Freak Out How a Musical Revolution Rocked the World in the Sixties

Freak Out is Australia’s coming-of-age story, of how we as a nation were dragged into global culture by the unstoppable momentum of rock and pop music. The sixties was an era of extraordinary change and earth-shattering events. The music scene responded with popular anthems that reverberated across the planet. What’s more, the gun was fired on a period of unprecedented musical innovation and creativity, the likes of which have never been repeated.

Music spoke to young people in their own shared language, urging them to view themselves as decidedly separate from mainstream society – even suggesting they might ‘drop out’ altogether. For a brief time, millions of young people across western culture actually believed they could successfully reinvent society. Liberation for pacifists, women, people of colour, homosexuals, students and the oppressed seemed to be just a short revolution away.

There was no room for complacency or apathy in the face of the Cold War, Vietnam War, and the constant threat of nuclear annihilation. Australians may have been spared the fear of bomb blasts, assassinations and kidnappings; however, the ructions abroad invaded our national psyche, and the music that was generated in that milieu infiltrated Australian culture and transformed society forever.

Tony Wellington has worked in a broad range of creative arts fields and even dabbled in politics as the Mayor of Noosa Shire.

Tony is the author of Happy?: Exposing the Cultural Myths about Happiness, plus a history book, Noosa and Cooloola, and is co-author (with John Shand) of Don’t Shoot the Best Boy! The Film Crew at Work. He has also produced several photographic books, the most recent being Wild About Noosa. Over the years, Tony has provided articles, op eds and photographs for many newspapers, magazines and books.

Tony graduated from Macquarie University in 1976 majoring in Media and Communications, receiving a university prize for his media studies. For many years he worked on a freelance basis in the feature film and television industry as a scriptwriter, first assistant director, editor and director. He also lectured in media studies and film craft.

Sean Sennett is a Brisbane based music writer and musician. As the owner of Time Off magazine for two decades, Sean interviewed over a thousand artists – from local and unsigned bands to the likes of David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Bruce Springsteen. He has written about music for The Age, Rolling Stone (here and overseas), the Australian, the SMH and Word. Sean now hosts the podcast Sony Music Presents Time To Talk. Sean has written and recorded music with Rob Hirst, Kate Ceberano, Steve Kilbey, Ross Wilson, Kasey Chambers and more.

Please note that this event originates in Brisbane which is on AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time) wheras Melbourne is on AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight time) so, for Melbourne audiences it starts at 7:30pm. 

If you are an RHSV member attending this event and you want to buy a copy of Freak Out please contact Avid Reader, the bookshop hosting the event. However you can also buy Freak Out from the RHSV bookshop here: https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/product/freak-out-how-a-musical-revolution-rocked-the-world-in-the-sixties-by-tony-wellington/