Countdown’s 50th anniversary: Molly Meldrum remembers the moment that spawned the hot romance Kylie Minogue and Michael Hutchence
As an ardent fan of Australian pop culture, I can’t help but reminisce about the golden era that Countdown brought to our shores. The show was like a magical key that unlocked the door to stardom for countless artists, including the inimitable Kylie Minogue and the charismatic Michael Hutchence of INXS.
Countdown was the Australian pop music show that launched hundreds of hits.
That’s where Kylie Minogue initially crossed paths with Michael Hutchence, who was a member of the famous 80s band INXS before his passing.
The pair went on to a hot romance that made headlines for more than two years.
On Saturday, as ABC commemorated Countdown reaching its 50-year milestone, its veteran host Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum reminisced about the early stages of the romantic connection between the two iconic stars.
In a recent interview with Stellar, Molly, who’s 81, expressed her longstanding affection for Kylie Minogue, stating that she is not only a cherished figure in the industry but also a captivating performer when on stage.
Molly mentioned that Kylie Minogue experienced Countdown for the first time in 1981. At only thirteen years old, the rising star and performer became part of the live studio audience.
She told me about an instance where a band member tossed a drumstick into the crowd, and she attempted to grab it, but unfortunately, she didn’t manage to catch it.
Later on, in 1987, Kylie Minogue took charge of the penultimate episode of Countdown. That same year, she also shared a stage with her Neighbors co-stars, Jason Donovan and Peter O’Brien, to present an award for the most popular group.
At the post-event gathering, Molly shared that Kylie had the chance to know Michael Hutchence on a formal level – adding another memorable moment to their shared Countdown journey.
In another part of their conversation, Molly honored her old friends Elton John, John Farnham (an Australian legend), and the deceased Olivia Newton-John.
The countdown program began broadcasting on November 8, 1974, and continued for an impressive span of 13 years. Its final episode was aired in July, 1987.
As a connoisseur of trends, my show consistently stood out, garnering global recognition. It served as a springboard for countless artists, propelling the careers of musical icons such as ABBA, Elton John, and Olivia Newton-John into the spotlight.
It played a significant role in popularizing well-known Australian bands from the past, such as Cold Chisel, Australian Crawl, and INXS, among the general public.
In the music world, showing up on Countdown was seen as practically crucial for a song to become a chart-topper, due to its immense influence.
Both Kylie and Michael Hutchence had won a huge audience for their music Down Under via Countdown.
Hutchence ended up dating the pop princess Kylie between 1989 and 1991.
In the 2019 film Mystify: Michael Hutchence, Kylie declared the rock god had ‘broken her heart.’
Following the breakup, former Neighbours cast members were linked with numerous well-known personalities from the acting and performing world.
Hutchence also went on to find love with British television personality Paula Yates.
On November 22 1997, Hutchence was found hanging by his snakeskin belt in his Sydney hotel room.
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2024-11-16 16:10