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Clip description
Barbara (Fiona Latham) from the Socialist Youth Alliance asks Dogs in Space to play a benefit gig. Sam (Michael Hutchence) and everyone else is distracted by TV rock show Countdown (1974-87). Chainsaw Man (Chris Haywood) starts the engine of his machine.
Curator’s notes
A terrific scene with nervous young political idealist Barbara attempting to get Sam and his band to play at one of the Rock Against Unemployment concerts popular during the era. Her pitch sounds like something from a textbook, and it’s the usually mumbling Sam who helps her pronounce the word ‘anarchistic.’ Barbara doesn’t stand a chance once Countdown starts. From 1974 to the mid-1980s, this rock show – the local equivalent of Britain’s Top of the Pops (1964-2006) – was watched religiously by young Australians and gave many famous Australian bands their first big break on national TV. Listen carefully to the very funny dialogue floating around the room as Barbara talks. As for Chainsaw Man – why wouldn’t a house like this have a visitor who loves demonstrating his chainsaw indoors?
