The Australian Entertainment industry has rallied in support of one of Australia’s biggest rock stars of the 1960s and 1970s, Max Merritt, who has fallen on hard times since being admitted to a U.S. hospital after suffering kidney failure.

A Benefit “Concert For Max” has been confirmed for Sunday 21 October at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda. The 3000 seat venue will play host to a string of artists who have donated their time in support of their good friend Max Merritt including Ross Wilson, James Reyne, Kevin Borich, John Paul Young, Swanee, Peter Cupples, Dinah Lee, The Delltones, Doug Parkinson, Wilbur Wilde and Spectrum with more performers sure to be announced prior to tickets going on sale through Ticketmaster somewhere around the 10th of September.

Speaking from his home in suburban Los Angeles, Max said “I am finding it very difficult to adequately express my appreciation for the help and support during my time of extreme personal need. Your help is absolutely overwhelming”.

As a measure of the high esteem that Max is held in, the list of supporters grows daily. Audio, lighting, video, stage gear, road crew and even backstage catering has been donated to aid Max.

Merritt, who has lived in Los Angeles for more than 20 years, fell ill in April this year soon after he returned to America following a tour of his native New Zealand, during which he was honoured as an inaugural inductee to the NZ Rock and Rock Hall of Fame.

CONCERT FOR MAX

Sunday 21ts October 2007
Palais Theatre, St Kilda, Victoria
Tix on sale through Ticketmaster 14 September 2007

On Behalf of Max Merritt we are thrilled to acknowledge the generous support given by:

Anonymous - $25,000.00
Jeanne & Richard Pratt - $5,000.00
Graham Woodlock - $5,000.00
Support Act Ltd. - $3,000.00
Frontier Touring & Premier Artists - $3,000.00
Michael Chugg/Chugg Entertainment - $3,000.00
Andrew McManus - $2,000.00
Bluesfest - $2,000.00
Liz & Mike Anderson - $500.00
Palais Theatre - Venue Hire
McLean Audio - Audio & Crew
Phaseshift - Lighting
Natwide Management Group - Transport
Visible Ink - Design Work
New Breed - Security
Blakes Feast - Day Time Catering
Backdoor Catering - Night Time Catering
Howling Wolves Wine Group - Wine
Billy Hyde Stage Systems - Backline
Pro Stage - Risers
Beat Magazine - Press advertising
Inpress - Press advertising
Peter Bloomfield/McKenzie Ross - Insurance
Lawrie Masterson - Journalist
Ian B Allen - Business Manager
Enza Pantano - Event development
Danny Bishop - Web Design / www.maxmerritt.com.au
Julie Cavanagh - Publicity
Lionel Midford - Publicity
KMW Productions - Publicity
Jacinta Gascoigne - MySpace Site
Pioneer Electronics -Raffle Prize
Ticketmaster

Performers - with still more to follow
Kevin Borich
Mike Brady
Peter Cupples
The Delltones
Jon English
Dinah Lee
Brian Mannix
Marcie & The Cookies
Russell Morris
Paul Norton
Doug Parkinson
James Reyne
Normie Rowe
George Smilovici
Spectrum
Wendy Stapleton
Swanee
Wilbur Wilde
Ross Wilson
John Paul Young

Musicians - with still more to follow
Chris Barton (Drums)
David Beanlands (Keys)
Michael Cristiano (Guitar)
Lindsay Fields (BVs)
David Hicks (Drums)
Jo Imbroll (Bass)
Nicolas Killingbeck-Lyon (Violin)
Phil Manning (Guitar)
Eric McCusker (Guitar)
Warren ‘Pig’ Morgan (Keys)
Tim Neil (B3 Hammond)
Ron Peel (Bass)
Ron Peers (Guitar)
Jimmie Sloggett (Sax)
Bob Starkie (Guitar)
Glenn Suckling (Bass)
China Walker (Keys/Guitar)
John Watson (Drums)
Stewart Wilkinson (Keys)
Gary Young (Guitar)

Production Crew - with more to follow
Noel Bennett
Howard Freeman
Scrooge Madigan
Brent Pater
Alex Saad
Trogg Svenson

http://www.myspace.com/maxmerrittfans

The full list of the performers, crews, pledges & additional service providers will be added shortly.

Our thanks go out to everyone who have currently offered their services, without you, this will not be possible.