Over the course of his 23-year musical career, Ian Moss has come, to be regarded as Australia's favourite guitarist. His new album, Petrolhead, is his third solo offering in over twelve years, and though it seems like a long time between drinks, Mossy never really went away.
Born in Alice Springs, Ian Moss entered the music world after answering an ad for a guitarist in a shop window. In 1973 he joined Jimmy Barnes, Don Walker and Steve Prestwich to form the group that became synonymous with Australian Rock Cold Chisel. Jimmy Barnes described the young Mossy as, "...a boy from the bush who didn't wear shoes but played fantastic" (Playboy 1988). Cold Chisel remains one of the country's favourite bands, more than a decade after its demise.
Ian Moss found solo success in 1989, with his gold debut single, Tucker's Daughter. His second single, Telephone Booth, released in June the same year, hit the Top 10 and was Top 20 for ten weeks. To top off the year, Mossie's Matchbook album entered the charts at No. 1, remained in the Top 10 for fourteen weeks and to date has sold over 200,000 copies..
After releasing his second solo album, Worlds Away, Ian Moss took a break from recording, but never stopped playing. The new Petrolhead album sees Mossy doing what he does best, playing bluesy rock with none of the over produced, budget blowing gimmicks that crept in to his late eighties and early nineties recording. With lan Rilen (Rose Tattoo, x) on bass, Paul Demarco (Rose Tattoo, Catfish) on drums and Don Walker on occasional keyboards and songwriting, the sound is stripped back and honest, without ever losing its innate power.
Ian Moss released his third solo album, Petrolhead, through TWA Records in August, produced by Don Walker, Petrolhead was recorded virtually live, to capture the bluesy rock energy provided by Moss and his cohorts, lan Rilen and Paul Demarco.
Songs on the album were written by Ian Rilen, Spencer Jones (Beasts of Bourbon) Don Walker and Andy Heggen (Red Rivers Love Rodeo).
In Mossy's words, "'it was a conscious decision to get back to something I was always happy doing. The result is tough, ballsy blues meets rock...plenty of heart, alive and kicking."
