News

Ruck and roll with an Essendon legend

Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Staff writers for essendonfc.com.au
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AFL Hall of Fame member and Essendon great Simon Madden had a superb touch on the footy field, and he now turns that skilful touch to a guitar in his five piece band ‘Better Late Than Never’.

Madden continues his affiliation with Essendon as the Bombers’ ruck coach with the 378 game superstar now adding musician to his role with the club.

On one of the biggest nights of the year – Melbourne Cup Eve - Madden and ‘Better Late than Never’ are putting on a rock concert at Windy Hill to get footy and music fans alike dancing the night away.

Madden said he was looking forward to showcasing his talents at the Windy Hill Social Club on Monday night.

“I always tried to put on a show in my playing days and now I know I do with Better Late Than Never,” Madden said.

Consisting of Ken Turner on lead vocals, Simon and John Gamwell on guitars, Darrell Dorgan on drums, Darren Bartolo on bass and Mary Madden and Gail Turner on backup vocals, ‘Better Late Than Never’s’ mixture of good time rock n roll, pub rock classics and sing along anthems never fail to get the crowd on the dance floor.

Lead singer Ken Turner said the band would provide electrifying entertainment on the night.

“We are certainly more entertaining than watching Simon lope across the half back flank chasing a kick in the old days,” Turner said.

Fans can expect hours of entertainment with the band covering everyone from The Beatles to the Rolling Stones, Van Morrison to Jimmy Barnes.

Tickets to see Simon Madden and ‘Better Late Than Never’ are available at the door from 7:30pm for only $ 10 on 31 October at Windy Hill Social Club (CnrNapier & BrewsterStreet, Essendon).

Click here to purchase your case of the limited edition Dyson Heppell commemorative wine.

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Never heard u sing, only Timmy Watson on the Footy Favourites record, many, many, years ago.......should be good. I'll get to one of ur gigs in the future.

- Nick Tomaras (posted 28/10/2011 9:07:03 AM)

We were probably lucky to have either of the Maddens play for us, what with their musical talents and political aspirations (Justin). Go Simon, and sort out Ryder, Hille and Bellchambers if you have a minute.

- Wesley Hull (posted 28/10/2011 9:27:25 AM)

Aaahh! The talented Maddens. Van Morrison.... I'd like to hear that. Melbourne Cup is such a great time in Melbourne.

- Gail Taylor (posted 28/10/2011 11:04:19 AM)

Vis Rock & Roll, after his trip to India Dyson (and the other Bomber youngsters) might check Scorcese's latest documentary on Beatle George- ('Living in a Material World')- swapped drugs for meditation- organised concert for Bangladesh, funded Life of Brian, loved being a gardener- followed Formula 1- If any Beatle was meant to be an Essendon supporter it was George.

- Thomas Faunce (posted 28/10/2011 11:28:46 AM)

Oh, Thomas...you just described most of my formative years...The Pythons, George Harrison & John Lennon (my idols) and then Essendon ever winter weekend ...especially Madden, Watson, Daniher, Fletcher, Crow Andrews, Foulds. So this is all part of an eternal cosmic connection? Maybe i'm not that weird.

- Wesley Hull (posted 28/10/2011 5:08:17 PM)

is that Noel on the drums??

- Margaret Dickson (posted 28/10/2011 9:56:17 PM)

Musical joy!

- Joseph Attard (posted 29/10/2011 10:56:07 PM)

Did none of that Thomas... but i ended up a Bomber Supporter... did I do right..?! Maybe going to the flicks as an 11yo to see "A Hard Day's Night" about 3 times gives me a pass mark..Geezz Wes.. Where's Vander & Walshie.. he he.. :-)

- Noel Shields (posted 30/10/2011 12:30:44 AM)

Anyone else feel like a wittle... giggle... when I mention.... wuck and woll .... with an Essendon wegend...??? Weswey... ???

- Kris Bayne (posted 30/10/2011 1:10:11 AM)

Noel, the truly sufficient if not necessary criteria to de-grump is whether you were into 'Kev Kavanagh and the Cavemen.' An example of Kev's immortal on-stage banter: "Hey Lenny, what'd ya stop playin' for?". "Mate, me maraccas were out tune." "But you was playin' the guitar." "Was I?"

- Thomas Faunce (posted 30/10/2011 1:51:38 PM)

Noel, no disrespect to Vander or Walsh. It's just those named, along with Shane Heard, Russell Muir, Alan Reid and Ian Marsh were the ones on the sleeves of my duffle coat. But, you're right. They all deserve recognition.

- Wesley Hull (posted 30/10/2011 2:19:39 PM)

Kris, I was going to try something witty using that palinesque language using Demitwiou, the dwaft, twade week and pwe-season dwaft, but a wookie dwaft just frightened me and I had to give up.

- Wesley Hull (posted 30/10/2011 2:23:36 PM)

The Essendon football club and the Beatles came into my life at about the same time, and both had a huge impact on me. Thomas, I didn't know that George Harrison funded the hilarious movie, "The life of Brian", I am slightly surprised by that, considering that he sang the song,"My sweet Lord". I think that George would have loved the Bombers, if he'd really got to know them.

- Gordon Moss snr (posted 30/10/2011 4:15:56 PM)

Weird !!! Wesley, absolutely...... not, Noel u did good and Kris, well a bit of a worry in the nicest possible way

- Mark McLachlan (posted 30/10/2011 7:07:35 PM)

And also out of 'Auntie Jack'- favorite ruck and roll interviewer- Norman Gunston- telling Frank Zappa he used to play electric harmonica "but the static caused too much lint on my lips" and saying to Linda McCartney "Funny, you don't look Japanese" and to Paul "I'm sorry your fruit shop didn't work out, was that one of John's ideas?"

- Thomas Faunce (posted 30/10/2011 8:33:38 PM)

Who will be No.1 in the Wookie Dwaft? That's the kind of no-nonsense, hirsute, warp-drive midfielder we need. "Are they wagging me centurion?" "Oh no sir."

- Thomas Faunce (posted 31/10/2011 4:47:32 PM)

Wes, best we give it a west, then. And Thomas, my favourite NG interview was NG asking Macca if he was really dead, and asking members of Kiss (who had suspicious sniff) if they had a cold.

- Kris Bayne (posted 31/10/2011 5:08:02 PM)

Kris I was enjoying it,are you weally weally sure about the west.. another occasion, Normie was at the PM's farm (Malcolm & Tammy)and one chore he helped attend to,was with their prized Bull...

- Noel Shields (posted 1/11/2011 3:27:36 PM)

So, did anybody go to the gig?

- Nick Tomaras (posted 1/11/2011 7:12:16 PM)