November 7 2007: The Jack Daniel’s name has been synonymous with live music since 1892, when its legendary founder formed the Silver Cornet Band. Styles have changed a little since then but the brand has stayed just as committed to supporting and celebrating live music and that’s why in 2008, Jack Daniel’s will launch The JD Sets, a concert series that will bring more Australian bands to more people around the country.

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey Senior Brand Manager Jonny Croft explains, “We are really excited about The JD Sets program and the opportunity it will provide us to take recently signed bands all over Australia. Jack Daniel’s has a wonderful history and association with live music. We’re looking forward to supporting fresh new talent by getting them on the road and in front of audiences all over the country.”

To support this new initiative, Jack Daniel’s has upgraded its agency partnership and enlisted The Sound Campaign to manage the music side of the business. Jonny says, “We chose The Sound Campaign because they understand our brand and understand live Australian music. Just as Jack Daniel’s takes years to mature, we know that bands need to be supported in their development.” Jason Fielding, Director of Sound Campaign adds, “The relationship between brands and music is ever evolving and we are delighted to be working with Jack Daniel’s, who has continuously pushed the boundaries of this relationship into new and exciting projects. The JD Sets will take this to a new level again and we are really looking forward to the year ahead.”

Working with The Sound Campaign will be Chugg Entertainment. Director Michael Chugg says, “It’s always been tough for young bands out there but initiatives such as this will give them great opportunities to be heard and play to an audience bigger than those they’re used to playing in pubs around Australia. In this day and age, having partners like Jack Daniel’s make the tough realities that up and coming bands face much easier.”

Chugg Entertainment Managing Director, Matthew Lazarus-Hall goes on to say, “In past years Chugg Entertainment has always had an interest in breaking new talent, however, with our core business focused on international artists, our opportunities to work with local talent has been limited to festivals and support spots on major international tours. We are very excited about the JD Sets initiative which will give Chugg Entertainment the opportunity to continue our plight in breaking new acts, with a renewed focus in the local community”.

The JD Sets represent the next step in Jack Daniel’s significant investment in live music. The JD Sets will involve multiple bands touring both regional and metropolitan Australia throughout the year. This new program builds on the established profile of the Jack Awards and the brand’s long standing relationship with live music through its association with festivals such as the Big Day Out, Splendour in the Grass and Homebake. Jack Daniel’s is withdrawing from these festivals to focus on showcasing live Australian music through The JD Sets.

A key element of The JD Sets will be involvement with Support Act Limited (SAL) Australia’s Music Industry Benevolent Fund which provides relief and assistance to members of the Australian music industry in need or suffering hardship.

Your friends at Jack Daniel’s remind you to drink responsibly.

Over a lifetime a special time may pass you by. Sometimes you don’t realise how good it was (until it’s gone). But on those days reflecting back you remember by talking about it. Was it your wedding, divorce, 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th love? Stealing that 1st car, your 1st child, your school days, winning lotto or just having lots of sex, sometimes with girls?

But mine was the following…A little bar hide out in Challis Avenue, Potts Point. A place that was set up by 2 not fit and proper persons and a debarred solicitor. But most of you would have only meet Grant Hilton (not Paris’ dad) and Grants little brother, Marty Clapp, that’s me. From Mangoroa Valley NZ to Bathurst to Kings Cross. I met Grants partner Julian and the next thing I am heading down to Kings Cross to work in a place called Benny’s. A late night hide out for Rock n’ Rollers, road crew, management, music executives, film and television and advertising gurus. What did I know? Rugby, cricket, slice of heaven, BBQ, darts, haka, boat races, rugby, meat pies, schooners, jugs, rugby world cup, why did I bring up that?

On my first night I was told the following. Just stand at the door, when the red lights goes on, open the door, and say these famous words “Do you intend on having dinner this evening?” It should have been “Do you intend having dinner this morning?” At 3am in Bathurst the patrons would be leaving, you folks would be just arriving – this was said only if I didn’t know them – that was everyone from Jimmy Barnes, Richard Clapton, Ian Moss, Mick Cox, Don Walker, Rob Walker (I knew Rob Walker), Mark Hunter, James Reyne and the list goes on as well as the management, road crew and studio owners etc etc even Patty Mostyn. If you didn’t play rugby I didn’t know you. But the place was about to become my home and like with you, a special part of my life.

Well here we go, Benny’s. The toilets looked like they held 500 people, well over a night they did. Maybe someone should have changed the “lines” oh no I mean words to that song…You can always find me in the kitchen at parties. Kitchen – we had one. 1 spring roll, 1 bowl of rice, 1 TV dinner, unless you had been and early Benny’s goer you may have had a real home cooked meal (roasts) by our mum…a bar that would hold 150, 350 less than the dunny. It’s one dunny I think Kenny never found. Some round tables; some dark corners but there was one more special thing, well three things, Mickey, Molly and Dominic (what a team). So it started, and as time went on I got the feel of the place, I think I was beginning to understand that place, or though I did turn away Michael Hutchins because he didn’t intend to dine, until Dominic saved the day. Later someone asked me if I would like a line, my answer was “of which song?” Now I have back catalogue.

25 years ago (very close) it had everything. But no incriminating photos, no youtube, no books and no movies. Many laughs and a lot of toilet paper. But we all have a story to tell so let’s get together again and share them and the magic times and have a drink for lost family and friends while we still can. Please forward this email this letter to anyone that you sat and drank with who you think would love to be there and would appreciate those early days of Benny’s. 1980-1988

The Benny’s Bar 2007 Reunion
Wednesday 5th December 6pm
Dolphin Hotel, Crown Street, Surry Hills
$50 Donation to the “Support Act” Organization

There will be a lucky door prize but only if the bloke gets through customs. There are still some outstanding bar tabs with interest around $47,000,000.00 so bring your cash & cards.

Marty Clapp Mob: 0412 414 418
PS: My first drink will be for the late great Steve Hands.

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”.

The Board of Support Act Limited (SAL) would like to thank all those concerned for allowing Support Act Limited to run a fundraising raffle prior to the commencement of this year’s Hall of Fame Awards.

With a generous donation from ARIA of a Table for 10 at the upcoming ARIA Awards and 5 tickets donated by APRA for the 2008 APRA Awards, the prize amounted to approximately $5,000.

Cheer leaders from the Melbourne Storm mingled with guests selling tickets and the lucky winner announced on the night was Domenic Carosa, CEO, Destra Corporation.

On the day of the Awards, The Debonairs (the Entertainment Industry Lunch Bunch) hosted a lunch for Support Act Limited to celebrate the induction into the Hall of Fame of two of their founding members, Brian Cadd and Wilbur Wilde. The lunch was well attended and included members of the Sydney SAL Board, Rob Potts and Phil Payne (Entertainment Edge), John Evans (Destra Entertainment), Ed Nimmervol, David Flint, Keith Colias, Paul Thorn, Angela Batties (Channel 7), Alison Taylor (Reality Illusion Productions), Michael Whyte (Freemantle Media), Nigel Davis, Sara Hood (Australian Music Association), Sue Gillard (SAL Victoria), Adrian Barker, Rolf Popp and Mary Renshaw along with the usual suspects.
View photos from the Hall of Fame Lunch.
View photos from the Hall of Fame Awards.

We would like to thank all these people for their generous support for SAL and the people it is assisting in their time of need.

The Victorian Debonairs (The Entertainment Industry Lunch Bunch) will be holding a special pre-ARIA Hall of Fame Awards Lunch to celebrate that two of their founding members, Brian Cadd and Wilbur Wilde (as part of the original line-up of Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons) are being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame

Formed nearly three years ago and named after that famous old vaudeville joke, the lunch club was designed simply to facilitate the getting together of music industry people who kept saying “we must have lunch sometime” but never seemed to get around to it! From an original group of 12, the club has grown to around 150 members and the concept is so successful that several members who have since moved to Sydney have started a Debonairs lunch club in Sydney.

On Thursday 17th of May 2007, South Australian jazz pianist; Ritsuko lost her brave battle against cancer and the Australian Music Industry, in particular the jazz community, lost a great composer and fellow musician.

Ritsuko graduated with Honours from the University of Adelaide Elder Conservatorium of Music after briefly studying in London. In 1994, she co-founded band etypejazz and until falling ill in 2006, actively performed, toured, arranged and composed with the band, as well as with her independent act; The Ritusko Quartet.

During her career she has performed to thousands of people, toured Australia, and performed internationally with Etype as well as independently with her quartet. She rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous and left her mark on the Australian music scene with her exquisite, melodic playing.

During the last difficult months of her life, Ritsuko received the support of a benevolent organization called Support Act Limited (SAL). SAL provides small pockets of financial support to Australian musicians in hardship, due to debilitating health issues.
More info on SAL can be found at: http://www.supportact.com.au/

It was Ritusko’s wish, had she beaten the cancer and survived, to support other musician in similar circumstances through supporting SAL.

Bon Scott Celebration Concert raises $50,000 for charity.

The Bon Scott Celebration Concert has raised enough money for a statue of the Australian music legend; as well as an additional $50,000 that has been donated to Support Act Limited (SAL), the Australian music industry charity.

“We are incredibly grateful to the organisers of the Bon Scott Celebration Concert for this generous donation - raised through the efforts of fellow musicians performing to honour one of the greats,” said Meryl Gross, Chairperson of Support Act Limited.

The family of Lobby Loyde and Support Act Limited (the music industry benevolent fund) wish it to be known that following the Lobby Loyde benefit concert initiated by Billy Thorpe and set up and managed by Amanda Pelman, Michael Chugg and Billy in Melbourne on 28.8.06, net funds were placed in trust through to Support Act Limited to distribute to Lobby as required. The benefit raised in excess of $80,000 and Billy Thorpe and Lobby worked out a payment schedule covering Lobby’s regular overheads, medical costs and weekly out-of-pocket expenses. Written instructions were provided to Support Act Limited by Billy detailing the agreement and up until Lobby’s death, all payments were made by Support Act as proposed.

March 2007 - On March 24th Perth hosted a Battle of the Old Rockers concert at the Civic Hotel orangized by an enthusiastic group of volunteers. With 7 bands featuring many of the legends of Perth pub rock 60s and 70s, the night was a great success and they donated the profits of $3,500 to Support Act Limited. Our sincere thanks.

At yesterday’s inaugural “Music In The House” luncheon held in NSW Parliament House, rocker Jimmy Barnes was presented by Support Act Limited with an “Excellence in Community Support” Award in recognition of his many years of performing at and helping out with charity events throughout Australia.