (laughs). But, we are also playing them on our little tour around the country and going back to our roots kind of thing.
So, with the Clipsal set, are you going to branch out and throw some rarities in there too?
We don’t get much time so we'll just bang out the hits. We just want everyone to have a good time. Those big gigs are just about having fun and a few drinks, and yeah, just getting out. Have some fun!
Hello Dale, how are you?
Yeah good, I’m just watching Kimbra (laughs). She’s amazing on stage.
She is! Very beautiful too! How do you feel about getting on stage with Keith Urban?
I’ve never seen Keith Urban but I’m looking forward to it, and Guy Sebastian, so yeah. It’s the best perk about in being in a band, getting to hang out with these guys back stage, and getting in for free is the best part.
It’s the best perk in being a photographer as well believe me!
Yeah, I asked my mate if he needed a back stage pass and he said “nah, I’ve got a camera”. (laughs)
What have Boom Crash Opera been up to lately?
It’s been a long time since we have been touring, so we have all been doing some different things. I’ve got a couple of bands I worked with, Peter Mack and the drummer plays with Hunters (and Collectors) and James Reyne and stuff. We just all farm ourselves out doing other things. I actually did a bit of theatre in the 90’s, I did the Rocky Horror Show which was fun. I’ve got a band that plays every Sunday at the Esplanade in Melbourne and another thing called Absolutely 80’s, where I play with Brian and Scott doing our stuff around the country. I just like to gig you know, whatever, weddings, parties, I just like singing.
I was stalking your Facebook last night and saw that you guys did a gig in Penola. How did that go?
It was great, really interesting. We did a winery sit down kinda wedding looking thing but the crowd were great, and the people that run the winery were really amazing! You know when people are just nice, you just want to be nice back. (laughs)
How did the gig at clipsal come about for you guys?
They just asked us I think, you know, you can’t go looking for things like this, they sort of have to invite you really.
And you straight away jumped at the chance?
Well, you know, when the band gets a chance to get together and play in front of a big crowd with a big PA, there’s nothing better than that. Every year for the past couple of years now we have been doing A Day On The Green shows all around the country with different kinds of bands and it’s just been really good fun. You get a 45 minute set and you bang out your hits and it’s just good fun.
Cool! You recently released a 4 disc box set called "Rattle It Out'. how did it feel going through your back catalogues trying to find songs to put on the rarities disc that is included?
Well, there is a lot of songs, and you have to kull them down to 10 or 15 or whatever. Alot of them get left behind for whatever reason, so we had a listen and thought 'Wow, there is a lot of good stuff here, I wonder why they didn’t make it?' Obviously some A and R guys said they didn't like it, so we thought we would release it as is. We didn’t re-record any parts, we just kind of put it on digi and banged it out again. Some of them were really good to play, and some were really hard to play (laughs). But, we are also playing them on our little tour around the country and going back to our roots kind of thing.
So, with the Clipsal set, are you going to branch out and throw some rarities in there too?
We don’t get much time so we'll just bang out the hits. We just want everyone to have a good time. Those big gigs are just about having fun and a few drinks, and yeah, just getting out. Have some fun!
What was it like being the first band in Australia to play on live TV with a band member in 4 different cities?
It was a nightmare! There was no internet or email in those days. We were working with computers that were ridiculous, you know, they were more like mobile phones - really slow! The gang in Melbourne had to use about 15 computers just to get some sort of output! While I was singing I was watching a tech blocking hackers! It was scary, it didn’t go as smoothly as it looked (laughs). The actual song did, but in the background there was a lot of problems you know. It was crazy in those days.
Well I thought it worked out well. I found it on youtube last night and it seemed really seamless.
Yeah, it looks it, but don’t forget it took nearly all day to even link some of us. It was a nightmare. It looks good, but was very hard work.
How would you say the music industry has changed over the years, and would you say it’s for the better?
Nah, I just think the music is going around in circles like it always has you know, since music began. When I listen to the bands now, I just hear 80’s music. Obviously there is new technology and everyone is influenced in his or her youth by different bands, but it just seems to be going around in circles. I do like it this way. Everything I hear at the moment I like. There is obviously some commercial shit I hate, but most of the time, the music I listen to I love. It reminds me of what I was doing when I was young and what I was doing in the 80’s. It’s great!!
What artists are inspiring you right now?
Definitely people like Kimbra and Gotye and Empire of The Sun. There is just heaps of bands that are just brilliant, just really brilliant. But forever, it would be David Bowie!
Oh, he is such a girl crush for me, I had a mega, mega crush on him when I was younger.
Yeah, I have a crush on him too. I said hello to him once in Los Angeles, I think I peed my pants (laughs)!
Now, what impact do you think Boom Crash Opera have had, or are having on the Australian music scene?
I have no idea. I dare not say anything (laughs)! I hope we have inspired some young people to get back in, or get into music, but as songwriters in the band we have tried very hard to lyrically be a little intelligent, not be happening or anything, just be what we are. We have never aspired to be anyone else, just us because that’s who we are. If there is one thing I think Boom Crash has given to the world, it’s good lyric.
Especially the nah nah nah bits (laughs).
Speaking of lyrics, do you think that Shrek was inspired by 'Onion Skin' with his descriptions of ogres and onions having layers?
Hahaha! Wouldn’t that be cool! Um, I don’t know…..probably. I must admit, before I even wrote those lyrics, I’d never even thought about an onion being a multilayered thing so I don’t know, but…. It must have.
(Laughs) what are your plans after Clipsal?
We just plan to keep playing because that’s what we like doing. I have got plenty of bands in Melbourne that I work with.
Do you still enjoy what you are doing?
Yeah, we just have fun. I wish I had this attitude in the day(laughs), there used to be so much pressure.
I know you played with INXS back in the day, so I have to touch on this given the TV special that has just aired. Would you ever consider doing the same?
What, the TV special? Nah, there’s nothing we did that I want made public! (laughs) I was asked to write a book once about it and I said……Nah. They rang me and asked for any stories about Michael, and I said no to that too!
I thought they matched the characters up pretty well though, and if, hypothetically speaking, you were to do a Boom Crash Opera TV special, which Daddo brother would you have play you?
(Laughs) which Daddo brother… I have no idea. I was thinking Ghandi. Michael Hutchence would have played me really well! (Laughs) I think they are all (the Daddo’s) too white! I was actually born in Madras in India.
Well, that pretty much concludes our interview. Thankyou very much for taking the time to talk with Live Music Adelaide, and we will see you on stage!
Thanks Melissa, take some photos of me on stage so I know who you are. Take care!
It was a nightmare! There was no internet or email in those days. We were working with computers that were ridiculous, you know, they were more like mobile phones - really slow! The gang in Melbourne had to use about 15 computers just to get some sort of output! While I was singing I was watching a tech blocking hackers! It was scary, it didn’t go as smoothly as it looked (laughs). The actual song did, but in the background there was a lot of problems you know. It was crazy in those days.
Well I thought it worked out well. I found it on youtube last night and it seemed really seamless.
Yeah, it looks it, but don’t forget it took nearly all day to even link some of us. It was a nightmare. It looks good, but was very hard work.
How would you say the music industry has changed over the years, and would you say it’s for the better?
Nah, I just think the music is going around in circles like it always has you know, since music began. When I listen to the bands now, I just hear 80’s music. Obviously there is new technology and everyone is influenced in his or her youth by different bands, but it just seems to be going around in circles. I do like it this way. Everything I hear at the moment I like. There is obviously some commercial shit I hate, but most of the time, the music I listen to I love. It reminds me of what I was doing when I was young and what I was doing in the 80’s. It’s great!!
What artists are inspiring you right now?
Definitely people like Kimbra and Gotye and Empire of The Sun. There is just heaps of bands that are just brilliant, just really brilliant. But forever, it would be David Bowie!
Oh, he is such a girl crush for me, I had a mega, mega crush on him when I was younger.
Yeah, I have a crush on him too. I said hello to him once in Los Angeles, I think I peed my pants (laughs)!
Now, what impact do you think Boom Crash Opera have had, or are having on the Australian music scene?
I have no idea. I dare not say anything (laughs)! I hope we have inspired some young people to get back in, or get into music, but as songwriters in the band we have tried very hard to lyrically be a little intelligent, not be happening or anything, just be what we are. We have never aspired to be anyone else, just us because that’s who we are. If there is one thing I think Boom Crash has given to the world, it’s good lyric.
Especially the nah nah nah bits (laughs).
Speaking of lyrics, do you think that Shrek was inspired by 'Onion Skin' with his descriptions of ogres and onions having layers?
Hahaha! Wouldn’t that be cool! Um, I don’t know…..probably. I must admit, before I even wrote those lyrics, I’d never even thought about an onion being a multilayered thing so I don’t know, but…. It must have.
(Laughs) what are your plans after Clipsal?
We just plan to keep playing because that’s what we like doing. I have got plenty of bands in Melbourne that I work with.
Do you still enjoy what you are doing?
Yeah, we just have fun. I wish I had this attitude in the day(laughs), there used to be so much pressure.
I know you played with INXS back in the day, so I have to touch on this given the TV special that has just aired. Would you ever consider doing the same?
What, the TV special? Nah, there’s nothing we did that I want made public! (laughs) I was asked to write a book once about it and I said……Nah. They rang me and asked for any stories about Michael, and I said no to that too!
I thought they matched the characters up pretty well though, and if, hypothetically speaking, you were to do a Boom Crash Opera TV special, which Daddo brother would you have play you?
(Laughs) which Daddo brother… I have no idea. I was thinking Ghandi. Michael Hutchence would have played me really well! (Laughs) I think they are all (the Daddo’s) too white! I was actually born in Madras in India.
Well, that pretty much concludes our interview. Thankyou very much for taking the time to talk with Live Music Adelaide, and we will see you on stage!
Thanks Melissa, take some photos of me on stage so I know who you are. Take care!
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