The Rolex Midas is a unique and rare model from Rolex, notable for its distinctive design and luxurious appeal. Produced in the 1960s, it features an asymmetrical case shape resembling a cushion, often made from solid gold. The watch is known for its elegant style, with a minimalist dial and a combination of gold and sometimes diamond accents, making it a coveted piece among collectors. Including The King Elvis!

Price: $104,573.00 USD *That’s if you can find one, you may need the Midas Touch!

“The Midas Touch is a term referencing a legendary ability to turn everything one touches into gold, originating from the Greek myth of King Midas. It is also used metaphorically to describe the ability of individuals, particularly entrepreneurs, to be highly successful or to create wealth.”

Tony Hadley, the former lead singer of Spandau Ballet, is set to perform at the Odeon Theatre in Hobart on Thursday, 30 January 2025.

The concert will feature classic hits like “True,” “Gold,” “Only When You Leave,” and “Round & Round,” as well as selections from his solo career, accompanied by The Fabulous TH Band. Doors open at 6:30 PM. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

Photo: Scott Gelston

The inclemency of Hobart’s weather was in fine form this summer in Hobart, Tasmania when ‘TheNews.com.au -The Finer Things in Life’ ran the gauntlet of rain and bluster to make their way to the sanctum of Tim Freedman’s green room at the Altar to interview him on his current solo tour and new song ‘The Ballad of Bertie Kidd’.

Irreverent curiosity led him to ask us why the ‘Finer Things in Life’, known for covering all things luxurious wanted to interview him. Well here is the answer – to us luxury encompasses an awareness of a combination of senses all working together, whether it be a gastronomic immersion into the unctuous aged indulgence of Le Dauphin cheese (an unusual hexagonal cheese that takes its name from the term once used to describe the heir apparent to the throne of France), or the searing pick me up of a penetrating piccolo, both of which we have heard Freedman is partial to, but in this case it was to absorb the sound, energy and vibe of one of Aussies truly creative musicians – the experience of Tim Freedman live in action.

Relaxed and hospitable, Freedman told us that he was in a good mood because he had just finished a great show, including some funny banter with the audience – a member playfully referenced Tinder dating, and with razor sharp wit Freedman responded “…I can’t go on Tinder I’m too well known, probably lucky for me, I’ve heard it’s a minefield, my profile would just say 56, shaved, sexy, wants to do it all day and a silhouette and guess who?…” This performer, we are quickly learning, turns moments into creative nuggets with his witty and creative improvisational skills – if you can keep up – the actual lyrics from ‘No Aphrodisiac’ (Verse 4) are: “Forty, shaved, sexy, wants to do it all day” and then there’s the silhouette.

Speaking about quick improvisation, the song ‘No Aphrodisiac’, from the album ‘Eternal Nightcap’ in the late 1990’s took Freedman just 15 minutes to write. Freedman said at that time, he would have liked the film clip to be simply a black screen. This gives us thought to ponder the creative mystery that surrounds the black square/screen -think the ending of the Sopranos, and Malevich’s ‘Black Square’. At this time The Whitlams had not made it big, however after their album ‘Eternal Nightcap’ won the 1997 Triple j top 100, Triple j joined the party, and gave a lot air time to the band and from there they took off.

Eternal Nightcap, 1997

Ever the irreverent, Tim Freedman takes to the stage to launch the first new song written with The Whitlams in 14 years: ‘The Ballad of Bertie Kidd’. A hapless tale of a criminal caper rendered ludicrously impotent. Australians seem to love a balls up, they love to laugh with the hapless, and so through the once smoky haze and hop scented watering holes of Australia’s pubs grew the spinning yarn of Bert’s one monumentally thwarted heist, the potential crime, an orphan child of an otherwise outstanding career has been taken into the hearts of many Aussies and grown a life of its own. Four blokes en route to an art gallery in a stolen Sigma with intent to possess a collection of Pro Hart and Ken Done masterpieces don their balaclavas too early. The props of anticipation and anonymity now shriek as unintended beacons of skulduggery . They are spotted as suspicious by passing coppers. When pulled over and questioned as to their appearance, they relay to the cops that it is cold, and that they are going fishing, it didn’t wash, it’s now the art heist that never was. You can see why Aussies roar over their cans of Resches Pilsner with the retelling of this audacious grandiose stunt gone awry.

Whilst ‘The Ballad of Bertie Kidd’ is slapstick in nature, with emphasis on hilarity, the backstory of Bertie Kidd, aka ‘Bert the blue eyed killer’ himself is no joke. We must add here that Kidd is regarded as criminal Royalty. Known as an audacious safe cracker, with shadows and echoes of murder in his wake, more material is expected to surface as three volumes of his biography are being released.

Emigrating from the UK to Australia at 14 Bert Kidd is not on the average persons radar, being so underground that none of the criminals even echoed his story in daylight, due to fear of reprisal. Housed in Pentridge Prison next to Ivan Milat, Ivan is reputed to avoid walking the yard with Kidd for the belief that Bert would kill him. Bert has been out of jail for two years now, and upon release, at the age of 85 Peter Dutton attempted to have him deported, believing him to be so dangerous. By accounts, he is legendary. Legendary. We assure our readers that Freedman is safe and clear of reprisal, he took a shot through the dark, going through the channel of Bert’s biographer to get the go ahead to pen the ‘Ballad of Bertie Kidd’.

While in Tasmania, Freedman caught up with Bert, who has retired quietly in Launceston to ponder a life lived large. Freedman was gratified to hear from Bert over a quiet dinner together dinner that he had achieved about 80 to 90% accuracy in the ‘Ballad of Bertie Kidd’. Bert also revealed to Tim the true details of the words spoken between the four comrades and the police that day. Freedman says he took some artistic licence with the yarn to fit with the structure of the song.

Freedman’s solo tour is a prelude to The Whitlams ‘Gaffage and Clink’ National tour originally planned for 2020, has been rescheduled for August and September 2021. Gaffage and clink is backstage lingo referenced in a new yet-to-be released song that celebrates the relationship between the band and their long-time tour manager Greg Weaver, who passed away suddenly last year. The time off has allowed the band to write a new album, due for release in mid-2021.

‘Ballad of Bertie Kidd’

Melissa Lockley, Arts Correspondant TheNews.com.au

melissa.lockley@thenews.com.au

Out of all the Vogue: 73 Questions Shows this would have to be the best one so far. Liam Gallagher of Iconic British band of the 90’s Oasis. Unlike other celebs that have featured there was one attempt—no rehearsal, no advance peek at the questions, just Liam strutting his stuff on a field on a summers day in a parka jacket, Legend! I think this question summed up the Gallagher brothers:

Most underrated band of the 90s? “Oasis” Most overrated? “Blur’

Of all the things we could have shown you from CES 2020 in Las Vegas (Consumer Electronics Show) which ranged from driverless cars, rotating TV’s, smart bins, headless robot cats (that’s right) this is probably the standout (well for style anyway) – the “Roland Facet Grand Piano”. The concept was conceived in 2015 for the Roland’s Digital Piano Design Awards by the winner Korean industrial designer Jong Chan. His design was motivated by polyhedrons and named ‘Facet’ –  inspired by crystalline structures. The angular build gives an amazing experience of sound for both player and audience combined with a visionary aesthetic.  Flat-panel speakers are in the base that which flow through the outer frame.

At this stage Roland has said it’s not going to be a product and has no plan for production which would probably devastate the Piano Man himself Billy Joel.

The Jazz Diva’s back with a new album and tour, and she’s gracing our shores. It’s been six years since the nine-time Grammy winner has been here, and we’re sure fans have been eagerly awaiting her return. Norah’s first album ‘Come Away with Me’ in 2002, won five 5 Grammy’s and sold 20 million albums worldwide and even went diamond (yes diamond, it’s when you sell 10 million in US), and a cool million in Australia. With the tour getting great reviews, Norah plays material from her new album ‘Begin Again’ which is more a collection of one-off singles she’s released over the past year.

Jones’s new album – Begin Again

From all reports Norah does some of her classics as well as Don’t Know Why. But you know you’ve really made it when you’ve appeared in Sesame Street with Elmo doing Don’t Know ‘Y’, (2004). So if you don’t want to miss out on seeing the soul cool Norah Jones, she’ll playing her last concert in Australia at the Federation Concert Hall in Hobart, Tasmania on Wednesday the 17th April. Buy tickets here if not already sold out.

@norahjones
#beginagainnorahjones

That’s right…Who else could get away with this except Rihanna. Sporting this amazing nearly incognito outfit for the last night at this years Coachella festival. RiRi wore a printed knit Gucci balaclava, amazing opulent chandelier baubles and to top it off lashes and lids dripping in gems, you can check it out in all its splendour here. Also see what the Caribbean Queen wore on Day 1 and Day 2, all we can say is Take A Bow.

How apt is it that the year we’re celebrating the 40th anniversary death of the King of Rock’n’Roll, Elvis, and Pantone (the bible of all things colour) release a new colour. In honour of the artist formerly known as Prince, Pantone have released his own shade/hue of purple called Love Symbol #2. The press release says it is “inspired by his custom-made Yamaha purple piano,” and his logo “…Love Symbol #2 enables Prince’s unique purple shade to be consistently replicated and maintain the same iconic status as the man himself.” Prince became synonymous with the colour purple through his 1984 album, film ‘Purple Rain’ and wardrobe. Prince died in 2016 at the age of 57. View the colour here. Photo Credits: The singer Prince in the 1984 film, Purple Rain, directed by Albert Magnoli. Photograph: Allstar/WARNER BROS. Photo Source: Soundopinions. Creative Commons.

You would be hard pressed to find someone who has not heard of the late great Freddie Mercury, lead singer of one the most iconic bands of all time Queen. Spurning countless hits from the seventies, eighties and nineties, the band was a pioneer of rock’s video revolution. Mercury was Born Farrokh “Freddie” Mercury in 1946 in Zanzibar, and grew up in India before moving with his family to Middlesex, England, sadly passing away in 1991 due to complications of AIDS. This legend still lives on in hearts of generations, as many tribute bands testify, but the one that stands out is ‘It’s a Kinda of Magic’ brought to you by Rock City and Showtime Australia which is currently touring Australia. It is deemed to be one of the best according to Freddie’s close friend and biographer (author of An Intimate memoir by the man who knew him best) Peter Freestone. British lead singer Giles Taylor starring as Freddie is a great tribute to Queen, displaying Freddie’s trademark stamina, charisma and strong wide ranging vocals. Queen fans will be excited about the rumours that a bio-pic will finally be made called ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, which may star English actor Ben Whishaw as Mercury. In 2010 Sacha Baron Cohen was linked to the film but pulled out in 2013 due to ‘creative differences’. In death as in life it seems that the legend is unstoppable. Viva la Freddie, Don’t stop me now! Photo Credit: Reddit.com. *Update 5th of September 2017. Happy Birthday Freddie! Who would have turned 71 today!

The title of the tour pretty much sums it up, Once In A Life Time. Yes, Elton John is just about to embark on a tour of Australia, how lucky are we? One of the most prolific and successful musicians of all time Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, will be here for the months of September and October with special guests Queensland duo Busby Marou and Melbourne singer-songwriter Chris Watts for his Once In A Lifetime tour. John is responsible for some of the most memorable songs of all time such as Candle in the wind, Crocodile Rock, I’m still standing, Rocket Man, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Sad Songs just to name a few. Add to that a plethora of awards, record-breaking record sales, writing music for the stage and screen productions Billy Elliot and The Lion King (in which he and Sir Tim Rice composed the song Can You Feel The Love Tonight which won the 1994 Academy Award for Best Original Song). John also fostered talent in younger performers, and also acts a mentor for superstar Ed Sheeran, who is signed to John’s management company Rocket. The list goes one and on. So as the name of the tour says, it is a Once In A Life Time opportunity to see this music icon. With concerts selling fast, and some already sold out, be sure to grab your ticket quick smart. He’s finishing off his tour in Oz on Grand Final weekend in his only Victorian show at A Day On The Green at Rochford Wines on Sunday October 1.  John is being proudly brought to Australia by Chugg Entertainment. Photo Credit: Artist.