I was with a breakdance crew in the mid-80's. It was a time of great development for me in terms of philosophical and musical directions.
In the early days, out of pure boredom we use to teach ourselves to do flips and somersaults after school, out in Birdwood Square, Highgate. It was pretty much what I did with my crew everyday without fail, so we mastered the moves quickly and soon we were bored again. As hyperactive teenagers go, we were sooner looking out for new stimulation again, and that was when Berry Gordy's "The Last Dragon" hit the cinemas and got us on our feet again. Our introduction to routine dances soon extended to community centre performances and unbeknown to us, the dancing bug has begun spreading.
So, when breakdancing finally landed Down Under in the 80's, my crew(Turbo Mix) spruced up our act and rocked up to Forrest Chase, Murray St.(before it was a mall) to battle on massive pieces of cardboard boxes. We honestly had no idea what we were doing back then except for what we learned from the movie, 'Breakdance 1 & 2 - The Electric Boogaloo'. However, we quickly gained much valued street credibility by incorporating our martial arts/gymnast agility into the art of breaking. (There was a lot of rascism and fights back then and it is true to say that dance help to ease off a lot of our youthful passion and energy.)
It was at that time, that a teacher from our high school realized and channeled our talent by managing and promoting us for paid gigs. I remembered that our first stint was at the Sheraton Hotel ballroom - we were a hit! From there, as I continued dancing, I began taking up modelling stints for private functions at(Rumours, Gobble's, Chicago's & discos throughout the metro. Things happen and before I knew it I started promoting myself as one of the event organizers and had wine glasses and cigarettes hanging off me. I experience plenty and learned swiftly. From the wheeling dealing that was happening around me, I can see clearly that life in the entertainment business is a musical chair charade of cons and counter-cons with players dancing like vultures around each other. It was a dizzying dance.
Somehow, I was blessed with good sense, and so sooner than I had started, before I even begun having fun with the offerings, I became totally bored of the whole fakings and makings of the industry.
Coincidentally, that's when the ol' music bug caught up with me. I recall sitting alone as a little boy strumming on my guitar contentedly - days where there was no one to impress, no show offs to perform and no schedule to keep to. I quit my failing relationships, quit my job, quit the glitz, quit it all and ended up simply with a guitar on James St. in Northbridge outside the Wespac bank.
Thinking back, that decade was a whirlwind with temptations of fame and fortune. And boy! Was I glad that I gave up showbiz and got on with the business of making soul music. But yeah! The 80's were unforgettable!
