As the definitive Australian pub rock outfit, Cold Chisel forged a hard-edged blend of rock and blues that drew from 1970s groups such as Free, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin, yet stood apart through the narrative talents of chief songwriter Don Walker, whose own inspirations traced back to Bob Dylan. From 1978 through 1983 the band reigned as Australia’s dominant act both on record and in live settings, moving more than six million albums domestically, the bulk of those sales occurring after the 1983 split and the 1998 reunion.
The group first assembled in Adelaide in September 1973 when guitarist and vocalist Ian Moss took the initiative. Early on they adopted a fresh name for each gig, but the title of Don Walker’s composition “Cold Chisel” was retained after one performance and became permanent. Walker steadily built a substantial body of material that complemented the band’s fierce stage presence, which centered on the gritty delivery of their sweat-drenched, vodka-fueled frontman Jimmy Barnes. Bassist Phil Small arrived in 1975 to replace founding member Les Kaczmarek, and at the beginning of 1977 the ensemble relocated to Sydney in pursuit of the recording deal that had remained out of reach for more than twelve months.
Amid the prevailing sounds of Fleetwood Mac, ELO, and the Eagles, Cold Chisel’s approach was judged too unpolished for mainstream tastes, yet WEA Records gambled on them and issued their debut self-titled album in April 1978 without immediate impact. The opening single “Khe Sahn,” which recounted the experience of an Australian Vietnam veteran, was barred from certain radio playlists because of a lyric segment; it later emerged as one of the most frequently aired classic rock tracks on Australian stations. Their follow-up album climbed into the Top Ten, trading some of the raw stage energy for greater emphasis on songcraft. Laden with references drawn from local experience, Breakfast at Sweethearts secured the band’s first platinum certification. The June 1980 release East propelled them to new heights, presenting a tougher sound than its predecessor while still relying on strong material, this time incorporating contributions from additional members and spotlighting Ian Moss’s soulful lead vocals on two tracks. They supported the American rollout of East with national tours and followed it with the chart-topping live set Swingshift. The subsequent album, intended for international audiences, carried a title that reflected their sense of displacement: Circus Animals. European and U.K. tours ensued.
Frustration mounted as their music found little traction in America, compounding existing frictions arising from competing songwriting goals and the unpredictable temperament of singer Jimmy Barnes, who had walked out and returned on countless occasions throughout the decade. After ten years together the members elected to disband following a farewell run that concluded at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in December 1983. Barnes promptly embarked on a highly successful solo path that yielded seven Australian number-one albums. Guitarist Ian Moss paused for five years before issuing his own chart-topping record, reconnecting with Don Walker’s compositions. Walker launched a modest solo career, building alliances with a wide range of Australian rock and country artists. Drummer Steve Prestwich spent two years with Little River Band. Throughout the remainder of the 1980s and into the 1990s, Cold Chisel catalog sales continued unabated while fans waited in vain for a reunion.
Following nearly two years of private rehearsals and discussions, a new album and tour materialized in 1998. The Last Wave of Summer reached the top of the Australian charts, and the band performed to capacity crowds nationwide. A live soundtrack to a tour documentary titled Last Stand appeared less than a year afterward. Over the ensuing decade the group reconvened periodically for tours and isolated performances, and in 2010 Ian Moss disclosed that work had begun on fresh material. Prestwich passed away early the following year after surgery for a brain tumor. The ensemble recruited Charley Drayton, known from the Divinyls and the Cult, on drums and resumed touring from 2011 onward, issuing the album No Plans in spring 2012. That set, which included drumming by both Prestwich and Drayton, peaked at number two in Australia. Strong reissues, compilations, and well-attended live shows paved the way for an eighth studio album, The Perfect Crime, in autumn 2015. Archival concert releases also commenced in 2011, among them Live in St Leonards Park 28.5.78, capturing a 1978 performance. The band returned to the studio in 2018 for their ninth album, Blood Moon, which appeared the next year.
