Ian Moss facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ian Moss
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 a famous Australian rock musician. He is from Alice Springs. He is best known as the main guitarist and sometimes singer for the famous rock band Cold Chisel.

During Cold Chisel's first 11 years, from 1973 to 1984, Ian Moss played on all five of their studio albums. Three of these albums reached number one in Australia. In August 1989, he released his first solo album, Matchbook. This album became number one on the Australian charts. His first song, "Tucker's Daughter", was a huge hit, reaching number two in March 1989. He wrote it with Don Walker, another member of Cold Chisel. Ian Moss also had another top ten song called "Telephone Booth" in June 1989.

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". Since then, his solo music career has been a bit quieter. Other albums that reached the top 50 include Worlds Away (1991), Let's All Get Together (2007), and Soul on West 53rd (2009). In 1993, Cold Chisel, with Ian Moss as a member, was added to the ARIA Hall of Fame. Ian Moss has also joined Cold Chisel for reunion tours and new albums over the years.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Ian Richard Moss was born on 20 March 1955 in Alice Springs, Northern Territory. His parents were Geoffery and Lorna Moss. His father, Geoffery, survived the Bombing of Darwin during World War II.

Ian has an older brother, Peter, and an older sister, Penny. He also has a younger brother, Andrew. When Ian was four years old, he loved to perform for his family and friends. At age nine, he sang "The Battle of New Orleans" at a school concert. He once said, "I was always keen on music and singing." He started with piano lessons but switched to guitar when he was 11.

In 1969, he joined a local band called Seen. He played rhythm guitar by plugging his acoustic guitar into the bass player's amplifier. Seen played at local events and organized their own dances. Ian sang a few songs with them. 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 like Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Proud Mary". They often played at the Youth Centre dances on Saturday nights. In 1972, Ian moved to Adelaide. He decided to repeat a year of high school there. In 1973, he started an Electronics course but left after one term. He then worked in different factory jobs.

Music Career

Cold Chisel Years (1973–1984)

In September 1973, Ian Moss helped form a rock group called Orange in Adelaide. He played guitar and sang lead vocals. The band also included Don Walker on organ and Leszek Kaczmarek on bass. Soon after, 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 with the band. Cold Chisel eventually moved to Sydney in 1977. They signed a record deal later that year. In 1978, they recorded their first album, Cold Chisel. Ian sang lead on two songs, "One Long Day" and "Rosaline".

Ian Moss performing with Cold Chisel in 1983.

Ian's singing can be heard 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 on the song "Bow River" from the Circus Animals album (1982). Ian wrote "Bow River" about a cattle station in Western Australia where his brother once worked. This song has become one of Ian Moss's most well-known tunes.

Cold Chisel's fifth studio album, Twentieth Century, came out in 1984. Ian sang lead on "Saturday Night" and "Janelle". However, the band broke up because Jimmy Barnes wanted to start his solo career.

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

Solo Career Success (1985–1997)

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

In November 1988, Ian released his first solo song, "Tucker's Daughter". It became a huge hit, reaching number two in Australia and number six in New Zealand. His second song, "Telephone Booth", came out in June 1989. It reached number seven in Australia.

Matchbook was released in August 1989. It quickly became number one in Australia and stayed there for three weeks. It sold over 200,000 copies. The album also reached the top 20 in New Zealand. Music experts said the album showed Ian's "amazing, controlled guitar technique" and his "soulful voice."

Two more songs from the album, "Out of the Fire" and "Mr. Rain", also made it onto the Australian top 100 charts. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1990, Ian Moss won five awards. He won Album of the Year, Best Male Artist, and Breakthrough Artist for Matchbook. He also won Single of the Year and Breakthrough Artist for "Tucker's Daughter".

Ian Moss at the ARIA Hall of Fame in Melbourne in July 2008.

In October 1991, Ian released his second album, Worlds Away. This album featured songs he wrote with Don Walker. It reached the top 50 in both Australia and New Zealand. Three songs from this album were released as singles: "Slip Away", "She's a Star", and "Never Give Up".

Ian also played guitar on other artists' albums during this time. He worked with The Black Sorrows, Richard Clapton, and even Jimmy Barnes again. In 1993, Cold Chisel, including Ian Moss, was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Ian's third solo album, Petrolhead, came out in August 1996. Don Walker produced this album. Critics said it was his "best-ever album" with "gritty, hard-edged tracks" and "finely honed guitar work." Two songs from the album, "All Alone on a Rock" and "Poor Boy", were released but did not chart.

Cold Chisel Reunions (1997–2004)

From October 1997 to June 1998, Cold Chisel got back together. They recorded a new studio album called The Last Wave of Summer (1998) and then went on tour. In May 2003, Cold Chisel went on another tour called Ringside. This tour resulted in a live album of the same name.

Continuing Solo Career (2005–Present)

In 2005, Ian Moss released his fourth studio album, Six Strings. This was an acoustic album. It included songs from his time with Cold Chisel, his solo work, and cover versions of songs by Jimi Hendrix and Creedence Clearwater Revival. To support the album, Ian toured Australia with Jon Stevens.

His next album, Let's All Get Together, was released in July 2007. It featured acoustic cover versions of Cold Chisel songs and new material. The album reached the top 50 in Australia. From February to April 2008, Ian appeared on the TV show It Takes Two. He was partnered with actress Virginia Gay, and they finished in the top three.

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

In December 2009, Cold Chisel played a concert at Stadium Australia. In October 2010, they performed at the Deni Ute Muster. They played new songs and announced they were working on another album. The recording of Cold Chisel's album, No Plans, was interrupted when drummer Steven Prestwich passed away in January 2011. In October, the group replaced him with Charley Drayton. The album was released in April 2012. Ian sang lead vocals on two songs, "Too Late" and "Summer Moon". Cold Chisel toured to support the album.

In 2012, Ian made a guest appearance on the TV show Neighbours. He played a gig at Charlie's Bar. In May that year, Australian Guitar magazine listed Ian Moss as number three on their list of the Top Ten Australian Guitarists of All Time. In January 2013, Ian joined the Red Hot Summer Tour as a solo artist. Jimmy Barnes was also on this tour. In June, Cold Chisel announced they were back in the recording studio. Ian then started his own Australian tour in July.

In March 2018, Ian Moss released his album Ian Moss. This was his first solo album with all new songs in 22 years. The album reached number 11 on the Australian charts.

He performed at the 2021 NRL Grand Final, singing "Flame Trees" with Kate Miller-Heidke. He also sang his solo hit "Tucker's Daughter".

In July 2023, Ian Moss released his eighth studio album, Rivers Run Dry. He supported the album with a national tour.

Personal Life

Ian Moss was in a relationship with Australian actress Megan Williams for 11 years. They separated in the 1990s. Megan Williams sang backing vocals on Cold Chisel's song "Flame Trees". She passed away in 2000.

Ian Moss and his partner, Margeaux Rolleston, have a son named Julian. Ian's album Six Strings has 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)

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 music in Australia. Ian Moss has won five of these awards.

CMA Awards

The Country Music Awards of Australia celebrate excellent country music in Australia.