Mike Brady

‘Up There Christmas Porch Thoughts’

A fitting accolade for his musical and charity contributions, winning the Order of Australia for his services to the Australian music industry is among many honours bestowed upon Mike Brady this year.

Famous for AFL anthems ‘Up There Cazaly’ and ‘One Day in September’, Mike has written and produced every kind of music from rock ‘n’ roll hits to sports themes and jingles, collaborating with many other iconic Australian artists over his six-decade career.

Spearheading the launch of the inaugural Mike Brady AM Perpetual Trophy in his beloved Port Melbourne town is evidence of the mutual respect and support of this close community where he was raised after arriving in Australia from the UK in the 1950’s. Each year, this trophy will now be awarded to a school in the City of Port Phillip, with the most original and entertaining song lyrics to the traditional Christmas song – ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’, that encapsulates the spirit of Port Melbourne.

Set among historic landmarks of the City of Port Phillip, the Port Melbourne Business Association (PMBA) and community have come together for a unique Christmas celebration. On display until 22 December in and around Bay Street, shop windows have been custom-decorated by Swiss artist, Roz Zweifel. Adding an Australian flavour to the re-worked traditional song, images of localised ‘gifts’ appear in these windows, representing images unique to Port Melbourne, including ‘four fresh-caught fish, eight yachts a-sailing and 12 seagulls soaring.’

While Port Melbourne welcomes visitors from all parts of Victoria and further afield, I caught up with Mike on one of his many Porches where he explained, ‘later I’ll be playing bass, keyboards and finishing vocals at my brother’s recording studio in Abbotsford, then working to finish an album I recently recorded in Ireland.’

You have many Porches around Melbourne, why do you love your Beconsfield Parade Porch?

I’ve loved it since the early 60s when some bright spark planted totally unsuitable trees between Port Melbourne and St Kilda. Of more than a thousand, five survived and are outside the Surf Life Saving Club. Wonderful date palms now adorn this fine beachside boulevard, which has avoided over-commercialisation as a great recreation area for people of all abilities.

You’ve performed with, produced and supported many of Melbourne’s home grown talent, including Tina Arena, Wilbur Wilde, and the local community talent who joined you for the Mike Brady AM Perpetual Trophy launch. What is your biggest satisfaction from creating your own music, and helping others express theirs?

I’ve enjoyed working with many well-known Australian performers, but I get a particular buzz from working with children, especially with the Port Melbourne Specialist School Choir. There is something about the innocence of children singing Christmas carols that always strikes an emotional chord with me. Children and adults expressing themselves through music has always been a part of my life - I’ve been lucky to have such a rewarding music career.

After recent trends of engaging overseas acts for AFL Grand final entertainment, the feedback among football fans indicates they prefer local talent for our iconic game. That perfect combination of Aussie music and football was re-captured for the 2013 Grand Final. Did you enjoy this ‘return to the basics’ too?

It was a great thrill to be singing in the middle of the MCG this year, and of course I got a huge lift from the crowd singing along. The public made their feelings pretty clear about wanting home grown talent this year and the AFL, to their credit, responded. We should remain open to international acts if they are relevant and appropriate; I think the AFL got the mix right this year.

With creative music and humor in your jingles and parodies, what instigated the ‘Port Melbourne Christmas song’?

Port Melbourne’s version of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ was written by a professional creative and the verses printed on 12 special windows along a 4km stretch of Bay Street. The PMBA have involved local schools, and each year I will be one of the judges awarding the Mike Brady AM Perpetual Trophy to a school in the City of Port Phillip, whose winning song lyrics will be transposed onto next year’s Christmas windows. Some of the gifts in this year’s song include ‘two trugo sets, six friends-a-talking, ten folk kite-boarding.’ You get the picture: it’s a lot of fun.

What are your best memories of your early years growing up in Port Melbourne?

Ships everywhere at Station Pier that was full of immigrant ships disgorging thousands of new Australian citizens. Poverty, community, pubs on every corner and tough schools.

With the changing face of inner city Melbourne, how has Port Melbourne kept its ‘village-like’ atmosphere?

Port Melbourne has always been a ‘destination’, as you don’t really drive through here on your way elsewhere. That has contributed to the village atmosphere which still exists today, and proper management of large development with long-sighted town planning decisions will ensure our great community thrives.

Among your charity performances has been ‘Starry Starry Night’ at Crown Casino for the Alannah and Madeline Foundation – is there a particular cause that’s especially close to your heart?

I’m involved in a number of children’s charitable organisations, and in 2011, with the help of some generous friends, we raised significant donations for Variety - the Children’s Charity. This money was used to purchase equipment such as walking devices and mobility units for children who have never had the freedom of movement that we take for granted.

Your band ‘MPD Ltd’ is remembered by fans of ‘The Go-Show’ - what do you think has changed about talent shows on TV since the heyday of this and other programs such as ‘Countdown?’

I dislike modern talent programs, as I believe they exploit the so-called ‘talent’. We need to play more Australian music in more genres on radio and television and stop being sycophants about everything which comes from overseas. Enough said. Don’t get me started.

What has been the most significant moment for you since your first hit record?

There have been too many highlights to choose just one, but the first time I sang ‘Up There Cazaly’ at the MCG way back in 1979 was a moment I’ll never forget.

Referred to as ‘a living legend’ and ‘the voice of footy’, the crowds have remained by your side; other than sharing your music, what message would you like to send to your fans across Australia?

I genuinely appreciate their support over the years, and especially the many letters people have written to newspapers and to the AFL asking that I be invited to sing again at the Grand Final.

What is your Porch Thought For The Day?

Reflecting on life’s twists and turns, the one consistent part of my life has been the love of my family and children, and the incalculable value of true friends who have always been there for me (they know who they are).