SOUTHERN SONS PERFORMING A JIMI HENDRIX CLASSIC ON MELBOURNE'S TONIGHT LIVE (CIRCA EARLY 90'S)

SOUTHERN SONS are one of the most forgotten bands in Australia. Between 1990 and 1995, this Melbourne based band released three albums of mostly above average contemporary pop rock and ballads, with songs off the debut album like the uptempo ALWAYS AND EVER and the tearjerker HOLD ME IN YOUR ARMS still recieving airplay to this day.

Besides the charismatic vocalist JACK JONES, also known by his birth name IRWIN THOMAS, who was widely rumoured to be in line to replace the late MICHAEL HUTCHENCE in INXS after his untimely death, the other standout member of SOUTHERN SONS was drummer VIRGIL DONATI, one of the technically most gifted drummers in history who is renowned for his lightning fast reflexes and his multi-instrumental versality as a keyboardist.

Donati is a much in demand session drummer as well as being involved in various musical projects, most notably his involvement in PLANET X, a progressive metal supergroup featuring ex-DREAM THEATRE keyboardist DEREK SHERINIAN, and the jazz fusion ensemble CAB, the second CAB album (2001) titled 'CAB 2' was nominated for Best Contemporary Jazz Album at the 2002 Grammy Awards. That's just the tip of the iceberg, Donati has contributed to many albums by stand alone artists, brilliant drummer all round.

SOUTHERN SONS have been sterotyped in Australia as pop rockers who crashed and burned, certainly the band's three albums stuck to the contemporary script, but this live performance on Melbourne's TONIGHT LIVE (not to be confused with the american show) of JIMI HENDRIX's FOXY LADY displayed a side to SOUTHERN SONS not heard of on any of the three studio albums.

The american supergroup CHICKENFOOT in recent times have made FOXY LADY a part of their live set, and i love their interpretation of it, but fair dinkum, SOUTHERN SONS do a great job of it here as well. JACK JONES takes off EDDIE VAN HALEN and PETE TOWNSEND at the end when he plays the guitar with his teeth. Totally off the wall and very un-Southern Sons like.