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Cleveland Police Detective Superintendent Tony Hutchinson holds the photograph used by John Darwin on his fake passport, during a press conference in Middlesbrough, England, Monday Dec. 10, 2007. Darwin, 57, who turned up alive five years after being declared dead in a kayak accident off Britain's northeast coast, was appearing in court on fraud charges for allegedly faking his own death in an insurance scam.(AP Photo/Scott Hepple)
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Keith Olbermann on Rupert Murdoch MySpace...Keith Olbermann Rupert Murdoch MySpace Fox News Bill O'Reilly countdown my space
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Video Clip 0ne-Beat Up Dirty Yanks Gang-at the Mercat Bar Edinbugh Fringe Festival 2007

Video Clip Two_ Beat Up Dirty Yanks- at the Mercat Bar Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2007

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Scotland Rocks with Scottish Band 


Das Contras Live Video 4 Wickerman Festival
"
Das Contras.... 

         
at the 2007 WICKMAN FESTIVAL
Scotland's Alternative Festival based in
Dundrennan in the Scottish Borders.





Das Contras Live Video 4 Wickerman Festival


Das Contras Live Video 3 Wickerman Festival

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Das Contras Live Video 1 at Wickerman Festival

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........USA Weekly News.........
 

              at the 2007 WICKMAN FESTIVAL
          Scotland's Alternative Festival based in
            Dundrennan in the Scottish Borders.

Das Contras Live Video 8 at Wickerman Festival

Das Contras Live Video 7 at Wickerman Festival

Das Contras Live Video 6 at Wickerman Festival


Das Contras Live Video 5 at Wickerman Festival
 

              "Das Contras.... 
one of  the best bands
to come out of Scotland this decade"

........USA Weekly News.........
 


The Wickerman Festival-Scotland's Alternative Music Event

 



Scotland Rocks with Scottish Band 
"
Das Contras.... 

              at the 2007 WICKMAN FESTIVAL
          Scotland's Alternative Festival based in
            Dundrennan in the Scottish Borders.
 


The Wickerman Festival-Scotland's Alternative Music Event

Live Video of Wickerman before Burning of Wickerman

Live Video of Wickerman after burning of Wickerman

TheWickerman Festival advertises itself as a "celebration of cult and
off the wall music that climaxes in the burning of a giant willow and straw effigy!
Eclectic is the word and for lovers of contemporary music -
 the Wickerman will once again prove that Scotland can lay it on anywhere –
 a heady brew of wickery shenanigans!"

Michael Gudinski
Michael Gudinski
Michael Gudinski is, unquestionably, the most successful entrepreneur in the Australian Music Industry. Mushroom Records, which he founded in 1972, recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary from October 1997 to November 1998.

Born in 1952, Michael Gudinski is the son of Russian immigrants who arrived in Australia in 1948. Michael had his first taste of the music industry whilst attending Melbourne High School when he initiated booking bands for school dances. He first came to prominence as the manager of Australian rock legends, Chain, who gave Michael his first ever number one single with the classic "Black & Blue".

After selling his share in Mushroon, Michael Gudinski has expanded into the visual arts with his latest undertaking, Mushroom Pictures. Their first venture was "Tribal Voice", a documentary on Australian indigenous group, Yothu Yindi. Mushroom Pictures first two feature films are "Chopper", about the notorious Melbourne criminal and underworld figure Mark "Chopper" Read, and "Cut" a teen thriller starring Molly Ringwald and Kylie Minogue.

On the 20th October 1999 the AMI (Australian Marketing Institute), awarded Michael Gudinski the ultimate award for marketing excellence - "The Sir Charles McGrath Australian Marketer of the Year Award" - the highest accolade for personal achievement an individual can receive from the AMI.

Ian Alexander (Molly) Meldrum

From video
From video "The Ultimate Kylie" 2004


Ian "Molly" Meldrum
Dubbed “Molly the Music Guru”, he has helped put Australian music on the world map with his recognition and appreciation of contemporary music.

Initially interested in a law degree, Ian found his interest lay with music, and since the 1960's, has been presenting the best and latest in music and information to Australian audiences.

By 1966, Ian was helping out local groups both in Melbourne and on the Victorian coast.

Around this time Ian did a stint on television with Kommotion followed by a new television show on the 0/10 network called Uptight, with the host being Ross D. Wylie. This was a four hour show from 8 – 12 on Saturday mornings featuring live bands.

From these humble beginnings Ian developed a love for music which extended beyond the media; as a very talented and creative record producer he worked with the likes of Russell Morriss, John Paul Young, Ronnie Burns, Colleen Hewitt, John Farnham, Zoot, Masters Apprentices to name a few.

In 1968, Ian went to London to work for Go Set. On the eve of his departure he was told that his first record production “Hush” by “Somebody's Image” had made #1 spot on the Victorian charts. It was on this trip that Ian met the Beatles. In mid 1968 he returned to Australia.

At the end of 1969, Ian again travelled to London (and also to Egypt, a country with which he fell in love). Ian then joined EMI in London, which meant that he would be able to work in the Abbey Road studios.

His efforts have earned him a close relationship with some of the biggest names in the industry, and because of this he has had numerous world exclusives. The first one was back in 1969, when Ian was in London working for Australia's rock paper Go Set, he was invited by John Lennon to do an interview with himself and wife Yoko Ono. It was during that interview that Lennon announced that The Beatles would be breaking up. It was a world scoop.

Other exclusives include an interview with Madonna in 1986 for MTV America, she would do the interview with no one else. Another was in 1987 when he interviewed Michael Jackson exclusively for 60 Minutes.

Meldrum, apart from Countdown, filmed a 24 program interview series called The Meldrum Tapes, which was televised on the ABC in Australia and subsequently aired on MTV in the U.S., Asia and Japan.

He was responsible for the institution that was Countdown and for thirteen years it showcased the finest from the music world, both local and overseas. It also became known as one of the forerunners for nurturing new talent.

As an established Music/rock writer and reporter Ian began working with many publications and radio stations and to this day he is widely sought after for his reviews and opinions.

During this time, there were many highlights for Molly. In 1985 he was the King of Moomba in Melbourne. That same year through Bob Geldoff, Ian became involved in Live Aid. Molly became the Australian Chairman of Live Aid and hosted the 16 hour television marathon.

In 1986 he was awarded the Order of Australia for his services to music and charities.

In 1988, Molly joined the madcap crew at Channel 9's Hey Hey It's Saturday presenting a weekly segment called Molly's Melodrama.

Ian also joined forces with his long time friend and business associate Michael Gudinski to form his own record label called Melodian, which had international successes with such artists as Peter Andre, Jo Beth Taylor, Indecent Obsession and Roxus.

In his twelve years with Hey Hey It's Saturday, Ian spent a lot of time overseas gaining more world scoops, including travelling to Tokyo for the legendary Rolling Stones concert. He was the only one in the world granted face to face, one on one interviews with all the Stones.

In 1992 Ian was awarded the Special Achievement Award by ARIA for his services to the industry. “Of all the awards I have received, this is the most special.”

During this time Molly also joined Foxtel and hosted his own show on Australia's Channel V which is called The Drum, which is now broadcast to over 300 million viewers around the world.

At this time Ian is also writing his autobiography with Jeff Jenkins for Random House publishing.

With the end of Hey Hey It's Saturday in November 1999, Ian, apart from continuing to host The Drum, writing for TV Week, having his own hits page on the MP3 Website and forming a new record label with Michael Gudinski called Luxor. Then joined the Ten Network to anchor, with Leah McLeod, a weekly prime time TV show called House Of Hits.

In 2001 Ian returned to Channel 9 and hosted weekly music reviews for The Cool Room as well as artist interviews. Ian also co-hosted Premier for FOX 8 with Antonia Kidman where he interviewed artists and in his usual form kept us up to speed with what's going on in the music industry.

Ian then went on to sign new artist; Emmanuel Carella to the Luxor label, and continues to produce and record new artists. Early 2002 Ian launched yet another new TV show called The Drum on Fox 8.

While continuing his work with Fox 8 and Ch 9, the first instalment of Ian's Biography is due for release at the end of 2003, as well as Emmanuel Carella's debut Album, which will be the first Album release under the new Luxor Label.

Ian Alexander "Molly" Meldrum OAM (born January 29, 1946 in Orbost, Victoria) is an Australian popular music critic, journalist, record producer, and musical entrepreneur, best known as talent co-ordinator, on-air interviewer and music news presenter on the popular music program Countdown. He acted as talent co-ordinator for the show's entire 1974 to 1987 run; his on-air role was between the years of 1975 and 1986. Many consider Meldrum to be an icon in the Australian music scene.

Early years

During the Beatles' first tour of Australia in 1964, Meldrum was captured by TV cameras as the person climbing atop the bonnet of their car shortly after their arrival at Melbourne airport. Later, he was ejected from their Melbourne concert for being "too enthusiastic".

Meldrum began his music career in the late 1960s as a "roadie" for a band named the Groop. Sharing a house with singer Ronnie Burns, he first started writing for Go-Set magazine in 1966, a new Australian pop music magazine, after befriending the editor Philip Frazer. Soon he was writing for the magazine on a regular basis. Meldrum continued writing for Go-Set on a weekly basis until it folded in August 1974. It was during this period that he was given his nickname, "Molly", by his friend and fellow Go-Set writer Stan Rofe, a Melbourne radio DJ. This first appeared in published form in a column written by Stan Rofe in Go-Set in 1968.

Around this time, Meldrum also began hanging out at a newly-opened Melbourne recording studio owned by Bill Armstrong, which soon became the leading pop studio in Australia. While he learned production and engineering techniques, he became involved with producing a number of artists including the Masters Apprentices, as well as working on Kommotion, a teen-oriented pop music "mime show" (where performers would mime to the latest overseas hits), which ended soon after when Actors Equity banned the practice.

In 1968 Meldrum became the manager and producer of solo singer Russell Morris, who had recently quit his previous band, Somebody's Image. Meldrum produced Morris' first solo single, a Johnny Young-composed song The Real Thing. Young had written the song for Meldrum's friend Ronnie Burns, but when Meldrum heard Young playing it backstage during a taping of the TV pop show Uptight, he determined to secure the song for Morris, reportedly going to Young's home that evening with a tape recorder and refusing to leave until Young had taped a "demo" version of the song for him.

In collaboration with Armstrong's house engineer John Sayers, Meldrum radically transformed The Real Thing from Young's original vision of a simple acoustic ballad backed by strings, into a highly produced studio masterpiece, extending it to an unheard-of six minutes in length (with much encouragement from Stan Rofe) and overdubbing the basic track with many additional instruments, vocals and sound effects. To achieve this, they used the services of The Groop as backing band, with contributions from vocalist Maureen Elkner and Groop lead singer Ronnie Charles, guitarist Roger Hicks from Zoot — who played the song's distinctive acoustic guitar intro — and arranger John Farrar. The single is reported to have cost AU$10,000 — the most expensive ever made in Australia up to that time — and features one of the earliest uses of the studio technique known as "phasing" on an Australian recording. The Real Thing became a national number one hit for Morris in mid-1969 and is widely considered to be one of the finest Australian pop-rock recordings of the era.

Meldrum also produced several other hits — including Burns' number one single Smiley — while continuing to write for a variety of magazines. After splitting with Morris in about 1970, he travelled to the United Kingdom, where he began working for the The Beatles' company, Apple Corps. During this time he met Paul McCartney and John Lennon. One (possibly apocryphal) story is that Meldrum fainted when he met Lennon for the first time. His association with The Beatles enabled him to score a scoop interview with Lennon and Yoko Ono, in which Lennon revealed publicly for the first time that the Beatles were breaking up.

Countdown years

After returning to Australia in the early 1970s, Meldrum continued writing for the music press as well as venturing back into television as the presenter of a shortlived TV children's show, where he met producers Michael Shrimpton and Rob Weekes.

In 1973, Meldrum, Shrimpton and Weekes approached the ABC with the concept for a new weekly pop music show, based on the British show Top Of The Pops and on the Australian pop show Kommotion, on which Meldrum had appeared in the mid-1960s. Countdown premiered in November 1974, with Meldrum as the show's talent coordinator. He did not originally appear in the series, which had a different guest host each week; his first on-screen appearances were in the "Humdrum" music news segment in mid-1975, but by the end of that year he had become the face of the series.

Originally broadcast weekly, at 6.30 on a Friday evening for 30 minutes, Countdown was fortunate to have begun just before the introduction of colour television in Australia in March 1975. Equally crucial to its success was the move in January that year to the 6pm Sunday timeslot, with the show being extended to 60 minutes. Its reach was further enhanced by the fact that a midday Saturday timeslot was used to repeat the previous week's show. The combination of the ABC's nationwide reach, the novelty of colour broadcasting and the show's dual timeslot enabled Countdown to reach an unprecedented number of viewers. It soon became the most successful and popular music program ever made in Australia and exerted a massive influence on Australian music over the next decade.

The advent of colour TV coincided with a major change in the direction of Australian popular music, and it was vital making national successes of bands such as Skyhooks and Sherbet.

Countdown benefited from the fact that it appeared just as the music video genre was taking off. Indeed, the show was instrumental in popularising the use of purpose-made promotional videos — which had previously only been a minor part of pop show programming — and its extensive use of film-clips and videos by both established and emerging overseas acts (who at that time toured Australia only rarely) made Countdown an important venue for breaking new songs and new groups.

The series is credited with giving early exposure to, and generating breakthrough Australian hits for, a number of major international acts including ABBA, Meat Loaf, Blondie, Boz Scaggs, Cyndi Lauper and Madonna, sometimes years before they became international stars. Meldrum made many overseas trips and became personally friendly with many of the top pop and rock stars of the period, enabling Countdown to gain many international exclusives.

Meldrum's on-screen performances were often criticised, and he became legendary for his rambling and sometimes incomprehensible commentaries and interview questions. In 1985, when Meldrum was crowned King of Moomba he quipped "I was at the cricket the other day and the boys in Bay 13 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground were all yelling out 'Moomba' and 'hail the king'... not to mention a few 'hail the queen' ".[1]

He was also noted for several famous on-screen gaffes, including one famous incident during an interview with Prince Charles in which the clearly anxious Meldrum repeatedly bungled his lines. Despite occasional episodes of apparent ineptitude, Meldrum soon became a major star in his own right. He was also notable as a champion of local Australian talent and for his regular use of the show to pressure local radio to play more Australian music. As a result of his efforts, Countdown was soon in a position to make overnight hits with songs and performers it featured, and through the late 1970s and early 1980s it was the key factor in determining the direction of Australian popular music.

After Countdown


After Countdown finished its run, Meldrum presented a regular music segment, titled Molly's Melodrama, for the popular Australian variety show, Hey Hey It's Saturday for several years in the 1990s. He travelled extensively, conducting interviews for the segment; one of these was a one-on-one with each member of The Rolling Stones.

In 2004, Meldrum became a judge on Popstars Live, a reality program on Channel Seven. As part of his contract to the network, he appears regularly on popular breakfast TV show Sunrise.

Meldrum's trademark cowboy hat headwear, enthusiasm for popular music, and sometimes incoherent interviewing style remain well known. He is an amateur Egyptologist. That his extensive general knowledge extended beyond popular music was perhaps less well-known until, as a contestant on a celebrity edition Who Wants to be a Millionaire, he won $500,000 for a charity, the equal biggest win on the Australian version of the program until October 2005, although he only got the $500,000 by phoning a friend, Red Symons of Skyhooks fame. He appeared on the 4th series of the Australian version of Dancing with the Stars in 2006 and was voted off after the first round. He was also on an episode of Deal or No Deal (Dancing with the Deals) on 13 February 2006.

Meldrum is a prominent supporter of the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL) and the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Molly Meldrum is openly gay. In one episode of Red Faces, the men from Adelaide did a tribute to him by coming onto the stage dressed in cowboy hats and tutus

On Australia Day 1986 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for service to the fostering of international relief and to youth.[2]

In 1992 Molly received The Special Achievement Award at the ARIAs for services to the music industry

In 2003, a televised roast for the openly gay Meldrum, Molly: Toasted and Roasted, drew controversy for its excessive and obscene homophobic slurs. Footy Show star Sam Newman was noted in particular.[3]

In September 2006, Molly's interview with Prince Charles on Countdown was listed at #41 in TV Week's 'Top 50 most memorable moments on Australian television' list. In 2007 Molly appeared in the award winning Frank Howson movie Remembering Nigel.

Ian then went on to sign new artist; Emmanuel Carella to the Luxor label, and continues to produce and record new artists. Early 2002 Ian launched yet another new TV show called The Drum on Fox 8.

While continuing his work with Fox 8 and Ch 9, the first instalment of Ian's Biography is due for release at the end of 2003, as well as Emmanuel Carella's debut Album, which will be the first Album release under the new Luxor Label.

  1. ^ Craig Bellamy, Gordon Chisholm, Hilary Eriksen (17 Feb 2006) Moomba: A festival for the people.: http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/rsrc/PDFs/Moomba/History%20of%20Moomba.pdf PDF pp 17-22 quote on p 21
  2. ^ Ian "Molly" Meldrum. Australian Honours Database. Retrieved on 2007-03-28.
  3. ^ Miller, Nick. "Nine's tribute a 'gay bashing': Molly", The Age, 2003-11-01. Retrieved on 2007-04-10.

    Compliments of the Australian Childrens Music Foundation

    http://www.acmf.com.au/patrons.asp?id=41

       Patrons

    Ann Sanders
    Brendan Riley
    Dame Joan Sutherland, A.M., A.E., D.E.E. - Soprano
    Danielle Spencer
    Don Burrows
    Founder - Don Spencer
    Ian "Molly" Meldrum
    Jane Flemming
    Jimmy Little
    John Konrads
    John Laws CBE
    Judy Bailey
    Julie Anthony AM, OBE
    Leah Purcell
    Luke Darcy
    Murray Rose AM
    Professor Miraca U M Gross PhD
    Richard Tognetti - Artistic Director and Leader - Australian Chamber Orchestra
    Russell Crowe
    Sean O'Boyle
    Simon Tedeschi
    Stephan Ungar
    Vince Pizzinga
    Wiggles



MUSHROOM PICTURES

Martin Fabinyi

Martin Fabinyi is the Chief Executive Officer of Mushroom Pictures and the producer or executive producer of each of the company?s film and television projects. In 2001 he was named one of the top ten International Producers To Watch by Variety magazine and was similarly named one of the most influential people in the Australian Film Industry by Screen International magazine. He produced the feature films Gettin? Square and Cut and executive produced the feature films Chopper and Horseplay.

Prior to creating Mushroom Pictures with Chairman Michael Gudinski he and film composer Cameron Allan formed the independent record company Regular Records. The company launched the careers of numerous Australian artists including Mental As Anything, Icehouse, I?m Talking and Kate Ceberano, selling over two million albums both locally and internationally and winning many Australian Record Industry Awards. He is the author with Toby Creswell of the book ?The Real Thing?, a personal history of Australian rock and roll music published by Random House.

Fabinyi?s other production credits include the documentary on the indigenous Australian band Yothu Yindi, Tribal Voice, which was screened on the Discovery Channel and ABC-TV, the television specials Next To Nothing and Nothing To Hide which were screened on the National Geographic Channel and the Nine Network, and the music specials Kate Ceberano & Friends, The Singer & The Swinger and Counting The Beat.

Michael Gudinski
Michael Gudinski is, unquestionably, the most successful entrepreneur in the Australian Music Industry.

Mushroom Records, which he founded in 1972, recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary from October 1997 to November 1998.

Born in 1952, Michael Gudinski is the son of Russian immigrants who arrived in Australia in 1948. Michael had his first taste of the music industry whilst attending Melbourne High School when he initiated booking bands for school dances. He first came to prominence as the manager of Australian rock legends, Chain, who gave Michael his first ever number one single with the classic "Black & Blue".

In early 1973, Mushroom released its first album, the triple album set "The Great Australian Rock Festival - Sunbury '73". Michael also managed the infamous band, Skyhooks, whose legendary "Living In The Seventies" album remained in the Australian charts for, a record breaking 56 weeks.

Michael founded the Liberation Records label in 1985, having great success with a huge range of overseas artists including Joe Cocker, Coolio, The Bangles, Faith No More, Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears.

Signed to Mushroom Records in Australia, Kylie Minogue's phenomenal success paved the way for Mushroom to set up in the UK. Kylie has given Mushroom numerous chart topping singles and albums including her latest album "Impossible Princess" which achieved double platinum status in 1998. Kylie's vocal collaboration with Nick Cave on the Cave penned "Where The Wild Roses Grow", was an international hit.

1993 saw the Murdoch Group, News Limited, come on board as a shareholder, thus giving Mushroom the funds to open their UK office, in London, in April of that year.

In June 1996, Mushroom enjoyed its first number one album in the UK charts, a debut delivered by Peter Andre with his "Natural" album, which spawned 3 chart toppers. Mushroom UK is also responsible for the development and success of Ash and Garbage (4 Grammy nominations).

To date there have been over 400 local artists signed and recorded by the Mushroom Group Of Companies. There have been in excess of 8,000 releases over the twenty five years.

On Saturday 14th November 1998, Michael created and staged a huge and highly successful concert at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Mushroom Records.

Over 70,000 filled the MCG to watch more than 60 artists performing for nine hours to celebrate 25 years of great Australian Music. Michael, with help from his hand-picked production crew, overcame a logistical nightmare to ensure that the event was a smooth-running and enjoyable as possible for all concerned. The Mushroom 25th Anniversary Concert has gone down in the annals of Australian Music as one of the great events of all time.

To coincide with Mushroom's 25th year, Michael decided it was time for him to sell his remaining share in Mushroom Records to News Limited and become its Non Executive Chairman. Mushroom Records, with the aid of the powerful News Limited group and its position as a worldwide media leader, will enter the new millennium ready to expand on a world-wide basis.

Michael's Publishing Company Mushroom Music, also celebrated it's 25th Anniversary in 1999 and at the 1998 APRA Awards Michael Gudinski was presented with the prestigious "Ted Albert Award" for Outstanding Services to Australian Music.

Mushroom Music is the largest independent publishing company in Australia and is the number one publisher of Australian Music. The catalogue contains the best current songwriters, such as Neil Finn, Tina Arena, Mark Seymour, Paul Kelly, Taxiride and also encompasses a significant part of Australian musical history. Mushroom Music has played and will continue to play a large role in the development and exploitation of works by leading Australian songwriters.

Mushroom Music also sub publishes for Australia and New Zealand many of the larger independent publishing companies from around the world, representing Chrysalis, Mute Song, V2, & Hamstein. Mushroom Music also deals directly with artists and management sub-publishing acts such as Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Creed, Ani DiFranco Urge Overkill & Ric Ocasek.

Mushroom Music licenses exclusively to "Home & Away" one of the most successful programmes in the history of Australian Television and has a close working relationship with the Australian Film Industry, supplying existing music copyrights and specifically composed music for film soundtracks.

Michael Gudinski is the Managing Director of the Frontier Touring Company, which has twice been voted the #1 International Touring Company in the world by the prestigious Performance Magazine and is the leading concert promoter in Australia.

Frontier has toured many International acts including Madonna, KISS, Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli & Sammy Davis Jnr, Billy Joel on all of his own tours, as well as his tour with Elton John, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty, Bon Jovi, Guns N Roses, REM, Tom Jones, Chris Isaac, The Eagles, Pearl Jam, Bryan Adams, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Faith No More, The Tea Party and many others.

Michael Gudinski is also a director of Premier Artists Talent (Melbourne), who, together with the Harbour Agency (Sydney), is now the biggest booking agency in the country, representing the cream of Australian live music nationally.

In partnership with Philip Jacobsen and Frank Stivala, Michael Gudinski set up and runs Australia's hottest live club - The Mercury Lounge in Melbourne. With its state-of-the-art sound and lighting system and its technologically advanced acoustics The Mercury Lounge has played host to some of the biggest names in Australian music and as well as international artists. Opening night featured the multi Grammy award winner Sheryl Crow who was joined on stage by Elton John. Since opening, artists of the calibre of B.B. King, Bob Dylan, Richie Sambora, Bush, Julian Lennon, Matchbox 20 and Kylie Minogue have performed at The Mercury Lounge.

Michael Gudinski has expanded into the visual arts with his latest undertaking, Mushroom Pictures. Their first venture was "Tribal Voice", a documentary on Australian indigenous group, Yothu Yindi. Mushroom Pictures first two feature films are "Chopper" about the notorious Melbourne criminal and underworld figure Mark "Chopper" Read, and "Cut" a teen thriller starring Molly Ringwald and Kylie Minogue.

Other interests include Australian Tour Merchandising (ATM), the forerunner in its field of concert, major sporting and special event merchandising.

Michael Gudinski has a wide ranging involvement in all facets of music and media, including his recent term as member on the board of the Victorian Arts Centre Trust.

On the 20th October 1999 the AMI (Australian Marketing Institute), awarded Michael Gudinski the ultimate award for marketing excellence - "The Sir Charles McGrath Australian Marketer of the Year Award" - the highest accolade for personal achievement an individual can receive from the AMI.

On the 19th January 2000 Michael Gudinski was officially elected as a Director of the St Kilda Football Club and on the 21st August was elected Vice President of the club.


Ian "Molly" Meldrum

He's our home-grown legend, Molly the Music Guru .   Internationally, he is a friend of the famous, respected by the music industry - Ian "Molly" Meldrum "knows his stuff"!  For four decades, Ian has nurtured local talent and played a key role in placing Australian contemporary recording artists on the world map.

During the Swingin' Sixties, Ian worked within the television industry and as a journalist for Go Set mag. The phenomenal invasion of the British music scene impacted here, and a young Australian music industry burst forth. A creative record producer, Ian worked with Russell Morris, John Paul Young, Ronnie Burns, Colleen Hewit, John Farnham, Zoot, Masters Apprentices and many more.  In 1968, on the eve of his departure for London , Ian learned that his first produced record "Hush" by Somebody's Image, had hit the number one spot on the Victorian charts.

In England , Ian joined EMI Records, enabling him to work in the famous Abbey Road studios.  He continued to write for Go Set and earned the first of many world exclusives - he was invited by John Lennon to do an interview with himself and Yoko Ono. During this interview, Lennon announced that The Beatles would be breaking up.  Future exclusives included: Madonna (1986) for MTV America, and Michael Jackson (1987) for 60 Minutes.

There is no doubt that, for all his notoriety here in Australia , "Molly" is best known as the creator of the institution that was Countdown.  For 13 years, this ABC TV program showcased the finest, the newest, the up-and-coming of local and overseas recording artists. The program became so widely respected that H.R.H.Prince Charles famously appeared as a special guest on Countdown.

Tirelessly, Ian continued his commitment to the industry as a journalist, radio presenter, a TV producer - he was responsible for a 24 episode series, The Meldrum Tapes, broadcast on ABC TV, and MTV in U.S.A. , Asia and Japan .

In the late 1980's, "Molly" joined another television institution, the long-running Hey Hey It's Saturday.   Molly's Melodrama .was a popular segment, for 12 years, as Ian travelled the globe bringing back more stories, more exclusives, including a one-on-one with each member of The Rolling Stones, filmed in Tokyo .

Since the eighties, there has been so much more involvement in music television (both free-to-air and pay TV) including The Drum, House of Hits, The Cool Room, Premier, Popstars, "specials" with Enrique Iglesias, Abba, Kylie, Cher, Bette Midler, Michael Buble   & Mariah Carey .   Today, Ian continues to work for Seven Network's Sunrise program and mid 2005 hosted a special on Fox 8 for the Live 8 Con cert.

Amongst all this, there are other career highlights:

  • In 1985 Ian "Molly" Meldrum was crowned  Melbourne 's King of Moomba . That same year, through Bob Geldoff, Ian was involved with Live Aid and became Australian Chairman of Live Aid, hosting the 16 hour television marathon.
  • In 1986 Ian was awarded the Order of Australia for services to music and charities.
  • Formed his own record label, Melodian, with Michael Gudinski. They later collaborated on a new label, Luxor .
  • The Special Achievement Award at the 1992 ARIAs  for services to the industry.
  • Random House published Ian Meldrum's autobiography (co-written with Jeff Jenkins).
  • In 2003, "Molly's" appearance on Nine Network's Who Wants to be a Millionaire had viewers agog when he won $1/2 million (split between his two of his favourite charities, Kids Undercover and The Reach Foundation).

When writing about "Molly" there are two other important passions that cannot be ignored: his love of Egypt and all things Egyptian, and his beloved " Mighty Saints" (the St. Kilda Football team).

Enough Rope with Andrew Denton and Molly Meldrum
Molly Meldrum

Andrew Denton (left) with Molly Meldrum wearing unfamiliar head dress
Photo: Martin Webby

Video

My first guest taught an entire generation of teenagers how to do themselves a favour. Please welcome one of the most liked and likeable people in Australian show business, Molly Meldrum.

Andrew Denton: Let's start with the obvious one. Why 'Molly'?

Molly Meldrum: Why 'Molly'? Um, actually it was given to me...the name was given to me back when I was writing for 'Go-Set', which was a rock...newspaper that came out each week. And there was a DJ called Stan Rofe, and he had the great habit of, um, giving guys nicknames, girls' names, and I was stuck with 'Molly', you know? But the irony of that is that way back when I was brought up in, like, in the country - I was brought up in the Mallee, in Quambatook - and my nickname...

Andrew Denton: In where?

Molly Meldrum: A place called Quambatook.

Andrew Denton: Quambatook. Right, OK.

Molly Meldrum: And where John Williamson went to school as well. And my nickname back then was 'Malleeroot', so...Molly, Malleeroot, whatever, you know?

Andrew Denton: Now you're a famous Mollyroot.

Molly Meldrum: I know.

Andrew Denton: You...'Countdown', of course... In fact, is this true? I remember in the '70s, they used to say that electricity usage in Australia peaked on a Sunday evening when 'Countdown' was on?

Molly Meldrum: It's something we never realised at the time. I mean, it was just a lot of fun, but it never really sunk into us what it truly meant. And it really wasn't until, I guess, 'Countdown' finished and over the years people have come up and said, "Look, I grew up on 'Countdown'." In fact we did a few 'Countdowns' here in this studio, you know?

Andrew Denton: Yeah?

Molly Meldrum: And, uh...

Andrew Denton: We're still finding litter and debris from...

Molly Meldrum: They are. Probably a couple of old numbers out the back, you know, still playing the rock'n'roll.

Andrew Denton: Yeah. (Laughs) That's right.

Molly Meldrum: But there were a lot of dramas.

Andrew Denton: There's also a joint the size of a car, which...

Molly Meldrum: Oh! Yeah, probably. Whoa.

Andrew Denton: I'm going to play - 'cause I grew up on 'Countdown' like so many people -

Andrew Denton: I'm going to play one of my all-time favourite moments.

Andrew Denton: This is an historical moment. You know it well.

Andrew Denton: Let's relive it now together, shall we?

Molly Meldrum (on 'Countdown'): And now we come to the most important part of tonight's program. In fact, the most important part of the program's history. Some months ago, we had a talk with Mr Harry M. Miller about the... Oh, no... With the cooperation of Mr Miller and the Australian Rec... Sorry. Can we start again? And now we come to the most important part of... Could I just have one glass of water, please? No, no. I'm terribly sorry about this.

Prince Charles: No. Not at all. It happens to everybody.

Molly Meldrum: Does it?

Prince Charles: Yes, it does. But do you not have one of these teleprompters?

Molly Meldrum: No.

Prince Charles: You don't?

Molly Meldrum: One take. (Laughs) Would you now make welcome to 'Countdown' His Royal Highness Prince Charles. Your Royal Highness, it is a pleasure to have you here to help us support the Queen's Silver Jubilee Appeal for Young Australians. (Andrew laughs)

Andrew Denton: Oh, classic! I've always wanted to know... Take us backstage. What was that experience like for you?

Molly Meldrum: It was absolutely frightening because...I remember the first time it all came up - the idea of having the 'Countdown' album for the Silver Jubilee - and I was actually at a meeting with Harry M. Miller. And it was all put together and Harry then said, "And of course Prince Charles can come on the show," and we all went, "What?" And then when we did the show, I couldn't get out Harry M. Miller's name - I kept stuttering on the 'M's, you know? And I kept looking across and I thought, "Christ, he's still there. This is awful!" And then, when I asked for the glass of water and the cameras weren't rolling, I said to him...he said, "I believe you've just got back from London," and I said, "Yes, as a matter of fact, I did," and I said, "I saw your mum driving along in a carriage...to open Westminster," and he looked at me with this horror and said, "You mean Her Majesty the Queen." And I was in so much of a state by that stage, I leant across and sort of said - I had a habit of calling people 'lovey' - I said, "It's alright, lovey, I'll get this together," "He's touched the prince! He's touched the prince!" So I've learnt a lesson in life - never mix with princes or queens.

Andrew Denton: Now, you had some...you had some very challenging guests on 'Countdown', probably none more so than this man.

Iggy Pop on 'Countdown': Hiya, dogface!

Molly Meldrum (on 'Countdown'): Iggy, how are you, mate? Listen, wel...

Iggy Pop: (Excitedly) G'day! G'day!

Molly Meldrum: ..welcome to the show. The first time I saw you was in Detroit a couple of years ago...live in concert... What's wrong? Don't you send me up. You behave yourself. Now, listen, we've got to ask you some sensible questions.

Iggy Pop: Alright.

Molly Meldrum: The first time was a couple of weeks...a couple of years ago...

Iggy Pop: Hi!

Molly Meldrum: ..was with... Iggy, will you concentrate on the question?

Andrew Denton: How much did you draw out of him in that interview?

Molly Meldrum: Not much. (Laughs) Not much. Not much.

Andrew Denton: Did he calm down any time that year?

Molly Meldrum: He didn't recall he'd even been in Australia, actually.

Andrew Denton: (Laughs) Was he always like that?

Molly Meldrum: In fact, you can ask Iggy now, "What did you think of Australia?" "I've never been there."

Andrew Denton: You know a lot of the stars, including Michael Jackson.

Molly Meldrum: Mm-hm.

Andrew Denton: What do you make of all the stuff that's happened recently with Martin Bashir?

Molly Meldrum: I just find it very sad that, um, Michael has allowed it himself with all these things that have gone on - and especially, you know, the face, etc - to overshadow totally the genius and the talent that that man possesses, you know?

Andrew Denton: I think what came through in the Martin Bashir stuff which raised a lot of questions in people's mind was it wasn't the talent and it wasn't the eccentricity, it's his relationship with under-age boys.

Molly Meldrum: Yeah. Whether that's true or not, I mean, it's hard to tell, you know? But it's just...

Andrew Denton: From your knowledge of Michael, is that...?

Molly Meldrum: Well, I don't think anyone knows Michael, you know? I mean, as much as I've done x-amount of interviews with him, they're all...it's almost like if you were to interview Saddam Hussein. I mean, like, God help us, none of us want to interview Saddam Hussein, but everything is scripted and if you go off that script, that's the end of the interview, you know?

Andrew Denton: Really?

Molly Meldrum: Absolutely, you know?

Andrew Denton: You...you're mates with all the old guard - Madonna and Elton... And notice I'm throwing these names around as if I've ever met them. What about the new guard? Have you ever had a beer with Eminem?

Molly Meldrum: Um, no, but I would love to. I think he's...I think he's a...a major talent, you know? I mean, in the short time that Eminem has been on the world scene as far as recording artist, and now actor and now, um, writer and whatever, um, it's...

Andrew Denton: Uh, excuse me one second. Do you realise what you just did?

Molly Meldrum: What?

Andrew Denton: Do you realise what you just did?

Molly Meldrum: No.

Andrew Denton: Molly Meldrum, you just uttered your millionth 'um' on Australian television!

(Man in Ancient Egyptian costume brings Molly plaque)

Andrew Denton: Thank you, Nefertiti. Stay here, Nefertiti. (Laughs and reads plaque) "In recognition of your millionth 'umm' on Australian television. Congratulations from all of like, you know Enough Rope."

Molly Meldrum: That is wonderful. I must say...I must say that, um, I haven't got one of these at home. I've definitely got one of them at home, though.

Andrew Denton: Nefertiti, you may take this away now. Mr Meldrum will have it in his stretch limo after, thank you.

Molly Meldrum: Thank you.

Andrew Denton: The thing is, the umming and the ahhing and the inarticulate Molly, that's a public image, but, in fact, there's a hell of a brain ticking on underneath the hat, isn't there?

Molly Meldrum: I'm not sure.

Andrew Denton: Yeah.

Molly Meldrum: I think it's diminishing by the moment.

(Andrew Laughs)

Andrew Denton: You used to be a member of Mensa.

Molly Meldrum: Yeah, well, I mean, I'm not sure how that all came about. I think back then I...I knew a lot more than I do now, you know? I mean, I love watching, um... Ah, there's another 'um'. There's my million-and-one, you know?

Andrew Denton: We've got to make another bloody gold record! Jeez!

Molly Meldrum: Uh, and I love watching shows like 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' because, you know, I try to sort of test myself. But, however, uh, I'd never like to go through...

Andrew Denton: How do you go?

Molly Meldrum: I go alright at home, but, um, I would never want to go through what Red went through, you know? Because I actually knew that answer, but...that would be horrendous.

Andrew Denton: Red actually told me that he met you once in a hotel and you were reading the Koran in French.

Molly Meldrum: Yes, that's true, and both my French and certainly Arabic is not that good, you know?

Andrew Denton: I was going to ask - was the book upside down, Molly?

Molly Meldrum: No, no. I think I got to about...no, page three. No, I tried to do translations, 'cause at that stage, the only Koran I could get hold of was a translation in French, you know?

Andrew Denton: Right.

Molly Meldrum: So I'd have to go through the French, back to the...

Andrew Denton: Wow!

Molly Meldrum: But it was hopeless, you know?

Andrew Denton: We've got a photo here of you. This is, uh... Molly's very into Egypt, and you've been, how many times now, at least 17 times to Egypt?

Molly Meldrum: No, more than that. Around about 27 times.

Andrew Denton: 27 times? What is your fascination with Egyptology?

Molly Meldrum: I mean, it's just totally awesome. I mean, every time I've ever been there and I...I suddenly see the pyramids, my heart goes, you know, and it's just something extraordinary. And then you go up the Nile to Luxor and to Aswan and places like that, and in Luxor, there's the Valley of the Kings across the Nile and then the Valley of the Queens. (Laughs)

Andrew Denton: Look, you're just giving yourself up here. I'm saying nothing.

Molly Meldrum: Actually, I knew a few of the Valley of the Queens. I thought they'd been mummified. Um... No... (Laughs) Um...um...

Andrew Denton: This is a self-saucing interview. I can leave now. We've got a photo here, and I want everyone to go, "Ohhhhh!" This is a photo of Molly as a little 'un. (Photograph of Molly as young child on screen)

Andrew and audience: Ohhhhhhh!

Andrew Denton: Now you're...you're 17 in that photo.

Molly Meldrum: I think that one was when I was getting ready to be the pageboy for Queen Victoria's...crowning or whatever, you know?

Andrew Denton: It's always with the queens with you, Molly. What is going on? It's interesting, though - your life story is like an open book but the first 10 chapters are blank. Why is that?

Molly Meldrum: Um, 'cause I've gone blank. No, it's just, um, on a personal level, I mean, with...with certain things that happened in my life, I'd just prefer not to talk about them, you know?

Andrew Denton: I'll tiptoe around. You tell me if you don't want me to open a door. Were you a country boy? Could you ride a horse? Could you bale hay? Could you...?

Molly Meldrum: I could bale the hay. I never really rode horses until later on in life. But I loved the country. The country...I was very lucky because I was shifted around quite a bit as a child and I grew up in Orbost in Gippsland, so...that's down near Marlo, which is right on the sea.

Andrew Denton: At the age of 10, you left your family home. Why was that?

Molly Meldrum: Not really. No, no, no.

Andrew Denton: You went to live with some aunts?

Molly Meldrum: Yeah, um, and that's the part I don't really want to talk about.

Andrew Denton: Yeah?

Molly Meldrum: Yeah. I mean, like a lot of families, we had our problems, you know? And, I mean, I lived with my grandmother for a while, I lived with my aunts...yeah.

Andrew Denton: What was it like living with aunts? Because it's a different thing - aunts, they have responsibility for you, but they're not your flesh and blood, are they?

Molly Meldrum: Well my grandmother was one of my biggest influences on my life and I lived a fair bit with her and I absolutely adored my grandmother and she taught me one of the great things that I've tried to live my life by and she told me that no-one's above you and no-one's below you and you should treat all people as equal, you know?

Andrew Denton: When your mum died, you said that was a really formative...

Molly Meldrum: Absolutely.

Andrew Denton: ..day for you. In what way did it shape you?

Molly Meldrum: I was in London at the time when my mum passed away and...when I flew back from London for the funeral...and I was able to give it a lot of thought. And I thought my mother was always, at times, influenced by a lot of other people and it tended to rule her life, you know, what other people thought, etc, etc. And I decided that...that I would, you know, live my life as best I could but never be influenced by other people, of what they thought, you know, to live your life in your own right, you know?

Andrew Denton: Which indeed you have. We have a photo of you here. I don't know if this is a coming-out photo or what, but it's certainly...it's a bit of a scoop, really. That's...that's you and Bob Hawke.

Molly Meldrum: That IS actually Bob Hawke.

Andrew Denton: Actually, you would have had the least controversial coming-out of anyone in the history of gaydom - like, if you walked up to someone in Australia and said, "Molly's gay," they would have said, "Yeah, and what's your point?" Did you ever come out? You didn't really, did you?

Molly Meldrum: I don't think so. No.

Andrew Denton: You just were.

Molly Meldrum: No, I mean... Well, I mean, I had girlfriends. I was engaged a few times.

Andrew Denton: Yeah, so what was that? Was that... I mean, were you experimenting? Were you...?

Molly Meldrum: Absolutely. I mean...not experimenting - I mean, I loved these girls, for God's sake!

Andrew Denton: Oh yeah, but, well... Alright, but at...

Molly Meldrum: My God, Andrew! Oh, yeah, I laid them on a sort of table...like a surgical table and I said, "I'm experimenting," you know?

Andrew Denton: I don't mean to sound callous. No, I mean...with your own sexual...

Molly Meldrum: "And what's that? And what's that? And what's that? Oh, I see."

Andrew Denton: "And what's THAT?" Were you experimenting with your own sexuality? Were you bi?

Molly Meldrum: Yeah, absolutely. I mean... No, I mean, at that stage, I was really in love with...with the girls I went out with. In fact, one of the girls I took...we went away on a holiday to Egypt and I said, "Alright, I'll meet you in Cairo," and I unfortunately missed two planes. And so poor Joy was in Cairo by herself for a day and a half or nearly two days being chased by the Arabs and goodness knows what, you know, and was absolutely terrified, so I wasn't met with a great reception when I got to Cairo. Anyhow, we went to...we caught the train to Luxor and I was showing Joy all the tombs - "Let's go down another tomb" - this is in the Valley of the Kings. I said, "Come on, we've got to go and see another tomb." She said, "I can't see any more tombs. Enough's enough." So we were at this little restaurant that overlooks the Valley of the Kings and she said, "You really love this place, don't you?" And I said, "Yeah." She said...I said, "Yeah, as a matter of fact, one day, you know, when we...if we get married, we should come and live here." And the look on her face, I knew then that this relationship was over. It was definitely over, you know?

Andrew Denton: Oh, mate, chicks that aren't turned on by tombs, don't bother.

Molly Meldrum: That's true. That's true. So she left me and I was like a stuffed mummy, really. There you go.

Andrew Denton: "Sometimes Molly gives Ian Meldrum the shits." Great quote. Who's Molly Meldrum, and who's Ian Meldrum?

Molly Meldrum: Oh, my God! That is a good question. Uh, the Molly Meldrum, I guess, is the image or the person or whatever that has been on 'Countdown', has been on 'Hey Hey', whereas there is the other side of Molly Meldrum, which is the Ian Meldrum, that I take things very, very seriously, I have an intense interest in politics, not that I'm... I'm sort of apolitical in one sense, but I follow it religiously. I'm addicted all the time - not because of the war - to, say, BBC World News or CNN. And there is those two sides.

Andrew Denton: Yeah. Do both sides wear the hat?

Molly Meldrum: (Laughs) I think so. Sometimes, yeah.

Andrew Denton: 'Cause this is a big question. When you get up to pee first thing in the morning, is the hat on before you pee or after?

Molly Meldrum: No, at that stage, the hat's around the other way, actually.

Andrew Denton: (Laughs) Now, I want you to run with me on this, Moll. It seems to me that the hat is so much you. I want to try on some other hats with you. This is why I've got this screen, so no-one will see you change.

Molly Meldrum: Oh, we're not going to do this!

Andrew Denton: What do we think? No? Good, but not good enough. This one you'll like.

Molly Meldrum: Ooh! This one I adore.

Andrew Denton: And the final one, Molly. Try this one on.

Molly Meldrum: Oh, gee!

Andrew Denton: Ladies and gentlemen, Molly Meldrum. I give you Mr Molly Meldrum. Thank you, sir.



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More young word etymologies for you. Google and googol. Adapted from the book "Kasner and Newman's Mathematics and the Imagination" (1940), "The (more)

 
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WATCH PART 2 OF THIS VIDEO IN MY VIDEO RESPONSES CALLED BOOK OF THE DEAD SECRET IMAGES. ENJOY THE IMAGES IN THIS VIDEO WERE NOT MANIPULATED IN ANY WAY (more)

 
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Welcome to the new series of video tutorials that deal with graphic software. We'll be learning how to enhance your videos with all kind of special effects (more)

 
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A video which shows what its like to work for Google in California - I'd love to work there!...google mountain view california employee benefits

 
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Click Help For More Info: What You Have To Do Its To Open Google With Any Internet Browser , Paste One Of These And Click On The "I (more)

 
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The youtube founders talk about the Google acquisition....youtube google two kings

 
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i show alot of secrets found in google earth 1:indian in the moutain(shaped like it) 2:Nazi building 3:Hidden Donut store 4 (more)

 
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Google London Test Automation Conference (LTAC) Google engedu September 8th, 2006 Presenters: Harry Robinson, Dan North, Steve Freeman, Nat Pryce, Christine Newman (more)

 
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www.googlebizelogoyapsana.com Can Oktay Heper, Cihan Ergür, Muammer Okumus, Özgür Alaz What is this? This is a project/campaign, that started (more)

 
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http://www.ted.com Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin offer a peek inside the Google machine, sharing tidbits about international (more)

 
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This is an example of flying with the new Google Earth 4.2 Flight Simulator mode. Read more tips on using it at Google Earth Blog: http:/ (more)

 
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I've represented Google at many events for women in engineering, and I'm always asked the same thing: "What's it like to work there (more)

 
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Warning: If you have ADD or ADHD (like me) you will probably not want to watch a 1 hr You Tube Movie. Solution for ADD Viewers (more)

 
From: glovesaver
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. . . See New video . //www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbmmfcoyggs //youtube.jimmyr. (more)

 
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Views: 1,106,849
Added: 6 months ago
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WEBSITE: http://jetsetshow.com HANG OUT: http://mix.jetsetshow.com LINKS: partial face transplants: http:/ (more)

 
From: jetsetshow
Views: 466,673
Added: 2 months ago
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It's a vast gallery of homemade video clips, TV show excerpts and music videos, but youtube has become must-see Web watching. Anthony Mason reports on (more)

 
From: CBS
Views: 4,651
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Here i will show you some tricks and hacks you can do with Google!!...google tricks hacks computer easter egg site fun internet show how l33t

 
From: olitheboss
Views: 242,211
Added: 6 months ago
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Some Places from all over the world, I found in Google Earth. This is my first Google Earth-Video. I made it with fraps. Here (more)

 
From: DonSh4dow
Views: 914,047
Added: 8 months ago
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youtube was featured on "Call for Help with Leo Laporte" by host Amber macarthur....youtube television callforhelp ambermacarthur

 
From: YouTube
Views: 175,192
Added: 2 years ago
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is this the next generation?...google earth big brother funny switzerland zurich life experience frog-blog futurecom

 
From: opossum77
Views: 390,244
Added: 10 months ago
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The newest version of Google Earth has a flight simulator! Watch this video to learn how you can get started! Learn more at my blog: http: (more)

 
From: insided
Views: 266,992
Added: 2 months ago
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Internet Giant Google Have Just Announced The Purchase Of 'youtube'...youtube google internet sell buy

 
From: leftofleft
Views: 25,327
Added: 1 year ago
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Time: 00:59
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youtube is sold to Google. An inspiring success. Congratulations gentlemen. Produced by Moxie Media Studios, Ottawa, Canada....moxiemedia moxie media youtube google

 
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Collaboration Specialist, Chris Iremonger demonstrates Google Apps Education Edition....Google Apps School

 
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