Rolling Thunder Vietnam 2023 Is A Powerful Show At Needs To Be Seen - Noise11.com
Rolling Thunder Vietnam photo Rolling Thunder Vietnam website

Rolling Thunder Vietnam 2023 Is A Powerful Show At Needs To Be Seen

by Paul Cashmere on June 13, 2023

in News

Covering the topic of the Vietnam War with the story highlighted with a relevant soundtrack is indeed a sensitive subject. The senseless massacres in Vietnam (and later in Afghanistan) served no purpose other than political. As the Edwin Starr song ‘War’ featured in the show says ‘War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing”.

Greed and Power has been the motivation for every war since time began. It is incredible that the lesson has never been learned. In Australia, war mongers like Holt in the 60s and Howard in the 00s waved their dick’s in pursuit of their own notoriety. They brought dishonour to the country.

A show like Rolling Thunder Vietnam is not a show you want to see. It is a show you need to see. The Voice of Reason during these obscene political times was found in the music. Songwriters like John Fogerty, Marvin Gaye and Paul Simon articulated the horrors of the time through what we now call Classic Rock. It is surreal that songs that became the soundtrack for generations have so much pain wrapped up in the words.

Rolling Thunder Vietnam tells an authentic story based actual letters, research and interviews with the Australian War Veterans and their families. Vietnam was the first war we saw televised and footage from the time and region forms the backdrop of the show. There are moments in this show I’m surprised do not come with a warning, but then again, it wasn’t like the victims of the war were given any warning either.

Tim Oliver is the soldier Johnny, a teenager not yet a fan, who goes to war because of a “sense of duty”. His girlfriend Sarah waits potentially at home, eventually becoming a protestor.

The show written by Bryce Hallett has been given a musical enhancement with the director of MD Chong Lim, who has put together exactly the right band to perform these songs. From the Farnham band guitarist Brett Garsed and drummer Angus Burchill, from Russell Morris’ band Joe Petrolo on keyboards, Craig Newman (Farnham/Tom Jones/Jackson Browne) on bass, james Ryan (Men At Work, Ross Wilson, King Canyon) on guitar are every much the rock musicians who performed on the original songs.

The story is told by Brittanie Shipway as Sarah, Tom Oliver as Johnny, Christian Charisio as Andy and Jerrod Smith as Thomas, who tell the human side of the war.

Melbourne was the last stop on the 2023 tour. Rolling Thunder Vietnam is a production that does come back every few years. It needs to come back again. This story needs to be continue to be told.

Stay updated with your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to Noise11 Music News here

Be the first to see NOISE.com’s newest interviews and special features on YOUTUBE and updated regularly. See things first SUBSCRIBE here: Noise11 on YouTube SUBSCRIBE

Noise11.com

Related Posts

Leo Sayer performs at Hamer Hall on Friday 24 June 2016.
Leo Sayer Expands Australian Tour

Leo Sayer has expanded his Australian tour with eight new shows added taking Leo through until the end of October.

20 hours ago
Monstr
Jason Singh Puts Together Aussie Supergroup MONSTR For The Best of MTV Unplugged Live Shows

Taxiride’s Jason Singh has recruited some of his musical mates to put together the supergroup MONSTR and take it out for live shows performing The Best of MTV Unplugged.

2 days ago
Songs from the Canyon
Songs From The Canyon To Be Performed Live At The Gardens

‘Songs from the Canyon’, a show featuring the music of Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Mamas & The Papas, The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Carole King, The Doors and many more will be performed at part of the Live at the Gardens series.

2 days ago
Big Noter
Briggs’ Metal Act Big Noter Premieres ‘Talk Straight’

Big Noter, the metal side of Aussie rapper Briggs, has premiered a second song ‘Talk Straight’.

3 days ago
Crowded House perform at Rod Laver Arena 10 December 2024 photo by Winston Robinson
Crowded House Sentenced To One Night At Fremantle Prison

Crowded House are going to prison, Fremantle Prison in Western Australia to be exact.

4 days ago
Glass Animals Heat Waves
ARIA Chart Positions Project A 2025 Australian Artist Chart Disgrace

ARIA’s first six months of published music charts are projecting that Australian artist chart figures for 2025 will be a disaster. All that recent fluff about changing the chart formula looks like just ‘deck chairs being rearranged on the Titanic’ based on how Australian artists have performed on the ARIA chart so far in 2025.

6 days ago
Joe Camilleri Black Sorrows
Wilbur Wilde’s Message To The Punks Who Stole Joe Camilleri’s Guitars

Former Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons sax player Wilbur Wilde has a few words for the thieves who broke into the home of Joe Camilleri and stole thousands of dollars of equipment.

July 11, 2025