Bruce Milne, one of the pioneers of Melbourne’s music heritage, is giving music fans a rare insight into the music history of the city with the Leaps and Bounds bus tour.
Tour guide Bruce Milne is a Melbourne music legend, a self-confessed failed musician who recognised very early that his talents hovered more to the business end of the industry. Milne found indie record label Au-Go-Go in 1979 and drove the early career of Spiderbait, The Scientists, The Datsuns and Magic Dirt.
He managed Dan Kelly and The Blackeyed Susans, worked one time for EMI, established the bar on the site of Ding Dong in the centre of Melbourne and was the licensee of The Tote Hotel.
Milne shares his wealth of music knowledge on The Leaps and Bounds bus tour as he takes you to places around the inner city where music history was made.
The tour kicks off at the iconic Corner Hotel in Richmond where Jack White wrote ‘Seven Nation Army’ backstage before a gig. U2 filmed the video for Window in the Skies at The Corner in 2006. Mick Jagger performed a secret gig at the same venue and Billy Joel was photographed with Sophie Lee at the Corner. That photo is said to have been a catalyst in Billy’s split with then wife Christie Brinkley.
The tour weaves into infamous Cremorne where gangster Squizzy Taylor lived and past the Cherry Tree Hotel, the site of his first robbery. Within a Stones throw is Sing Sing Studios. Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue recorded ‘Where The Wild Roses Grow’ at Sing Sing. Lady Gaga recorded in the building.
You’ll see the old Channel Nine studios in Bendigo Street where Skyhooks recorded the classic ‘Living In The 70s’ and The Aztecs and Lobby Loyde recorded because the room captured a great drum sound.
The Royal Oak hotel in Richmond was where Radio Birdman played their first gig, Ernie Sigley owned a pub in the area, the Dogs In Space house is now renovated and down the street and Kylie Minogue’s Melbourne penthouse can be seen. She still owns it and lives in it whenever she is home in Melbourne.
Gertrude Street is also musically famous. Chain’s ‘Gertrude Street Blues’ was written about a VD clinic in the street. Archie Roach wrote ‘Charcoal Lane’ about a lane just a block away. Daddy Cool and Spectrum made live recordings at the Too Much Ballroom. The building is now owned by the Catholic Church and is part of the Australian Catholic University’s St Patrick Campus.
The tour also pulls into Bakehouse Studio, Melbourne iconic recording space going for heritage listing, where Neil Young, Elvis Costello, Dave Stewart, Paul Kelly and Nick Cave have all hung out over the years.
Bruce Milne lived and breathed Melbourne’s early punk rock scene and tells first hand stories about the artists, the places and characters along the way. It is a rare treat for music fans.
The Leaps and Bounds bus tour is only on until July 20 and each busload is limited to 18 passengers so bookings are essential.
The tour is on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until July 20. It starts at around 1pm from The Corner Hotel and returns at around 4pm. The price is just $22.
Remaining tours are:
Sunday 6th July, 1pm – 4pm (departing and arriving from the Corner Hotel, Richmond)
BUS TOUR #3
http://www.trybooking.com/FDFL
Thursday 10th July, 1pm – 4pm (departing and arriving from the Corner Hotel, Richmond)
BUS TOUR #4
http://www.trybooking.com/FDFM
Friday 11th July, 1pm – 4pm (departing and arriving from the Corner Hotel, Richmond)
BUS TOUR #5
http://www.trybooking.com/FDFN
Saturday 12th July, 1pm – 4pm (departing and arriving from the Corner Hotel, Richmond)
BUS TOUR #6
http://www.trybooking.com/FDFO
Sunday 13th July, 1pm – 4pm (departing and arriving from the Corner Hotel, Richmond)
BUS TOUR #7
http://www.trybooking.com/FDFP
Thursday 17th July, 1pm – 4pm (departing and arriving from the Corner Hotel, Richmond)
BUS TOUR #8
http://www.trybooking.com/FDFQ
Friday 18th July, 1pm – 4pm (departing and arriving from the Corner Hotel, Richmond)
BUS TOUR #9
http://www.trybooking.com/FDFR
Saturday 19th July, 1pm – 4pm (departing and arriving from the Corner Hotel, Richmond)
BUS TOUR #10
http://www.trybooking.com/FDFS
Sunday 20th July, 1pm – 4pm (departing and arriving from the Corner Hotel, Richmond)
BUS TOUR #11
http://www.trybooking.com/FDFT
