The biggest names in Australian rock royalty are coming together for fellow rock great Doc Neeson, who was recently diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour resulting in his band, The Angels, delaying a scheduled Australian tour which was originally meant to kick off tomorrow before it was canned.
As the Herald Sun reports, pub rock icons including Cold Chisel’s Jimmy Barnes, Don Walker, and Midnight Oil’s Rob Hirst and Jim Moginie, and more Aussie veterans, have jumped at the chance to play at the Rock For Doc concert at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on April 15.
The Rock For Doc concert will pay tribute to Neeson, recent recipient of a Medal of the Order of Australia (reports The Daily Telegraph), and a man who has been a central figure of the Australian rock music scene for the past 38 years as frontman for The Angels. All the proceeds from the night will be used to ease the financial burden of his treatment.
Other artists who have already raised their hand to perform at the charity event include Rose Tattoo, Noiseworks’ Jon Stevens and Steve Balbi, Baby Animals, Choir Boys’ Mark Gable, Diesel, Screaming Jets, The Radiators and Mi-Sex.
For the first half of the night bands will be playing hits of their own back catalogue before getting up with The Angels to perform their greatest hits.
“The response of Doc’s mates has been overwhelming. It’s why we love the music industry because their hearts always open up for one of their own,” said Neeson’s spokeswoman, who also spoke of his current condition, saying that he is currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation but typical to his character, is remaining in high spirits.
“The response of Doc’s mates has been overwhelming. It’s why we love the music industry because their hearts always open up for one of their own.”“He gets a bit tired from the treatment but he’s in such a positive frame of mind and determined to beat it. He wants to tour and we keep telling him he has to pace himself,” she said.
Speaking of the Rock The Doc concert, the spokeswoman says Neeson will attend the concert depending on how he feels on the day. “Hopefully he will be there on the night.”
Neeson and his band were forced to cancel their 100% Tour, earlier this year after the 66-year-old frontman first received the tragic news.
Though Neeson had been involved in some nasty legal wrangling with former bandmates, leading to two lineups featuring rival members calling themselves The Angels springing up, Neeson’s has a newly forged lineup featuring many members from the band’s 28 year history, including Bob Spencer, James Morley, Buzz Bidstrup, and Jim Hilbun
The news of Doc Neeson’s progress is welcomed by fans of The Angels and Australian rock music in general, and Tone Deaf wish and hope a continued smooth path to recovery.
Tickets for the Rock The Doc concert go on sale tomorrow and are available for purchase through The Enmore Theatre and Ticketek.
Rock For Doc Charity Gig
JIMMY BARNES, ROSE TATTOO, THE ANGELS
Supported by Screaming Jets, Diesel, The Radiators, Mi-Sex, Baby Animals,
Jon Stevens & Steve Balbi (Noiseworks), Rob Hirst & Jim Moginie (Midnight Oil), Mark Gable (Choir Boys),
+ more
Monday 15th April – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Doors 7PM
Price – $89
Bookings – (02) 9550 3666
On sale FRI 15 FEB @ The Enmore Theatre & Ticketek
