Biography
Ross "The Boss" Wilson occupies a respected position among Australia's rock legends, counted alongside John Farnham, Jimmy Barnes, and Billy Thorpe across a four-decade career. His path began in 1965 with the R&B group the Pink Fink, after which he led the Party Machine through 1969 and then moved to the U.K. to join Procession. Upon returning to Australia in 1970 he entered Sons of the Vegetal Mother, a unit that soon evolved into Daddy Cool. The band's first album, Daddy Who? Daddy Cool!, and the Wilson-written single "Eagle Rock" both topped the national charts.
In August 1972 Wilson dissolved Daddy Cool to launch Mighty Kong. He next portrayed Cousin Kevin in the Australian staging of the Who's Tommy, sharing the cast with Billy Thorpe, Daryl Braithwaite, and Colleen Hewett. Mighty Kong disbanded in December 1973; Wilson revived Daddy Cool in January 1974, keeping the lineup active until September 1975. He then concentrated on production, helming three pivotal Skyhooks albums—Living in the 70s, Ego is Not a Dirty Word, and Straight in a Gay Gay World—that cemented his standing, and he oversaw further releases for Company Caine, Ray Burgess, Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons, Gary Young, the Dynamic Hypnotics, the Johnnys, and the Street Hero soundtrack.
Partnering with Little River Band manager Glenn Wheatley, Wilson founded Oz Records, which issued material by his own band Mondo Rock as well as the Sports, Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons, Stiletto, and Mark Gillespie. His solo work opened with the August 1976 single "Living in the Land of Oz," a track that appeared in the film Oz and later on the 1989 Various Artists collection Building Bridges.
Mondo Rock emerged as one of Australia's leading acts throughout the 1980s, during which Wilson also played in the side project Rockhouse. In 1983 he wrote and produced the hit single "Bop Girl" for his wife Pat Wilson, which reached number two nationally. The Australian Record Industry Association inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 1988. More than twenty years into his career, Wilson issued his first solo album, Dark Side of the Man, in July 1989; it climbed to number 24, while its strongest single, "Bed of Nails," also peaked at number 24.
Mondo Rock's 1990 album Why Fight It? proved less successful than prior efforts, prompting Wilson to disband the group and form RAW in 1991. That project toured until its dissolution in 1993. In June 1994 he contributed a cover of Spencer P. Jones's "The World's Got Everything in It" to the Various Artists album Earth Music. He maintained his production work and joined the Angels for their 1997 Lounge Lizards Tour.
In August 1972 Wilson dissolved Daddy Cool to launch Mighty Kong. He next portrayed Cousin Kevin in the Australian staging of the Who's Tommy, sharing the cast with Billy Thorpe, Daryl Braithwaite, and Colleen Hewett. Mighty Kong disbanded in December 1973; Wilson revived Daddy Cool in January 1974, keeping the lineup active until September 1975. He then concentrated on production, helming three pivotal Skyhooks albums—Living in the 70s, Ego is Not a Dirty Word, and Straight in a Gay Gay World—that cemented his standing, and he oversaw further releases for Company Caine, Ray Burgess, Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons, Gary Young, the Dynamic Hypnotics, the Johnnys, and the Street Hero soundtrack.
Partnering with Little River Band manager Glenn Wheatley, Wilson founded Oz Records, which issued material by his own band Mondo Rock as well as the Sports, Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons, Stiletto, and Mark Gillespie. His solo work opened with the August 1976 single "Living in the Land of Oz," a track that appeared in the film Oz and later on the 1989 Various Artists collection Building Bridges.
Mondo Rock emerged as one of Australia's leading acts throughout the 1980s, during which Wilson also played in the side project Rockhouse. In 1983 he wrote and produced the hit single "Bop Girl" for his wife Pat Wilson, which reached number two nationally. The Australian Record Industry Association inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 1988. More than twenty years into his career, Wilson issued his first solo album, Dark Side of the Man, in July 1989; it climbed to number 24, while its strongest single, "Bed of Nails," also peaked at number 24.
Mondo Rock's 1990 album Why Fight It? proved less successful than prior efforts, prompting Wilson to disband the group and form RAW in 1991. That project toured until its dissolution in 1993. In June 1994 he contributed a cover of Spencer P. Jones's "The World's Got Everything in It" to the Various Artists album Earth Music. He maintained his production work and joined the Angels for their 1997 Lounge Lizards Tour.
Albums
Singles
