It’s hard to believe it’s 35 years since we waved goodbye to Ian “Molly” Meldrum and his iconic music show Countdown.
In its mammoth 13-year run, Countdown supported and nurtured local artists like Sherbet,Skyhooks, AC/DC, Olivia Newton-John, Ted Mulry Gang, Divinyls, The Angels, Icehouse, Mondo Rock, Australian Crawl, Dragon, Hush, Kylie Minogue, INXS, Mark Holden – and that’s only a small snapshot of the Aussie talent.
The show also gave us overseas acts like Abba, Madonna, The Eurythmics and Culture Club and helped revive the careers of superstars Elton John, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner and a whole host of other international acts.
It’s been said if not for Molly Meldrum and Countdown, many iconic acts may never have had hits, or have been given airplay and may never have gone beyond the pub circuit.
Countdown hosted the biggest names in music.
(Image: Getty)
It was Countdown that helped establish Marcia Hines as the award-winning recording artist that she became.
“I think Countdown was not only important for me,” Marcia tells Woman’s Day exclusively. “It was important for all the acts that appeared on this show because Molly was so fantastic and he always encouraged us greatly.
“It was magical doing Countdown. It was the biggest music show on TV at that point… not only did it establish some great careers, it was a chance for all of us to catch up because we were all touring so heavily back then.”
Asked who were some of the favourite artists she enjoyed seeing on the show, Marcia, who turns 69 this week, is spoiled for choice.
“Maybe Sherbet,” she says. “It was always great to see and hear what new music the Sherbet guys were doing.”
In 1974, Molly was working as a record producer and music journalist when he was approached to be the talent coordinator on a new music show that premiered on November 8, 1974.
“Molly was so fantastic and he always encouraged us greatly.”
(Image: Getty)Before too long, Countdown went from being a half-hour show to a weekly hour program in the prime timeslot of 6pm Sunday.
John Farnham hosted the first hour-long episode and the first colour episode was broadcast on March 1, 1975.
Molly prioritised nurturing new talent locally and overseas. His good mate Elton would later famously describe him as “the best thing that ever happened to Australian music”.
“Molly was always someone I wanted to cuddle,” Marcia says of her dear friend and loyal supporter. “He has such a kind heart. “I just absolutely adore the guy and I thank him for all that he did.”
John Paul Young, who is most famous for his much-loved global hit, Love Is In The Air, and Yesterday’s Hero, is also quick to pay homage to his dear mate Molly.
Like Marcia, John was starring in the smash-hit musical Jesus Christ Superstar. He met Molly on opening night and an instant friendship was sparked.
JPY, now 72, became a regular fixture on Countdown and often hosted the show.
“I had a healthy disrespect for Molly,” jokes John, of the man who had also famously produced the Russell Morris classic The Real Thing.
“We just got along really well from the beginning.”
It was JPY who also revealed his mate’s nickname on Countdown by saying, “Here’s boring old Molly with boring old Humdrum!”
The nickname stuck. As his memoir, The Never, Um, Ever Ending Story, reveals, “It [Countdown] turned Molly into a national institution (or ‘mental institution’ as one of his friends put it).”
His dear friend Madonna famously quipped, “What the f–k is a Molly?”
His trademark, non-eloquent interviews with the world’s music superstars became a much-loved part of Aussie Sunday nights.
“We just got along really well from the beginning.”
(Image: Getty)Who could forget Molly’s famous, some would say, bizarre interview with Prince Charles in 1977?
Despite having rubbed shoulders with the most famous musicians in the world, Molly was clearly not comfortable in the presence of royalty. He stumbled his way through the interview and apologised profusely, before asking for a glass of water.
Charles tried to put him at ease, bringing up the fact the host had recently been in London.
Before he could think, Molly famously replied, “I saw your mum in an open carriage in London the other day,” to which the prince replied, “You mean Her Majesty the Queen.” It was gold and trademark Molly at his stumbling, fumbling best. The interview endeared him even further to millions of Countdown fans.
Sadly, all good things must come to an end. After 14 seasons, 563 episodes, the music died on July 19, 1987. Countdown was no more.
Thirty-five years on, and despite rumours rife of a comeback in the works, Sunday nights haven’t been the same since.
