Richard Clapton to rock the Recital Centre

Aussie rock legend Richard Clapton will make his Melbourne Recital Centre debut on Friday, November 4.

A name that is synonymous with Australian rock music, Richard will come to Southbank for one night of nostalgia and reminiscing with a generous serving of his greatest hits and a taste of his brand new album House of Orange.

Growing up in an era that gave birth to the rock ‘n’ roll phenomenon, Richard’s youth was sound tracked by the likes of Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones.

It was not long after he picked up his first electric guitar that he quickly realised a deep passion for creating music and from that moment on he threw himself into doing just that.

As he enters his 43rd year as a recording artist, he told Southbank Local News that his passion for the golden era of Australian rock music in the 1970s still inspired him.

“When I lived in Melbourne in the late 70s there was a real community of musicians down here and I’d been living in Europe for over six years and when I left Australia for first time it was a bit of a cultural wasteland,” he said.

“When I came back it was a really thriving hot bed of creativity and it was kind of what I’d describe as the birth of Aus Rock. I found a lot of bands from that period really inspiring.”

Performing songs that are touchstones on the Aussie rock landscape, such as Girls on the Avenue, Capricorn Dancer, The Best Years of Our Lives and Goodbye Tiger, fans will be treated to the full Richard Clapton experience.

In addition to his classic catalogue, Richard will also play some new tracks from his latest release House of Orange, which he recorded over three months in Nashville, Tennessee.

Named after the house that he lived in during his time in Nashville, House of Orange was produced by Australian Mark Moffatt who has more than 30 years experience recording in Nashville.

Alongside a band, which includes musicians who have played with Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor and John Mayer, Richard said the album wasn’t of the sound one would normally associate with Nashville.

“The minute Nashville is mentioned it’s always associated with country and western so this album is quite removed from country music it’s pretty edgy hardcore rock,” he said.

“The only other time I’ve recorded in the states I recorded in LA in 1980 and that album I had Chick Corea’s drummer and they were all pretty much jazz musos.”

“Once again they just love playing rock. It’s sort of exciting for them because it’s not their natural environment so it was the same with these Nashville guys they just ate it up and loved rocking out.”

Richard said recording in Nashville had been a huge tick off his bucket list.

And while he will tour alongside a different ensemble to that he recorded with in Nashville, he said he couldn’t wait to tick off another bucket list item when he plays the Recital Centre.  

“A couple of Melbourne friends came to the Recital Centre to see Larry Carlton earlier this year and they said it was just the most sensational venue,” he said.

“Apparently the acoustics have been designed really well here, which makes a really big difference to a performer so I’m definitely looking forward to it.”

For tickets and more information visit melbournerecital.com.au