1986 - NEW RELATIONSHIPS

The Fairstar - 1986 to 1992 (50+ performances)

Jeff Camilleri (no relation to "Joe") called me in the last days of April 1986. We didn't know each other, but someone referred me, and he urgently needed a keyboard player/vocalist for a 4-piece rock band on "The Fairstar".

Awesome, but here's the thing, the ship was departing in just a few days’ time. Could I do it on such short notice? Of course I could!

The next day, when I first I met Jeff, he came to my place to see what songs we could cook up between us.

Jeff was an extremely talented singer and guitarist. Our very different styles somehow complemented each other, and we brought it together with remarkable ease. So on 3 May 1986, I was suddenly working at sea; which was also my first ever time on a cruise-ship.

The band also included Chris Doyle on bass, and Tony Doyle on drums (not related to each other), both very proficient musicians and all-round good guys - and we played in the Zodiac lounge. I don't recall us having a name, so it was probably the "Zodiac Lounge Band" or some other name lacking imagination that management assigned.

We were also required to play at a couple of black-tie, cocktail functions per cruise (e.g. Captain's Cocktail Party - as per the photo of us). Such was the band's versatility that we adapted without fuss.

It was 2 or 3 back-to-back cruises, but despite having a really fantastic time, I had important matters at home, so couldn't sail on.

And I met other great muso's on The Fairstar too, such as the orchestra bass player, Steve Morgan, who subsequently joined Icehouse. At a later time, Steve became the musical director for "Hair" in Sydney, and offered me a job playing. I couldn't take it - such a shame.

Sitmar sold The Fairstar to P&O, and soon thereafter, Jeff Camilleri and I returned to the ship as a duo, calling ourselves "The Good Catholic Boys". However, our name was rejected by the Cruise Director, and we were issued some other name lacking imagination.

Now, in 2024, Jeff and I are back together again in a country band called "The Good Ol' Country Boys" - Yee-hah! I was keen to call us "The Good Ol' Catholic Boys", but no - still too controversial as it happens?

I was also fortunate to perform on The Fairstar as a solo artist on at least a couple of occasions.

All up, I probably only did 7 or 8 cruises (i.e. total sum of band, duo and solo cruises) - great times.

Jeff and I remained firm friends - as we are today. As solo artists in the late 80's and early 90's, we referred many a gig to each other. If I was unavailable, it was always "Call Jeff Camilleri" and visa-versa.

We even shared a residency on Sundays at the Five Dock RSL (i.e. alternate Sundays).

L-R: Jeff, Tony, Chris and Geoff B

The Bourbon & Beefsteak Bar, Kings Cross

The Bourbon & Beefsteak (Kings Cross - 1986 to 1993 (120+ performances)

I've played at the Bourbon & Beefsteak ("The Bourbon") in Kings Cross ("The Cross") more than any other Sydney venue, so I think it's worthy of its own section here.

It was aboard the good ship, Fairstar, that I met an exceptional cocktail pianist by the name of Ian Mason (aka "Mase"); who could play just anything.

Mase lived and worked on The Fairstar for over 20 years, and could often be found in a quiet bar, sipping on a XXXX beer, which he affectionately referred to as "Banana Juice".

Anyway, it was Mase who knew Bernie Houghton, the owner of the iconic Kings Cross bar, known simply as "The Bourbon" to Sydney-siders. He told me to go to the Bourbon and "Tell Bernie that Mase sent you."

The Bourbon was a beautiful American bar, all brass and polished dark timber, with quirky, but tasteful, knick-knacks everywhere you looked. It was world famous.

And as luck had it, Bernie was there when I popped in. Having mentioned Mase, Bernie asked if I'd like to play something for him. So I jumped on the goanna and played him a couple of numbers, and he was thankfully, impressed.

Bernie told me he often needed someone to play during the day, particularly when US war ships were in town, when American sailors were there, splashing their cash. At the next such opportunity, he would call me.

And before you know it, the phone rings and it's Bernie, and I hear a thick Texan accent say something like, "Partner, can you come in today? There's a ship in town".

"Can do, Partner!", and my first of many such gigs was on 29 September 1986.

Back in the day, the Cross itself was the only place open in Sydney after midnight, so if you wanted to ride-on, that's where you went. People converged at the Bourbon from every direction of the vast metropolitan area, because the Bourbon was the classiest and safest bar in the Cross.

I often played late into the night at the Bourbon, where I also enjoyed "Residencies" from time to time (i.e. I played on the same day and time every week - ongoing).

Yes, I saw some "things", and met some "very interesting people", but security didn't tolerate much. It was a very good place to play and work. The Bourbon had a great culture, and I have very fond memories of Bernie and his team, who always looked after me.

Bernie, himself, had an apparently colourful past and an underworld reputation, but I can only say good things about him. He was kind, respectful and offered valuable, fatherly-type advice from time to time. I received a Christmas card from Bernie every year until he passed away in 2000.

At some point, the Bourbon was gutted and made-over. The result was horrendous (in my opinion), and Bernie would have been rolling in his grave. As far as I'm concerned, the soul of the Bourbon sailed on with Bernie.

The Bourbon is no longer as the site was sold to developers in 2019. Good!