Got a good story? You may as well tell it! Life’s A Gamble, especially in the music business and if you can come out of it on the positive side of the win/loss ratio ledger, you’re doing better than most. Musician and music business leader Brendan Callinan knows a thing or two about music, music gear and the business of music, surviving and thriving in it for decades … and he’s still in the game … and he’s just written LIFE’S A GAMBLE, a memoir about it all
As the former keyboardist of The Radiators, he played close to 2,000 shows, earned multiple gold and platinum records, and shared the stage with some of the biggest names in Australian and international rock. As a business leader, working locally and internationally with the Roland Corporation, his background knowledge and technology awarnesss gave him an edge that was much appreciated by the global gear goliath. To this day, Brendan continues to spruik music technology through his latest partnership with Bonza Music, the the immersive music-tech company empowering the next generation of creators and he’s still an active musician, playing live with Brisbane’s premier cover band Vintage Vinyl. Plus, he’s inspired his son Kirin J Callinan to follow in his footsteps, albeit taking a different creative route!
Inspired by his friend Buzz Bidstrup’s (The Angels, GANGgajang) book, No Secrets, Brendan has recently gathered his own thoughts in a debut memoir, LIFE’S A GAMBLE, in which he delves deep into his musical journey, sharing honest and entertaining anecdotes from life on the road, in the studio and a little from the boardrooms too. Beginning in rural Australia being taught piano by the religious sisterhood, Brendan takes us back to the Countdown years and performances on Hey Hey It’s Saturday to living the dream in the band’s cool digs in the Hollywood Hills, while recording in America, dealing with music big shots and befriending the famous. Playing with The Rads during the halcyon days of Australian rock music, sharing the bill with legendary bands at epic outdoor gigs to tens of thousands of fans, as well as squeezing hundreds into the infamous suburban beer barns, Brendan has experienced it all and doesn’t hold back in in this colourful memoir.
The Nun’s Story meets Almost Famous meets Spinal Tap. It’s all laid bare in Brendan Callinan’s Life’s a Gamble. As one of Brendan’s biggest idols David Bowie once sung … “Don’t let me hear you say, Life’s taking you nowhere.” Goulburn Years … whop, whop, whop!
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e-book available now
Audio book coming soon