THE KING LIVES 30 pages. Brian Wilde Australia's greatest pop/rock star. (Half Hour) Looks at all the humorous events in his life to his death.
Others in this series are:
Chops Norrie: The great Australian Actor.
The Knobs: Australia's greatest band.
The Ron Gorrie Story : The great Australian Sportsman.
Gail Lorrie: The greatest Aussie female pop star.
Champs Horrie: The comic genius who conquered all comedy genres
The Brian Wilde Story.
The Wilde Man Of Rock
*Many songs are parodies. The song in question will be in brackets.
EXT OPEN ROAD. CAR CRASH
A reporter stands by the burning wreck of a car. It is 1969.
Cut away to many (stupid) pictures of Brian during this monologue.
REPORTER
I am standing here by the charred remains of this once immaculate E.H. Holden; (wipes tear from his eye) and the charred remains of Brian Wilde.
Yes Brian Wilde the king of pop and roll is dead. What ever happened here we may never really know, but once again at this notorious section of road, one of Australia's idols has been taken.
Yes it was in this same spot last year that a bus carrying "The Gestapo Flower" went over that cliff, and three years ago to the day that Swinging Slim Evans was incinerated while making pikelets in his caravan.
The accident appreciation squad have suggested that there was a car crash or as they call it, a prang, and little could be saved. One fellow said he couldn't even find Brian's wallet. Brian's father, Sid Wilde, has officially identified the ashes as being Brian’s as well as the teeth.
(Holds up a pair of chattering teeth)
And to think, this was his good luck charm. Brian's death is not only a loss to his family and friends, but a loss to the music industry and a loss to the world. Brian Wilde was ahead of his time, a revolutionary. He gave us hope, he gave us a purpose and he gave me his autograph. On a personal note, Brian was my friend, and although he owes me five dollars, this isn’t about the money. It’s sad that I won’t see the five dollars but some things are more important.
Brian was hoping to release a record this week, maybe it will be released, maybe it will be a hit and maybe someone will return my five dollars.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not after interest. Hey I’d probably go out and buy his stupid new record anyway.
FILM CLIP. VARIOUS SCENES AND PHOTOGRAPHS
BRIAN
I went to the shops on Monday morning
Silence seemed to chill the morning air
I went to see Vern Henry for my mother
The lights were off , the butcher wasn't there.
Vern Henry had been killed in a mincer
A tragic way to die one's gotta say
Vern Henry was great man loved by many
Why did he die in such a callous way
(Chorus) He'd say, Here's your kangaroo stew son,
Here's your kangaroo stew
Just do what you wanna do
But here's your kangaroo stew.
INT STUDIO "LEGENDS"
DON
Hello Australia, I'm Don Carmen and tonight on
Australian Legends we look at "The King" Brian Wilde.
The song you just heard was Kangaroo Stew.
The song which was to become Brian Wilde's biggest hit of all time. It tells of the death of Vern Henry the Wynnum butcher who also coincidentally died in a car crash, well a mincer, but the result was the same. Brian relates how the death affected him and his family. However, time heals all wounds. It is no secret that within two weeks of Vern Henry's death, Mrs Wilde was buying her meat from Les Pearson.
A photograph of Les Pearson holding some sausages is shown.
DON
Brian Wilde was raised in the sleepy hollow of Wynnum. It is a quiet Bayside suburb about ten kilometres from Brisbane. Brian Wilde used to roam these streets as a boy and later a teenager. He had an interest in music at an early age , but it wasn't until he developed an interest in noise that people started to take notice of him.
As one of the Wynnum boys, he was considered by some locals to be a troublemaker, along with his mates, Brian Ring, Kevin McPherson and Maureen Apps. Although Maureen was not technically a Wynnum boy she was in fact tougher and uglier than any other boy in Wynnum. It is history what she did to the Manly boys one dark night.
I spoke to Maureen Apps.
INT . MAUREEN APPS LOUNGEROOM
Interview with Maureen Apps. She is a big woman in her forties.
MAUREEN
I was Brian Wilde's first lover, so to speak. Me and Brian one night were causing a bit of trouble down at the abattoirs, and we got back to Hemmant railway station and I said "Come on Brian , let's do it". He was a bit scared at first but I broke him in.
DON
Broke being the definitive word.
EXT PARK BENCH DAY
Don is sitting with Brian Ring. A skinny fifty year old.
DON
I am sitting here with Brian Ring, who as a boy was the best friend of Brian Wilde. In fact it was this park bench that he and Brian used to sit at when they were boys.
BRIAN RING
Actually, we used to sit on that bench.
DON
Oh, um let's go over to that bench then, we want this to be authentic.
The whole camera crew, the narrator and Brian Ring move to the other bench.
DON
I am sitting here with Brian Ring, who as a boy was the best friend of Brian Wilde, and in fact used to sit with Brian at this park bench when they were boys.
BRIAN RING
You know what, it was that park bench.
DON
Too bad. Brian Ring, you were Brian Wilde's best friend as a child. You were known as the two Brians' and were rarely apart.
BRIAN RING
Yer, we were known as the two Brians'. I think only a Brian can truly understand another Brian, we're different. we are not normal if you know what I mean , we Brians' are above that. We are just not normal. Understand.
DON
Quite.
EXT UNIVERSITY
A professor stands alone on some steps outside a university.
PROFESSOR
Certainly Brians are a very misunderstood group. They are both very extroverted and yet introverted too. They often find themselves in trouble but they do not seem to be a malicious group. Trouble in fact seems to find them. Somehow they understand each other and become friends. But don’t get me wrong, they are not like Warrens' who also tend to pair up. Brians' are very creative and intelligent whereas Warrens' merely exist. Like mossies , Warrens' hang around together but who needs them.
EXT PARK BENCH DAY.
Narrator sits with Brian Ring.
BRIAN RING
What we would do when we were young kids would be to set up our gear outside someone's, anyone's house and start playing. We called it suburban entertainment, but the police called it disturbing the peace.
EXT WYNNUM STREET (1957)
An old home movie of Brian Wilde and his first band playing in the streets of Wynnum. They are all in jeans and T shirts and have Brylcreemed hair.
INT TV STUDIO
DON
In 1958 Brian Wilde joined a local band, Tony Long and the Longjohns and even though their success was minor they did have a top ten hit with "Rockin the Roof". A love song written by Brian Wilde.
Film clip of Tony Long and the Longjohns. The band all wear longjohns.
TONY LONG (Boppin the Blues)
Jenny left me stranded
Said she'd had enough
She wanted a guy who's sensitive
Not some guy who's tough
So she went home to mother
And locked herself in her room
She didn't want to see me
So what does a boy do.
(Chorus) I stood outside, rockin the roof
I stood outside, rockin the roof
I stood outside, rockin the roof
Til the pigs took me away.
INT OFFICE
Chooka Byrnes sits at a desk.
DON
With the taste of success Brian decided to go it alone and found himself a manager in Chooka Byrnes a disc jockey who made a habit of recruiting no talent acts and turning them into one hit wonders.
CHOOKA
I knew he had something special the minute I saw him. He was different to other rockers in that he knew exactly what he wanted out of the music industry.
DON
And what was that?
CHOOKA
Sex, drugs and money. He was after all a wild boy well on the way to becoming a wild man. In fact, the Wilde man of pop and roll. It just so happened that two days after I signed him up he was in trouble. Yes. Yes, he left a sprinkler on, on a washing day. to him it was nothing, just another run in with the law.
INT RECORDING STUDIO.
DON
I am standing here at Fun records. Once a mediocre little recording company, but with the signing of Brian Wilde became a very big, mediocre recording company.
It was in this studio that Brian recorded his first top 40 song , The Wynnum Boy, and although it had mild success it was more popular in Wynnum than in any other suburb.
INT FILM CLIP THE WYNNUM BOY (Lonely Boy-Paul Anka)
BRIAN I'm just a guy from Wynnum
And you don't understand
I just wanna be a singer
In a rock and roll band
I'll play the pubs
I'll play the clubs
Hey babe I'll play them all
I'm just a boy from Wynnum
Who wants to play Festival Hall
EXT WYNNUM HIGH SCHOOL
DON
I am standing here at Wynnum High School the very high school Brian Wilde attended before his fame and success. It's very nice, isn't it.
INT OFFICE
Don is with Mr Ogilvie. He is very old.
DON
Mr Ogilvie, I'd like to talk to you about the local boy made good, the boy who became a legend in Wynnum, and attended this school.
MR OGILVIE
There's no doubt about it, he was an exceptional student. He was the dux of the school in 1956 and was always popular. He always impressed me with his keenness and determination to get to the top; and I can tell that when he won the 200 yards freestyle at the 1958 Commonwealth Games there was no-one as happy as me.
DON
Excuse me sir, but I am here to talk about Brian Wilde.
MR OGILVIE
Brian Wilde! That Bastard!
INT STUDIO
DON
In 1959 Brian was given a lot of work playing at the Highway Hotel in Rocklea. It led him to write and record what was to become his first solo hit, Highway Hotel.
BRIAN (Heartbreak Hotel)
Since you went away
Been drinking here all day
Drowning all my sorrows
At the Highway Hotel
At the Highway Hotel
At the Highway Hotel
I don't need you baby
You can go to hell
Cause I'm here with all my mates
at the Highway Hotel.
DON
Highway Hotel went to Number 1 so quickly that a new rock and roll industry began to emerge in Queensland as well as the rest of Australia. The big question was who would have the next big hit song from Queensland. It was in fact Ernie King with "Stomp Me Baby"
A photo of Ernie King is shown.
But Brian Wilde was not going to rest on his laurels, he found that very uncomfortable , so three days after Highway Hotel hit number 1 he released Johnny Guitar, a classic that has become part of rock and roll folklore. The song each kid with a new guitar wants to play.
FILM CLIP JOHNNY GUITAR
In this film clip Brian does his famous chicken scratch.
BRIAN (Johnny B Goode)
I stopped off at the trend shop
Just to get some jeans
Slicked my hair and chewed some gum
And I looked real mean
Then I bought some blue suede shoes
And a real hot car
Look out man this is Johnny Guitar
Let's play, let's play rock n roll
Let's play, let's play rock n roll
Let's play, let's play rock n roll
Come play with, Johnny Guitar.
Went to a social with a girl called Jackie
Started dancin' with Jane
Cause she wasn't so tacky
Then I chatted Suzie
Who went bla bla bla
I said listen to me, I'm Johnny Guitar.
Brian walks around the stage doing his chicken scratch.
Newspaper headlines. Highway Hotel Number 1. Pictures of Brian Wilde. Queenslands New Rock Star. Brian Wilde for America.
DON
His next hit proved to be enormous but what a controversy it caused."You Betcha Balls" had to go to the courts before it could be released. That bid failed. However....
INT OFFICE
Interview with music critic Mannie Miles
MANNIE
I remember the "You Betcha Balls" controversy as if it happened yesterday. Brian Wilde , who was my best friend at the time , came into Fun records with a smile on his face like a cheshire cat. He said and I quote "Mannie old son, I've got a song that will knock your eyes out". I remember saying to Brian "Brian, you'll never get away with this" but Brian was a cocky kid and he did it, and it's history now that he spent two weeks in Boggo Road on an obscenity rap. (well ten days, he escaped).
Of course the record was released on to the black market and sold 50,000 copies which in 1959 was an immense amount of record sales.
Also the song became an anthem for kids and it really assured Brian Wilde a place in rock n roll history.
FILM CLIP YOU BETCHA BALLS
BRIAN (on the Prowl)
I went to the social on Saturday Night
Saw a girl so pretty it gave me a fright
I told my mates I'd win her
Cause I'm cool mean and bad
They said you've got no hope mate
You've gotta be mad
I said You Betcha Balls
I'm in with a chance
You Betcha Balls
At the next social dance
You Betcha Balls
She'll come running to me
You Betcha Balls
You'll see.
Scene 22 EXT INSIDE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE
DON
This was the late fifties, early sixties, when the youth of the day were innocent and unprepared for the upheavals in life that they would facing over the next three decades.
A boy and girl are sitting in a panel van as it goes along a road. He has his hair slicked back, she has a Connie Stevens look.
CAROL
Did you get some beer for the drive-in John
JOHN
Sure did love, we can sink a few tonight.
CAROL
Gee the cars running well John.It feels really comfortable.
JOHN
It is sweetheart, I tuned the motor and did a bit of work on the springs today. I didn't want you to feel, let's say, to cramped in the back.
CAROL
That's real nice John , but did you remember the protection?
JOHN
Of course I did honey, haven't you noticed?
CAROL
Noticed?
JOHN
Yer, the new bull bar on the front of the beast.
NEWSREEL FOOTAGE
Black and white footage of sir Robert Menzies, Richie Benaud, an old advertisement,Julius Sumner Miller, Idi Amin, Rod Laver and a TAA jet.
STUDIO
DON
After the fifties there was of course the sixties and with the sixties came new ideals. The fifties had been a decade of rebuilding and invention; the sixties was to become a decade of free thinking revolution and change.
Part of that revolution was created by a young man from Wynnum, a man who not only wanted to be part of the rock world but who also wanted to dominate it. He knew that the only way to do this was to change with the times.
Whereas fifties rock n roll was loud, raw rough and around the edges, the early rock of the sixties was the opposite, soft sweet and refined. It was to be called POP music. There were of course notable exceptions, such as Phil Dunn and the Dunnies and bands like Virgin Eaters but otherwise POP was in , and Brian Wilde with his desire to succeed was to become a POP Star.
FILM CLIP LET'S HOLD HANDS
BRIAN ( beatles-ish)
I think you're nice
Oh I think you're nice
I've said it once
And I've said it twice
And I still think you're nice
So Let's hold hands
Let's hold hands
I'll walk you down to the corner shop
And I'll buy you a bottle of pop
So let's hold hands.
DON
Let's hold hands was another big hit, but Brian had reached a new type of audience, younger girls, however a lot a of his male fans deserted him.
In 1960 Brian Wilde was hailed as a genius when he became the first man to find a word to rhyme
with orange.
EXT STREET DAY
Brian is singing and playing guitar in the middle of a road.
BRIAN
I went out with Barbara Gorange
She had big brown eyes
And her hair was orange
EXT DAY CAR YARD (BLACK & WHITE)
DON
Fame didn't spoil Brian Wilde. It gave him the opportunity to help people who were not as wealthy as himself.
A man is standing out front of a car yard. This old footage shows the generous side of Brian Wilde. Brian approaches the man.
BRIAN
Hey man, what's your problem?
MAN
I'm broke and could really do with a new set of wheels.
BRIAN
Just stay there I'll be back in a minute.
Brian walks out of shot and the man stays put, smiling eagerly.
MAN
What a great guy Brian Wilde is.
Brian returns with a pair of roller skates and hands them to the guy.
BRIAN
Here sir, I hope this can help you out;
and look, I tell you what, I'll throw in five quid as well.
DON
This was a golden era for Brian Wilde but not every song was assured of being Number 1. Pig Dog Mary was not a hit in 1960 , however it is now considered the "YOB ROCK" classic.It was this song from which that term was created. it was also a drastic change from "Let's Hold Hands".
FILM CLIP
BRIAN (Sings)
Pig Dog Mary get away from me
Pig Dog Mary can't you see
I don't love ya
Pig Dog Mary get away from me
Pig Dog Mary can't you see
I don't need ya
When your standin' there
With your black matted hair
You really turn my guts
So if you ever think
That I'd go out with you
Forget it, I'm no putz.
INT FISH & CHIP SHOP FILM CLIP"Since You Went Away" was a film clip done entirely in a fish and chip shop. The owner and other people dance with Brian.
BRIAN (sings)
I've been puttin' on the pounds
And lookin mighty round
Since you went away
I've been hanging round the shops
And sucking lolly pops
Since you went away
I've been eating fish n chips
And piggin out on dips
Since you went away
Oh come back to me baby
I can't hack this diet any more
Oh come back to me baby
I can't hack this diet anymore
I've been drinking heaps of coke
And eating till I'm broke
Since you went away
Eating burgers that are fatty
As I let my hair get matty
Since you went away
And the nights are getting longer
And my B.O. sure gets stronger
Since you went away
Oh come back to me baby
I can't hack this livin' any more.
DON
"Since You Went Away" was Brian Wilde's biggest hit so far. It appealed to everyone because of it's subject matter. It brought gluttony out of the closet and into the kitchen and Brian Wilde was being seen as not only a great musician but as also the conscience of Australian Rock. His invention of YOB ROCK led to many imitators. In 1960 Bruce Evans released THE THUMP.
INT BLACK & WHITE FILM CLIP
As Bruce Evans sings "The Thump" eight dancers are thumping into each other.
BRUCE EVANS (Parody-THE HOP)
Let's go do the thump
Let's go do the thump
Let's go do the thump
Let's go do the thump
If you don't wanna
You can go jump
Cause I'm gonna do the thump
STUDIO
Brian’s partner, Lenny Grapes sits with Don.
DON
It is very seldom that Lenny Grapes gives interviews. Lenny was the co-writer with Brian from 1961 until Brian's death. Lenny Grapes.
LENNY
Yer, I met Brian through Chooka Byrnes back in 61. I felt quite honoured at the time just to meet the man, but we hit it off and I co-wrote with him through to 69; with of course the notable exception being the songs from 1965. The split was only for a few months, but you know, I realised when I joined up with Brian that to some degree I had to be a silent partner.He was The King and you gotta respect that. Together we invented "YOB ROCK" and I'll never forget our first hit "Rocked and Stoned".
DON
Do you have many great memories of when you and Brian were together?
LENNY
No, most of the great memories are of when Brian went away.
DON
What do you miss the most about your times with Brian?
LENNY
The money.
INT CONCERT STAGE
BRIAN ( Sings Rocked and Stoned)
We were twisting at a party on Saturday night
All the girls were dancing
We were doin' all right
Drinking lots of punch just as we liked
And we didn't even know that the punch was spiked
We laughed, we moaned
We were rocked and stoned
We laughed we moaned
We were rocked and stoned
Dad roared Mum groaned
We were rocked and stoned
Dad roared Mum groaned
We were rocked and stoned
INT OFFICE
Mannie Miles sits at a desk.
MANNIE
It's quite true that many people within the industry thought Brian Wilde had lost his knack in 1961, but I knew otherwise. I'd met Lenny Grapes and I could see that he was just the person to develop Brian even further, and of course meeting Louisiana Shepparton the world famous feather model was further inspiration to Brian.
More importantly, she was aware of Brian's, lets say problems and was prepared to accept his idiosyncrasies, which I won't go into. It wasn't important then and it's not now , his odd ways weren't my business then and certainly I won't be revealing them to you.
INT STUDIO
Don sits with Louisiana Shepparton. She is wearing a feathery outfit.
DON
I am sitting here, overlooking Brisbane with Louisiana Shepparton the famous model and one time constant companion of Brian Wilde. Louisiana, would you like to tell us about Brian and could you tell us how you first met Brian through your modelling.
LOUISIANA
I didn't meet Brian through modelling.
DON
You didn't. You didn't , I think our viewers wil be fascinated to find out how you met Brian.
LOUISIANA
I met him through chicken plucking.
DON
No.
LOUISIANA
Brian believed that in a previous life he was a rooster and found anything to do with poultry fascinating. I remember his tour of New South Wales in 1964, do you know the first thing Brian did?
DON
No, what was it?
LOUISIANA
He stopped off at Inghams and spent a couple of hours with the chooks.
DON
Fascinating.
LOUISIANA
And the turkeys.
INT T.V STUDIO
ON THE SET OF TWENTY QUESTIONS WITH DANNY O'DEA.
Brian sits on a lounge opposite host Danny O'dea. Brian answers the questions with a cocky attitude.
DANNY
My guest tonight currently has had ten number 1 hit records and is known world wide as "The King of Rock n Roll'. It is my special honour to
welcome to 20 questions Brian Wilde.
Girls can be heard screaming in the background.
BRIAN
Hi Danny, good to be here.
DANNY
First question, what was it like growing up in Wynnum?
BRIAN
I didn't grow up in Wynnum, I grew up when I left
Wynnum.
DANNY
I remember seeing you at the Wooloongabba Hotel in 58, could you tell us about that, I thought you were great.
BRIAN
Not much to it really, I got drunk and fell over, that's all I ever did at the Gabba Hotel.
DANNY
Tell us Brian, who has been the greatest influence on your musical career.
BRIAN
Tough question, mum played the kazoo and Dad the gum leaf, I'll say the gum leaf side shows through, so the answer is Dad.
EXT DICKEY BEACH DAY
The narrator is standing on Dickey Beach, Caloundra. Beside him is a fifty year old rocker, Rocky Cliff.
DON
With success came the usual demands and these demands were to soon cause concern to Brian who publicly was on the crest of a wave. His recording company was expecting a hit a week from Brian and this was not possible. Brian was quite happy with one a month but his recording company wanted to bleed Brian for every ounce of inspiration he had in him. His guitarist in 1963 was Rocky Cliff, hello Rocky.
ROCKY
Hi, I was Brian's guitarist back in 63, and I remember him saying to me "Rock" he said "I'm running out of ideas man" and I said "yer, I know" cause I did like, and I'd even said to me mum,"Mum, I think Brian is runnin' out of ideas."
so what happened is that Brian would go down to the docks and wait for the ships to come in and be the first to se the new records and be first to here them to get ideas for songs and trends. We had no problem with it, after all ,imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
DON
So what brings us to Dickey Beach? Two things. One, it's a very nice day two, Dickey Beach was the setting for Brian Wilde's first surfin' hit "Hanging Ten at Dickey Beach"
EXT DAY . FILM CLIP. DICKEY BEACH. BLACK & WHITE 1963
Brian sings, Rocky on guitar, heaps of girls dancing.
BRIAN (Fun Fun Fun)
We got into our Bongo vans and started up our engines O.K
Flying down the highway to the land of golden beaches HOORAY
Where the waves are really neato, and we all ride the tubes
And the girls are tanned and skinny and they all have big boobs
We're hanging ten at Dickey Beach
We're hanging ten at Dickey Beach
Oh we're surfin Oh we're surfin
Oh we're surfin ALL RIGHT
EXT COURT HOUSE DAY
News footage of Brian walking from a court appearance. Microphone's are being pushed into Brian's face.
DON
Although there were lots of reports about Brian Wilde, brawler, hood, street ruffian, drinker, loud mouth, womaniser and dope fiend; he did also get some bad press.
REPORTER
Is it true about your sexual exploits?
BRIAN
I'm not that lucky.
REPORTER 2
Brian, do you have a habit?
BRIAN
I sometimes pick my nose.
REPORTER 1
Did you knock that policeman's brains out?
BRIAN
What brains?
REPORTER 2
Will this ugly incident affect your record sales?
BRIAN
Yer, they're sure to skyrocket.
DANNY O'DEA
Do you ever wear red underwear?
DON
Of course a court appearance for Brian Wilde was nothing new. It just so happened that on this particular day, there was not much news happening.
INT T.V STUDIO
Brian has an uncanny resemblance to Roy Orbison
BRIAN
When I get lonely
And that's all the time
I refuse to wear trousers
Is that such a crime
When I get lonely
And that's all the time
I sit around naked
Just biding my time
Oh lonely me
Oh lonely me
I'm just a lonely guy can't you see
Oh lonely me Oh lonely me
I'm a lonely nudist can't you see
DON
Although "Lonely Me" was very popular, Brian's look and interpretation of the song suggested to some detractors that he was finished. But his next hit was another venture into "YOB ROCK" and once again Brian had the critics choking on their words.
INT VIDEO CLIP Brian sings his ballad MAUREEN
BRIAN
Who's that girl at the bus stop there
With the chubby face and the matty hair
I see her there every everyday
And no one stops to say "Gooday'
That's Maureen Oo oo oo That's Maureen
That's Maureen Oo oo oo That's Maureen
Man what a Blaaaaaaaaaaaa
Plainest girl I've ever seen
I just wonder where she's been
She is just an untidy mess
I think she's only got one dress
That's Maureen Maureen Blaaaaaaaaa
STUDIO
DON
In an interview recorded in 1964 Brian expressed his opinion of The Beatles.
INT STUDIO
BRIAN
The Beatles! Take away the music and what have you got?
EXT MOUNTAIN TOP DAY
NARRATOR
The sixties had become the era of Pop Groups and solo artists had their place but being part of a group,or as we now call them bands, was more prestigious. Brian Wilde was not the type of person to surrender his individuality behind the collective name of a group, and so with his new manager Harry Karry and a temporary split from writing partner Lenny Grapes he released two songs that left his fans somewhat sceptical. The first of these two recordings was "The Mountains are alive with Rock N Roll".
Brian is skipping down a mountain side with some girls. He resembles Julie Andrews.
BRIAN
The mountains are alive with rock n roll
rock n roll, rock n roll
The mountains are alive with rock n roll
rock n roll, oh yer.
NARRATOR
His next song was greeted even less favourably.
INT T.V STUDIO
Brian is dressed as Rolf Harris doing "Jake the Peg"
BRIAN
That's me I'm Thalidomide Pete
Kakadu Kakadu
Cause I've got three feet
Kakadu Kakadu
When I go for a run
I am the object of some fun
People laugh at me and point
Because they don't understand
But when the verdict soon comes through
I hope to get ten million quid
and I'll be the richest three legged bloke
In all the land
STUDIODON
Brian sacked Harry Karry who later committed
suicide, by the unusual method of locking himself in a room and continually playing "The Mountains are alive with rock n roll" and "Thalidomide Pete" until it killed him. Police said it was quick but not without pain. with the publicity of Harry Karry's hari kari, Brian's next release was once again a hit.
Brian Wilde had been on the top of the heap of the music world for a very long time and his failures of 1965 led to habits and personal abuse which in turn led to hospitalisation in a psychiatric institution.
Headlines read "Wilde Mad" but the grizzly truth was that Brian Wilde was eating up to four packets of Iced Vo Vo's a day. After three months rest and recreation Brian was released and looked like a new man.
PICTURE of Brian as a black man.
EXT QUIET STREET NIGHT
Film Clip of Brian's 1966 hit "Crawling The Walls"
BRIAN
I was looking out for you on a steamy and so dreamy Friday night
was needing you so badly I was itching
and a scratching 'til daylight
The walls were a crawling
The sky was a falling
I didn't know what to do
The earth was a quaking
I didn't know what to do
I was looking out for you on a windy
Goondiwindi afternoon
I was needing you so badly I was grinnin'
and a spinnin' from the moon
The walls were a crawlin'
The sky was a fallin'
I didn't know what to do
The walls were a crawlin'
The sky was a fallin'
I didn't know what to do.
INT STUDIO 1966
INTERVIEWER
Brian, the lyrics of "Crawling the Walls" conjure up a not too clean image. Can I assume that you had a foreign substance in your body.
BRIAN
Of course I had a foreign substance in my body. I was on four packets of Iced Vo Vo's a day.
INT KITCHENDON
1967 proved to be a year of change for Brian Wilde. After the disappointments of 65 and his re emergence in 66 Brian had taken a strong interest in acting. He took lessons at WIDA the Wynnum Institute of Dramatic Art where he is shown fondling a chair as part of his studies.
INT DRAMA SCHOOL
Brian is fondling a chair.
BRIAN
You've always been my favourite chair, your firm but comfortable base, your lovely slender legs, I ask you Tracy, please , can I please, sit on you?
STUDIO
DON
Crawford Productions heard of Brian's penchant for acting and immediately gave him a part in Homicide.
EXT LANEWAY
Brian lay dead in a laneway. He is smiling. A woman finds him.
WOMAN (Screams)
Look, there's a dead body in the laneway.
SCENE 52 INT STUDIO
DON
After this riveting performance, film makers saw that Brian Wilde had potential to become a film star. Brian accepted a minor role , that of Barbarovich, in the film adaptation of Lindsay Duvalier's best seller "Agatha's Cheesecake. He also did an interview in 1967 talking about the role.
INT TV STUDIO CHAT SHOW
BRIAN
Yes, I am very excited about the role.
INTERVIEWER
You play Barbarovich, the hunched back, psycho sexual,New Zealand dwarf. How did you cope with the part.
BRIAN
There was a fair bit of dissention about me playing a Kiwi.
INT STUDY A SPOOKY HOUSE.
Scene from Agatha's Cheesecake. Brian is playing the hunchback dwarf Barbarovich with the lovely Lady Agatha who is sitting at a desk in the study. A door closes behind her. It is Barbarovich.
AGATHA
Is that you Barbarovich?
BARBAROVICH
Yes Milady. I've just been out tickling the dogs, as you asked.
Agatha turns to him.
AGATHA
I said shave them, shave the dogs you fool. Don't you listen.
BARBAROVICH
I shaved them first, then I tickled them.
AGATHA
You're a sad case, my friend, my trusted friend. Sniff my socks.
Barbarovich bends down and sniffs Agatha's socks. He arises happy.
BARBAROVICH
Thank you Milady. You must understand, I've had nothing to live for since Elizabeth, since Elizabeth...
AGATHA
Died. I know how you felt and still feel. But we did need the chops. I know it's different for you New Zealanders. I will get you another sheep, one day.
BARBAROVICH
Oh Milady Agatha, thank you so much, you are so kind, so wonderful. Can I get you something. Some cockroaches or spiders to add to the guests cheesecake.
AGATHA
If it makes you happy, my friend, you may.
Barbarovich and Lady Agatha embrace. (End of scene)
INT STUDIO
DON
Brian was nominated for and won best supporting actor for his portrayal of Barbarovich at the Australian Film Awards. However, he surprised everybody when he refused his "Itchy" as a protest against the treatment of battery hens. He did
however win a lot of respect for his stand, especially from the Chicken Lobby and returned to the recording studio to record a song of peace.
INT RECORDING STUDIO
Brian with very long hair stands , singing into a microphone.
BRIAN
Stop the fighting
Stop the war
Stop the raping of society
Stop the killing
Stop the maiming
What is our priority?
Stop the pollies
From sending our boys
To the land of blood and dysentery
We've got to stop this war
Fuelled by U.S.A's hypocrisy.
Our boys are just like battery hens
Churning out death all day
Another killing here
Another killing there
And another one on it's way
So tell me Mr President
Are your eggs on their way.
INT STUDIO DON
Never before had Brian been so profound.
And never before had the war issue and the battery hen issue been tackled in the one song.
1969, and Brian Wilde had proved to the world that he was a legend. But his manager at the time Lippy Bernstein needed to make even more money and create some new recording stars. So, in 1969 he wrote a contract for Brian which proposed a faked death arrangement. Brian was unhappy but Lippy used blackmail to convince Brian. There had been an embarrassing incident at the Chicken Club three weeks prior. The incident was of course, set up by Lippy Bernstein.
EXT PATIO DAY
Don sits on a patio sipping a drink.
DON
Lippy Bernstein died a millionaire in 1985 and in his will he mentioned that Brian Wilde was alive but gave no details of his whereabouts.
Journalists still fascinated by the Brian Wilde phenonema searched files to see if large supplies of Iced Vo Vo's had been sent to any specific destination , and other intrepid journalists went searching chicken farms armed with a photo of Brian hoping to find this legend of the lost.
Brian had been a recluse in Cairns for twenty years now and had even begun mingling with the locals. In 1989 his identity was revealed.
The camera moves across to Vanessa Elderbury a socialite from Cairns.
VANESSA
It was so funny because I had known Brian Wilde Australia's King of rock n roll for what was it,
five, yes about five years without actually knowing who he was. And I'd been a fan that was the funny thing, but this man, Ryan Milde as I knew him would come over to our place for parties and was well liked, a very pleasant man. He kept to himself although he always made a pig of himself when the Iced Vo Vo's were put out; and if he went missing you could always find him in the chicken pen. It became a bit of a joke really, "Oh where's Ryan?" "Oh he'll be out in the chicken pen"
So anyway, one night at a party, we put on some Brian Wilde records and someone said to Ryan, because he was drunk and singing all the songs, someone said "You're not Ryan Milde, you're Lenny Grapes" and he of course said almost in a rage "I'm not Ryan Milde, I'm Brian Wilde" so there you have it.
EXT BEACH DAYBrian (now approaching 50 years) sits with Don on a beach.
DON
I started this documentary three years ago believing at the time you were dead. Now with it completed, here you are Brian Wilde, alive. How was the quiet life?
BRIAN
Quiet.
DON
I've always wanted to know this, were groupies a problem?
BRIAN
Group E's were never a problem, group O's however did cause me some concern. Surprisingly, most of my fans were blood group O.
DON
Will the Wilde-Grapes partnership get together again?
BRIAN
Pardon?
DON
You and Lenny.
BRIAN
Of course, me and Lenny. Wilde-Grapes, catchy isn't it. Cute too. Yes we will be getting back together.
DON
When you were young, I've got to ask you this, did you ever have a fan throw her underwear at you?
BRIAN
Yes I did.
DON
So what did you do?
BRIAN
I took mine off and threw them at her.
DON
Thank you Brian Wilde. I have one more question though. When you started out, did you expect to get caught up in all this intrigue. the scandals, the fights with photographers, the orgies and the addictions.
BRIAN
No, you can't plan these things, you can only hope that they will happen.
INT STUDIODON
Brian Wilde was back but not alone. In 1991 a more relaxed Brian formed a band with his old contempories. Lenny Grapes, Bruce Evans, Rocky Cliff and Ignatious Wilde a drummer who claimed to be Brian Wilde's lovechild formed a band . They called themselves "THE WANDERING RASPBERRIES"
THE WANDERING RASPBERRIES
You think you know all the answers
You think you can do as you please
You're not my kind of woman
You're just a social disease
You think you can be rude to my friends
You think you can say what you like
You act as if you're so important
well you can just take a hike
Cause I've been to hell
Cause I've been to hell
Cause I've been to hell and back
Cause I've been to hell
Cause I've been to hell
Cause I've been to hell and back
You told me that you're educated
You told me dat you're pretty smart
You told me dat you're much admired
I'm telling you, you got no heart
Cause I've been to hell
Cause I've been to hell
Cause I've been to hell and back
Cause I've been to hell
Cause I've been to hell
Cause I've been to hell and back
(END)
