40 years of the Black Sorrows

JOE Camilleri is marking 40 years of The Black Sorrows with a national tour and a new album honouring his longtime songwriting partnership with Nick Smith.

Rolling Stone has described the 77-year-old as a “living legend,” with hits such as Chained to the Wheel, Harley and Rose and Hold on to Me punctuating the band’s multi-platinum albums, three million record sales, ARIA Awards and Hall of Fame recognition.

At 77, the energetic Camilleri approaches life and his creative output with a one-foot-in-front-of-the-other attitude.

“That’s the best way to travel, because you can only worry about the moment that you’re in – everything else will unfold as it unfolds,” he said.

“I’m not trying to be cosmic, but sometimes you just gotta wait – like waiting for a bus.”

“When we were doing the Harley and Rose album, we knew we had a good record, but we were two songs short, and out of the blue, the title track appeared.

“We’d had the idea for a long time, but at crunch time, there it was. When the portal is open and you’re in the space, you gotta bring it in.”

Earlier this year, the news of a break-in at Camilleri’s family home in Kyneton, Victoria, elicited an outpouring of sympathy from friends and fans worldwide.

“All my stuff was stolen, including nine guitars. I’m not a ‘collector’ as such, but I love beautiful things,” he said.

“I love the way they made guitars in the 50s, and they are not only beautiful to play, but they’re also works of art.

“I was told they were sold, and my Australian passport, and other stuff. I only just got my passport back.”

“I’m not going to spew over it; I’m going to move forward. I’m a custodian of these things; once I go, someone else will have them or sell them, or keep them, or whatever.

“It’s not a big deal in the scheme of life. It’s an inconvenience, and a pain in the ass, but there are bigger issues.”

As leader of several of Australia’s most successful bands, including former outfit Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons, and the Sorrows, which began in 1984, Camilleri’s music is an integral part of Australian music culture.

There was no secret to his longevity, save his love of the game.

“I still have an opportunity, and I think people genuinely know that unless I’m dying, they’re going to get the best I can give,” he said.

“You could have had your ass kicked all the way to the venue, and you haven’t got time to shower, maybe just to change your shirt and have a sandwich.

“But you can’t bring that on stage. You’ve got to bring the joy and surf the wave.

“I think that’s one of the things that people like about me, not the fact that I’ve had a few hit records, which I don’t really care for as a concept.

“I’m happy to be here, I’m grateful, it makes me feel like I’m part of the universe.”

For tickets to the December 6 concert, visit twintowns.com.au/events/joe-camilleri-the-black-sorrows