Legendary rock icon faces court after being caught speeding on his way to a gig

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Ian Moss, the guitarist from Cold Chisel, needs to be mindful of his driving speed whether he’s leaving the last car in Sydney or cruising past flaming trees while feeling tired behind the wheel.

Over the Labour Day long weekend in October, the renowned rocker was caught speeding by police at approximately 115 kilometers per hour in a 100 kilometer per hour zone on his journey from Armidale to Brisbane in New South Wales’ northern tablelands.

Moss is an original band member of Cold Chisel, a renowned Australian rock group famous for hits like “Khe Sanh,” “Flame Trees,” “Cheap Wine,” and “Choir Girl.

Instead of challenging the issue in court, a clerical error resulted in the musician being found guilty and penalized without his presence.

On Tuesday, Moss stood before Magistrate Christine Haskett at the John Madison Tower. His legal representative, Paul McGirr, aimed to overturn Moss’s verdict.

His case was supposed to be heard at the Downing Centre next door, but unfortunately, that building has been shut down since June 17th due to extensive flooding caused by a ruptured water main.

‘Oh, it’s Mr Moss,’ magistrate Christine Haskett said, recognising the Cold Chisel founding member.

In response to being asked about his elderly client’s age, Mr. McGirr stated, “I’d rather not make him feel uncomfortable, as he appears more youthful than I do.

Moss had his Peugeot on cruise control at the time he was caught by police, the court was told.

The car did not have an automatic braking mechanism and sped up going down a hill, Mr McGirr said.

He described his client as a modest man who was not a jetsetter.

The lawyer mentioned to Ms. Haskett that he’s a classic rock enthusiast, who enjoys hopping into his vehicle for a spin.

Moss appeared in court supported by the band’s tour manager Chris Bastick.

In his written submission to the court, Bastick presented proof demonstrating that Moss had gone out of their way for charitable causes. This included making trips to secluded towns and performing concerts there.

Due to his iconic reputation, people are eager to hear him speak, even if they have to travel to various locations,” Mr. McGirr stated.

In another turn of events, moss was planning a motorcycle journey across the U.S., but a potential conviction could disrupt all those plans, his legal representative asserted.

In addition to the case that led to his conviction without being present, it was mentioned in court that Moss’s driving license was erroneously suspended for a month as well.

‘It’s been a real runaround with respect to this particular matter,’ Mr McGirr said.

Ms. Haskett decided that no conviction should be given, but rather, she issued an order for a three-month period of conditional release instead.

Back in 1973, the band Cold Chisel was established in Adelaide, and since then they’ve managed to sell over 7 million albums. Last year, they embarked on a tour celebrating their 50th anniversary.

As a connoisseur of music and lifestyle, I can confidently say that among my most cherished compositions is “Bow River,” a track I penned for our band back in 1982 as part of our album, Circus Animals. Over the years, this piece has undeniably become one of my musical signatures, standing side by side with another timeless creation of mine, “Tucker’s Daughter,” from my solo repertoire.

His voice can be heard on popular Cold Chisel songs like Saturday Night, When the War Ends, and My Baby as well.

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2025-07-08 09:03