In an age where mediocrity and cabaret acts rule the music scene, one man still flies the flag for rock ‘n’ roll with pride.
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Joe Camilleri may have a legendary music career under his belt – being apart of the iconic Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons then going on to form The Black Sorrows – but his music initially struggled to stay afloat.
“I walked into a pawn shop once and I saw this shiny alto saxophone,” Camilleri said.
“The saxophone was like a voice to me, I saw it on the wall and it was the exact amount of money that I had, plus enough for a bus fare home.”
Joe took his new, prized possession home and did the unthinkable for a muso.
“The last thing you want to do to a saxophone is clean it, and I put it in the bath,” he said.
“All the pads blew up, and I learnt a very valuable lesson in one day.”
After drying it off, the passion for the instrument and the styling of the saxophone began to flow.
“I was just attracted to the sax, then in a weird way it drew me to other styles of music,” Camilleri said.
“I liked the brass bands of the 40s and 50s but it was indirect, as I was still like any other teenager of the time. I loved the Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Kinks and radio was king.
“The last thing I wanted to do was listen to what my parents liked, which freaks me out today because I’m 70 years old so why would any young person be interested in what I’m doing (laughs).”
Joe maybe famous for his rock n roll voice, but he does miss an old friend he once left in the bathtub.
“I miss not being a saxophone player because when you’re in the song you’re waiting for your part to play,” he said.
“If you’re singing and pick up the horn cold you don’t give yourself much of an opportunity to fly, I kind of miss that.
“When you’re a sax player, you’re always practicing and playing. That’s your bread and butter.
“I know nothing about the saxophone, I just put it together and play. I’ve got a pretty good sound and have some musical ideas, I don’t play like a saxophone player, though I wish I did a little more sometimes. I play more like a singer playing the saxophone and that in its own way has been quite charming.”
Joe may say he knows nothing of the sax but Australian rock legends, Cold Chisel saw something in his playing as he was asked to lay down a sax solo on their 1980 single, “My Baby”.
With a music taste as vast as his song catalogue, Joe is set to share his passion with Highlanders.
“Bowral is gorgeous, but I only know a little bit on the area,” he said.
“I’m like any other musician, I want to be loved. All I want is to enjoy the neighborhood, and play a great show. If I do the gig, and it goes great you can unwrap me. Every gig comes with its trials and tribulations. I’m looking forward to it.”
The Black Sorrows will be performing at Bowral Bowling Club on Friday, January 26.
Tickets are available from the Bowling Club, or online at Moshtix.