SOME of Freo’s best-loved musos are lining up to play Rewind – 40 Years of X-Press Celebration at the Astor Theatre this month.
The iconic Perth music magazine is celebrating middle age with an epic gig including Kav Temperley (Eskimo Joe), Dom Mariani (The Stems/ DM3), Gyroscope, Donna Simpson (The Waifs), Cal Kramer (Southern River Band), Dave Hole and Boox Kid.
Temperley has fond memories of a bizarre photo shoot for X-Press, which ended up like a cross between Happy Gilmore and camp crochet.
“The first time we were lucky enough to make the front page was for our debut EP Sweater,” he says.
“We met the X-Press photographer at Fremantle Golf Course at 7:30 in the morning, dressed like we’d stepped straight out of a knitwear catalogue.
“The results were hilarious. Well… we thought so anyway.”
• (above) Freo musos Dom Mariani and (below) Kav Temperley are playing at a special gig to celebrate 40 years of X-Press.
The Eskimo Joe frontman says he would eagerly await the latest issue hitting the streets on Thursday, checking which band had nabbed the coveted front cover.
“Back in those dark days, when all we really had was the Perth music scene, the dream of gracing the cover of X-Press felt like a guarantee your CD launch would be a success.”
Stems frontman and solo artist Dom Mariani says the Perth music scene used to be dominated by cover bands, but X-Press was supportive of artists playing their own material.
“On a personal level, one of my fondest memories was The Stems making the front cover after we’d had returned from a four month stint in Sydney,” he says.
“It was brave move to head east to try one’s luck but it paid off. We’d made some waves and X-Press were all over it.
“They were very supportive of bands doing their own material. It definitely helped our profile.”
“It was great having a free mag dedicated to local music and entertainment.”
The Rewind concert will be hosted by legendary music journo and former X-Press editor Bob Gordon, who will interview performers and special guests on-stage.
There will also be archival photos and footage from the hallowed X-Press vaults.
The concert will also mark the launch of Rewind: 40 Years of X-Press Magazine, a limited-edition 200-page coffee table book covering the magazine’s birth, evolution and influence.
It was written by Gordon, who worked there for a total of 18 years in a number of roles including contributor, writer and editor.
“During my research, I reached out to lots of people that used to work there, as well as readers and contributors,” he says.
“Some of them I hadn’t spoken to since the 90s. They all had fond memories, often referring to the camaraderie of it all.
“We worked hard, but played hard, and I guess we were all younger, pre-kids and all that, so the magazine is tied up with those emotions of youth and a certain time. I think people will feel the same way when reading the book.”
X-Press stopped producing its physical edition in 2016, transitioning to an online model. It was taken over by the Vanguard Media Group in October 2023. Vanguard has around 15 publications in its stable, and Gordon says it can provide a stable financial platform for the magazine to flourish.
“When the printing stopped, it had to reset as an online entity and then covid hit,” he says.
“But now it has the structure to expand and the book is a positive sign that things are moving in the right direction.
“Hopefully we’ll be celebrating the 50th anniversary and way beyond.”
And lastly, the Chook can put to bed silly rumours that Gordon will be dressing up as Cher and performing If I could Turn Back Time on the night.
“I looked a bit like Cher when I used to dress up for KISStake!” he says.
Rewind – 40 Years of X-Press Celebration is at the Astor Theatre in Mt Lawley on Wednesday March 18. Tix at Ticketek. For more info on the book and concert see xpressmag.com.au/rewind/.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK