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Mambo: Art Irritates Life – ABC Australia

In the 1980s, clothing brand Mambo grew out of the Sydney punk music scene and became a hit across Australian culture – by taking the piss out of everything ‘strayan’, including themselves.Featuring iconic artists like Reg Mombassa, Richard Allen and Matthew Martin, and led by brilliant entrepreneur Dare Jennings, Mambo grew out of the surfing world and went on to make millions from the mainstream – charming, confounding and insulting just about everyone along the way. Narrated by Celia Pacquola, Mambo: Art Irritates Life, shines a spotlight on the iconic Australian clothing brand Mambo and the artists behind the label. Mambo...
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Backburning: Midnight Oil – A Short Film

Backburning is a short film about one of Australia’s most iconic rock bands: Midnight Oil. The film is written and directed by Paul Clarke who created acclaimed music documentaries Long Way to the Top: the Story of Australian Rock Music (ABC); Mother of Rock: Lillian Roxon (SBS) and Blood and Thunder: the Sound of Alberts (ABC). This film captures the calm before the storm, as Midnight Oil reunite in the red centre of Australia to make plans. Their conviction and drive made them a singular force in music until their singer chose to become a Member of Parliament: a decision...
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Mambo: Art Irritates Life – Screens on ABC, Tuesday 8th November at 9.30pm

In the 1980s, clothing brand Mambo grew out of the Sydney punk music scene and became a hit across Australian culture – by taking the piss out of everything ‘strayan’, including themselves. Featuring iconic artists like Reg Mombassa, Richard Allen and Matthew Martin, and led by brilliant entrepreneur Dare Jennings, Mambo grew out of the surfing world and went on to make millions from the mainstream – charming, confounding and insulting just about everyone along the way. Narrated by Celia Pacquola, Mambo: Art Irritates Life, shines a spotlight on the iconic Australian clothing brand Mambo and the artists behind the...
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The Easybeats to AC/DC: The Story of Aussie Rock – BBC4 United Kingdom

The Bombora Film & Music co. and Beyond Screen production, Blood and Thunder: The Sound Of Alberts, has been edited to a one hour version titled The Easybeats to AC/DC: The Story of Aussie Rock that will air on BBC4 A film about the sound of Australian rock and the emergence of one of the world's greatest rock bands - AC/DC, or Acca Dacca as they are known in Australia, and the legendary music company, Albert Music (Alberts) that helped launched them on to the global rock scene. Through the 1960s, 70s and 80s, Alberts created a house of hits...
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Stevie Wright Eulogy

Bombora writer and director, Paul Clarke, delivered this eulogy at Stevie Wright's funeral in Sydney on Friday 8th January 2016. When the P&O Fairsea deposited Stephen Carlton Wright from Leeds onto the Fremantle pier in 1958, he was already brash and cocky, with the temerity and louche swagger we’d expect from a street urchin from the north of England. His first purchase in his new country dictated his destiny. He bought a Boomerang songster, the song lyrics book published by J. Albert and Son. In 6 years, his songwriting and performances would sell more Songsters than had ever been sold...
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Tribute to Stevie Wright – Blood & Thunder to replay on the ABC

All of us at Bombora are very saddened to hear of the passing of Stevie Wright. He gave Australian rock music a spark like no-one else, and ignited the passions of a generation who believed in him, empathised with him, and totally loved him. Thank you Stevie, for being the greatest frontman of your generation, for your passion and courage. It was such an experience to film with you this year, aided by carer Kathy and son Nick. (Thinking of them and their generosity right now.) ABC-TV will show our series Blood & Thunder tomorrow night and wednesday night at...
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Bombora & The Monkeys – Co-Production Partners

Bombora Film & Music Co and The Monkeys have been working together since bringing you Hello! This Is Australia, a story of how we went from being a bunch of convict misfits and shed men to emerge the most connected culture per capita in the world is the story of building a nation against the odds, and contains all the major technological shifts in communication since the smoke signal. Now the two companies are co-production partners in production with a documentary about Mambo, a documentary for the ABC about Mambo’s humble beginnings and it’s path to success up until the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Expect...
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Between a Frock and a Hard Place nominated for AACTA Award

Director Paul Clarke's documentary Between a Frock and a Hard Place has been nominated for an AACTA award in the Documentary category for Best Documentary Television Program. The documentary was produced in association with Jungle Boys and aired June 2015 on the ABC. The 1980s in Australia was a time of deep, dark closets, the beginning of the AIDS epidemic and widespread homophobia. Homosexuals were vilified. There were many who were thrown off the cliffs of Bondi by gay-hate gangs (crimes that remain unsolved to this day). Oxford Street became the centre of the world for gay people, celebrating in...
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Mambo Production Call Out – We want to hear from YOU!

Many thanks for all of your stories and comments! We will be in touch directly if we would to include your items in the documentary Bombora Film and Music co & The Monkeys are making a documentary for the ABC about Mambo’s humble beginnings and it’s path to success up until the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. We'd love to hear from you. Did you wear Mambo clothes in the years from 1985 - 2000? This subversive bunch of artist ratbags seemed to con their way into the Olympic Ceremony, and onto our shirtfronts. We think it’s a great documentary story....
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