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

Jimmy Barnes Working Class Man movie promo shot
Jimmy Barnes, Butthole Surfers, Jeff Buckley Movies To Premiere At Melbourne International Film Festival

Movies about Jimmy Barnes, Jeff Buckley and Butthole Surfers will be featured at the 2025 Melbourne Internation Film Festival.

19 hours ago
Ian Moss Says He Chose His Cold Chisel ‘Big Five-O’ Songs Just Before Going On Stage

If you saw the Cold Chisel ‘The Big Five-O’ tour multiple times you may have noticed a random rotation of Ian Moss songs from concert to concert.

23 hours ago
Hilltop Hoods by Ashlee Jones
Hilltop Hoods Ninth Album is ‘Fall From The Light’

Hilltop Hoods will release their ninth album ‘Fall From The Light’ 1 August and then hit the road for the Never Coming Home tour in February 2026.

2 days ago
Joe Camilleri Apia Good Times 2021 photo by Noise11
Joe Camilleri’s Vintage Guitar Collection Stolen

Joe Camilleri’s home in regional Victoria has been broken into and the thief has taken nine of his prized guitars.

6 days ago
Julian McMahon in The Surfer 2025
Julian McMahon Dies At Age 56 After Private Battle With Cancer

Australian actor Julian McMahon has died at the age of 56 after a private battle with cancer.

6 days ago
Dog Trumpet Live Forever
Reg Mombassa and Peter O’Doherty Go Track By Track Through Dog Trumpet’s ‘Live Forever’

On 11 July 2025 Dog Trumpet will release their ninth album ‘Live Forever’.

7 days ago
Colin Hay performs at the Recital Centre in Melbourne on 11 February 2018. Photo by Ros O'Gorman
Colin Hay To Release Man @ Work Volume 2

Men at Work’s Colin Hay has made a sequel to his 2003 solo album ‘Man @ Work’ where he re-recorded his Men At Work and solo songs.

July 4, 2025