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A MOMENT
WITH BAZZA - Wondering What
Barry Crocker Has Been Up to
Lately? Well he’s older, wiser, (still very
handsome! and even funnier! |
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Did you know Barry Crocker worked with Tom Jones on his very first show
in Conneticutt, USA in 1965? Tom is
the Welsh legend who is still seen on TV, promoting his latest single, and
Barry has just put out a new album online called ‘Reflections’ and is still
the darling of the over 50’s around all the clubs and pubs of Australia. Seems the two lads will still have plenty
to talk about. Both have aged extremely well, though Barry has the more natural ‘lived
in and laid back’ look while Tom is getting rather more leathery than tanned. Barry Crocker may be better remembered to UK readers as Barry Mackenzie, nephew of Dame Edna Everage, the awful (depending on whether you bat for
Oz or England) Aussie Ocker in the movie ‘Barry Mackenzie Holds His Own’
(referring to his beer, I hasten to add). Now here I have to stop and confess that I have never heard of this
sequel, made in 1974, because we emigrated to Aus in 1972 and with a tiny
baby and two and half year-old, plus no telly for the first year or so
because my husband was on nightshift (long story), I missed out on that part
of my education. There was not the time to go to the drive-in where these movies were
being shown near Singleton, NSW. ‘The
Adventures of Barry Mackenzie’ premiered in that year, so by the time we had
settled in to our new home and stopped driving around looking at the
fantastic scenery and getting burnt on the beaches, the film was history, and
not forgotten history as any trawl through Google will tell you. I did hear Barry singing on the radio at that time, and his music was the
stuff a tired mother could sit down and sigh to. However, Barry Crocker had been a pop star in Oz while I was
going to see Jimi Hendrix, Englebert Humperdink and the guy who sang ‘Matthew
and Son’ (then changed his name), in Chesterfield, England, when they were
all on the same programme doing their first big hits. The music scene was very different in Australia at that time, and Barry
was one of the pathfinders who took Aussie music to Europe and began the
music revolution that saw original Australian music command respect
overseas. He was in the Rolf Harris
mould - no I correct that, they broke the mould for Rolf Harris… Barry was one of those versatile entertainers who could turn their hands
to anything, and with his engaging personality and the personality of Barry
Mackenzie looking over his shoulder, he became a big star on the same scale
as Engebert and the others. Unlike
many stars though, he also made his name in the US, as previously mentioned. However, I had left the UK by the time ‘The BaZZ hit the shores. and so I
missed all the action, except that we had become ‘the Pommie Bastards’ that
the film referred to! I suppose you
could call it a ‘cultural exchange’; one Scot and one Yorkshireman for one
Barry Crocker! When we did get a tv I found out he was also very good-looking, on just
about every programme, and a right comedian.
The only thing I hated were the really wide shoulder pads in his
suits! Since he appeared tall and
rather gangly, the wide shoulders were a source of fascination – sorry Barry! |
When pop music changed, Barry had developed his
own style, and this carried him through the years as all his fans matured
into Mums, then Grannies. So to us he
is still as young as we are, and his latest concerts have been getting great
newspaper reviews, well one anyway that I have seen!! Bazz, as he likes to be called, has his own
Facebook page where he keeps in touch with his many fans, and his official
web site shows life is still busy for him. His music is still selling, and Barry has just
put online a selection of downloadable favourites, called ‘Reflections’. He
has included four self-written tracks. Barry says he chose that title because: ’Each song on the CD means
something to me, emotionaly, at some point in my life, even the ones I've
written. For instance, the first
track ‘And I loved you then’ explains that at this time in my life, I wanted
to take the chance to look back over the romances, and the women involved in
them, and say in musical form, “Thank you for being a part of my life.” Some,
sadly have already passed on, so I felt I better write this song before it's
too late! But basically the reason for the album is explained in the lyrics. Thats
my favourite song on the CD, but "Laura" comes close.’ ’I cant think of any song that I am singing that I hate to sing. There are several tunes I don’t like, but I
choose not to sing them!’ Barry is best
known outide of Oz for his film roles: ’I'm always looking for acting roles. I appeared
in two plays in 2008:"THE HAT PIN" (CD available) and "REEFER MADNESS”. Each one was very
enjoyable. Currently I'm up to 2006 in my second Autobiography.
The first was called ‘The Adventures of Barry Crocker’, after the film title.
I guess there are a few things I would change in
my life, if I had the chance to go back - but then again I'm pretty happy
today, and if I'd changed them, who knows where I'd be????? The biggest celeb I've ever met & chatted
with would have to be FRANK SINATRA (stories in the new book!) The most real (apart from family & friends) celeb,
would have to be TOPOL (famous for Fiddler on the Roof). We worked together
over a two-year period, and I found him to be made of the earth, a real mans
man! (once again in the book).’ Something that has affected Barry’s life was the
main subject of his films in some ways but:
I gave up complicating my life about 12 or 13
years ago, and am much better for it.’ I was wondering what he liked to eat, because many stars have specific foods they will, or will not eat and they do bang on about it, but not Barry: ‘.My favourite dish,(which I'm having tonight)
is chicken’. Barry
Crocker’s life has changed over the years and he says,
I still enjoy them all immensely, whatever they
may be! I pray that my health will hold, and I can keep doing what I'm doing
for some time to come.' He is very down to earth about all his talents. ‘I certainly dont consider myself anything like a genius, that's
Barry Humphries territory, but
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Hear Barry’s music for free on: http://www.barrycrocker.net/ for details of BaZZ’s books go to: http://www.barrycrocker.net/shop.htm
For more about his films: http://www.britishhorrorfilms.co.uk/barrymackenzie.shtml |
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