Welcome to Countdown Memories, your chartbusting trip back to Countdown mania!!!
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Countdown was a pop music program created by Michael Shrimpton, Rob Weekes and Ian Meldrum and first aired on the ABC on 8th November 1974 and was initially a half hour Saturday night program. By January 1975 after the six half-hour episodes the ABC relaunched Countdown shifting it to the prime timeslot of 6pm Sunday and extending it to a full hour with Ian "Molly" Meldrum as talent co-ordinator on the show and later as presenter. It was initially hosted by guest D.J's, with John Farnham hosting the first one hour program. In it's early beginnings in 1974 the music scene in Australia was definitely growing and artists like Skyhooks, Sherbet, AC/DC and John Paul Young made their mark through this program. Countdown established itself almost immediately in 1974 as a world class program and was responsible for introducing the ABBA phenomenon to the world. By 1975 Countdown was world renowned and any performer visiting Australia would appear on the show. ABBA owed it's success to Countdown and helped many other bands like Blondie and The Human League to break in Australia through Molly's endless push for bands and artists to be recognised both nationally and internationally and introduced Pseudo Echo for the first time when featuring them perform "Listening" on Countdown as an unsigned band in 1983, without Countdown many artists would not have been given the opportunities they had.
Ian "Molly" Meldrum was responsible for the institution that was Countdown. For an amazing run of 13 years, it was the showcase for the finest from the music world both locally and overseas, and for the nurturing of new talent.
This is a Website dedicated to my favourite music program Countdown!
My name is Jason and I grew up watching Countdown religiously from the late 70's and when it all ended in July 1987 I was seriously crushed! Though I was extremely young when I started watching Countdown it was a program that I was instantly attracted to as it was a family ritual for all of us to watch at 6.00pm every Sunday night without fail for years on end. Countdown was a very unique program in a different way to others as it proved in many families to be a perfect example of breaking down the generation gap as we all could relate to it! But most importantly for me I knew once I saw Countdown that music was my best friend. The idea of seeing pop stars and being introduced to music, bands and fashion for the first time was truly an amazing experience for me, and I discovered many of my favourite bands and artists on Countdown that still remain my favourites to this day!
In the late 70's Olivia, Split Enz, Mi-Sex, Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Judie Tzuke, Kate Bush, Queen and Kiss caught my eye and those very early memories was the start of my obsession with music.
As the 70's ended and the new golden decade the 80's began that's when I really started to pay attention! In the early 80's the New Romantic Movement, pop bands and solo artists were introduced to me through Countdown. The Human League, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Ultravox, Visage, Kim Wilde, Yazoo, Japan, Simple Minds, Flowers & Icehouse, ABC, Talk Talk, Adam And The Ants, Kajagoogoo, Tears For Fears, A Flock Of Seagulls, Inxs, The Cure, Soft Cell, Depeche Mode, Bananarama, The Nolans, The Motels, Divinyls, Prince and so many more!
In 1982 Countdown introduced me to a band called Culture Club which it's front man Boy George was an instant attraction and an introduction to a British movement with a difference. Boy George was a Gender Bender who not only was a great talent but also took club culture, cross dressing and social issues and awareness into suburban households.
And as the 80's continued Countdown kept introducing me to new and exciting artists and bands from Australia and overseas from Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Thompson Twins, Marilyn, Haysi Fantayzee, Dead Or Alive, I'm Talking, Beargarden, Pseudo Echo, Kids In The Kitchen, Koo De Tah, Real Life, Geisha, King, Pookah Makes Three, Stephen Duffy, Nik Kershaw, Howard Jones, Malcolm Mclaren, Scritti Politti, Bronski Beat, Pet Shop Boys and so many more!
The presenters on Countdown was also a huge part of it's success as they were passionate about the music and wanted teenagers of Australia to discover different music. They were linked to the music industry before Countdown and their love for it was undoubtoubly obvious with their enthusiasm informing music lovers with the latest stages, changes and trends in music.
Molly's passion was always greatly expressed during Humdrum and in interviews like his love for the Dare album by The Human League, his friendship with Madonna, Elton John, Rod Stewart and more... and his never ending drive and passion for Australian music on radio was an energy that couldn't be ignored and with Gavin Wood as part of the team till this day their enthusiasm for music has not changed. Watching pop idols on Countdown brought fashion into the limelight and music was it's mentor, it was a truly creative and important period for music, video and presentation. Not only was Countdown extremely important but other music programs on Australian television introduced pop culture on a great level with videos from all around the globe like Sounds, Rock Around The World, Rock Arena, The Noise, Video Disc, Music Video, Night Moves, Nightshift, Wave Length, Between The Teeth and more...
I have dedicated this site to the most important music program from Australia as it brought pop music into the mainstream in a very influencial way and introduced lovers of music to many new artists and to video. Programs like Rage have been repeating Countdown episodes every January since 1993 which has been absolutely fantastic as it proves how important it is to look back on the history of Countdown as it changed Australian music television forever.
I hope all Countdown lovers and people influenced by the 1970's and 1980's will enjoy this site as much as I have had putting it together!!!
Many thanks to all the people below who have helped contribute to this website and have added many important and crucial details from archives, photos, interviews, information and just general support... From Gavin Wood (for great belief and tremendous help and assistance with this project!), John Peters, Molly Meldrum, The ABC, Linda Late Bar, Countdown fans who have contributed and shared their stories and images, Samantha Atkins and all the artists I have interviewed for their interest and time. Finally a huge thanks to Adrian Prosen for your great vision and maintaining this site!
Keep Countdown Alive!
Thank You.
ENJOY!!!
