Ian Alexander Meldrum turned 80 today, and I’m having trouble imagining that.
I mean, he was born on January 29 1943 and today is January 29 2023, it’s eighty years since Molly was born. That’s eighty years right there. He was already a grown adult (insofar as he’s ever been one) when he and Ronnie Burns were thrown out of the Beatles’ show in Melbourne in 1964. He started as a roadie for The Groop that same year. Writing for Go-Set in 1966. Producing Russell Morris’ “The Real Thing” in 1969. Countdown. He’s been at this for a very long time when you think about it.
Which is the thing, cos, well, I didn’t think about it until a couple of days ago when he was trending on Twitter cos his eightieth birthday was coming up.
Eighty?
Molly Meldrum has just always been there. I’ve never thought about how old he actually must be. That may be because doing so makes me realise how old I’m getting myself… Countdown started on November 8 1974, a week to the day (almost to the hour, in fact) before I popped into the world myself. I’m 48. So… Molly kind of must be 80?
Um, as the man himself might say.
Anyway, happy 80th, you strange individual. Even if it is kind of inconceivable.
