Ian Moss facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ian Moss
Performing with Cold Chisel in 2012.
Background information
Birth name	Ian Richard Moss
Born	(1955-03-20) 20 March 1955 (age 70) Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
Genres	Rock blues
Occupation(s)	Musician singer songwriter guitarist
Instruments	Guitar vocals
Years active	1969–present
Labels	Liberation, Mushroom

Ian Richard Moss (born 20 March 1955) is an Australian rock musician. He is famous as the main guitarist and a singer for the band Cold Chisel. From 1973 to 1984, Cold Chisel released five studio albums. Three of these albums reached number one on the national music charts.

In 1989, Ian Moss released his first solo album, Matchbook. It quickly became number one on the ARIA Albums Chart. His first solo song, "Tucker's Daughter", reached number two on the singles chart. He wrote this song with Don Walker, who was also in Cold Chisel. Another hit song for him was "Telephone Booth" in 1989.

Ian Moss won five ARIA Music Awards in 1990. These included Album of the Year and Best Male Artist. Later, in 1993, Cold Chisel, with Ian Moss as a member, was added to the ARIA Hall of Fame. Ian Moss has continued to perform with Cold Chisel for reunion tours and new albums over the years.

A Musician's Journey

Early Life and First Bands

Ian Richard Moss was born on 20 March 1955 in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia. His parents were Geoffery and Lorna Moss. He has an older brother, Peter, an older sister, Penny, and a younger brother, Andrew.

Ian loved music from a young age. When he was four, he would perform for his family. At nine, he sang at a school concert. He started with piano lessons, but at age 11, he switched to playing the guitar. He said he was "always keen on music and singing."

In 1969, Ian joined his first band called Seen. He played rhythm guitar. The band performed at local places and organized their own dances. A year later, he bought an electric guitar.

The next year, he formed a band called Hot Ice. They played their first show at Alice Springs High School. They performed songs by Creedence Clearwater Revival. After that, they regularly played at Saturday night dances. In 1972, Ian moved to Adelaide.

Joining Cold Chisel (1973–1984)

In September 1973, Ian Moss helped form a rock band called Orange in Adelaide. He played guitar and sang lead vocals. Other members included Don Walker on organ and Leszek Kaczmarek on bass. Soon, Steve Prestwich joined on drums and Jimmy Barnes became the lead singer. The band then changed its name to Cold Chisel.

Ian's main job was lead guitarist. However, he often sang lead vocals when Jimmy Barnes was not available. Cold Chisel moved to Sydney in 1977 and signed a record deal. Their first album, Cold Chisel, came out in 1978. Ian sang lead on two songs, "One Long Day" and "Rosaline."

Moss on the Cold Chisel Last Stand Tour, 1983

Ian's voice is featured on some of Cold Chisel's most famous songs. These include "My Baby" (1980), "When the War Is Over" (1982), and "Saturday Night" (1984). He also sang "Bow River" from the Circus Animals album (1982). Ian wrote "Bow River" about a cattle station in Western Australia. This song has become one of his most well-known tunes.

Cold Chisel's fifth studio album, Twentieth Century, was released in 1984. It included two songs with Ian on lead vocals: "Saturday Night" and "Janelle." The band broke up around this time as Jimmy Barnes wanted to start his solo career.

Ian also wrote other songs for Cold Chisel. "Never Before" was on the East album (1980). It was the first song played by national radio station Triple J when it switched to FM. He also played guitar for other artists, like Flowers and Richard Clapton.

Solo Success (1985–1996)

After Cold Chisel split up, Ian Moss took a break. He started his solo career in 1986. In 1988, he spent nine months in Los Angeles working on his first solo album, Matchbook.

In November 1988, Ian released his first solo song, "Tucker's Daughter". It reached number two on the Australian charts. His second song, "Telephone Booth", came out in June 1989 and reached number seven.

His album Matchbook was released in August 1989. It went to number one on the Australian charts and stayed there for three weeks. It sold over 200,000 copies! Music experts praised the album. They noted Ian's "excellent, controlled guitar technique" and his "soulful voice."

Moss at the ARIA Hall of Fame in Melbourne in July 2008. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1990 Moss won five categories Album of the Year, Best Male Artist and Breakthrough Artist – Album for Matchbook; and Single of the Year and Breakthrough Artist – Single for "Tucker's Daughter". In 1993 Cold Chisel, with Moss as a member, were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

At the ARIA Music Awards of 1990, Ian Moss won five awards. These included Album of the Year and Best Male Artist for Matchbook. He also won Single of the Year for "Tucker's Daughter."

In October 1991, Ian released his second album, Worlds Away. This album reached the top 50 in Australia. He also played guitar for other artists and bands, including The Black Sorrows and Jimmy Barnes. In 1993, Cold Chisel, with Ian Moss, was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Ian's third solo album, Petrolhead, came out in 1996. It was praised as his "best-ever album" for its "gritty, hard-edged tracks" and great guitar work.

Cold Chisel Reunions and Continued Solo Career (1997–Present)

Cold Chisel reunited in 1997 to record a new album, The Last Wave of Summer (1998). They also went on tour. In 2003, they had another tour called Ringside, which led to a live album.

In 2005, Ian Moss released his fourth solo album, Six Strings. This was an acoustic album. It featured songs from Cold Chisel, his solo career, and covers of songs by artists like Jimi Hendrix. He toured Australia to support the album.

His next album, Let's All Get Together, was released in 2007. It included acoustic versions of Cold Chisel songs and new material. This album also reached the top 50 on the Australian charts. In 2008, Ian appeared on the TV show It Takes Two, where celebrities sing with professional musicians.

In 2008, Ian went to New York to record his album Soul on West 53rd. This album was a collection of soul songs from the 1960s and 1970s. It was released in 2009 and reached the top 40 in Australia.

Cold Chisel continued to reunite for performances. In 2010, they announced they were working on a new album. Sadly, the band's drummer, Steven Prestwich, passed away in 2011. The album, No Plans, was released in 2012 with a new drummer, Charley Drayton. Ian sang lead vocals on two songs, "Too Late" and "Summer Moon."

In 2012, Ian Moss made a guest appearance on the TV show Neighbours. Australian Guitar magazine also listed him as one of the top three Australian guitarists of all time.

In March 2018, Ian Moss released Ian Moss, his first album of all new songs in 22 years. It reached number 11 on the ARIA Charts. He performed at the 2021 NRL Grand Final, singing "Flame Trees" and "Tucker's Daughter."

In July 2023, Ian released his eighth studio album, Rivers Run Dry. He plans to tour Australia to support this album.

Personal Life

Ian Moss has a son named Julian Moss with his partner, Margeaux Rolleston. His album Six Strings includes a song called "Song for Julian."

Discography

Albums

• Matchbook (1989)
• Worlds Away (1991)
• Petrolhead (1996)
• Six Strings (2005)
• Let's All Get Together (2007)
• Soul on West 53rd (2009)
• Ian Moss (2018)
• Rivers Run Dry (2023)

See also

• Cold Chisel discography

Awards and Nominations

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards celebrate songwriting and music performance in Australia and New Zealand.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are annual awards that recognize great achievements in Australian music. Ian Moss has won five awards.

CMA Awards

The Country Music Awards of Australia are held every January. They celebrate excellent recordings in the Australian country music industry.