Clive Palmer Enters The Music Industry: Funds Russell Morris

In a career move we couldn’t have predicted, mining magnate and controversial politician Clive Palmer has entered the music biz by funding Russell Morris’ recent tour.

On Sunday, 2 July, and Tuesday, 4 July, Russell Morris and a 54-piece orchestra sold out gigs at the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne’s Hamer Hall, respectively.

In a recent interview with The Australian, Morris revealed that Palmer attended one of his Gold Coast shows last year and bought CDs, and a few weeks later, returned and asked if Morris would be up for lunch.

Upon meeting with Palmer, Morris shared his apprehension about performing with orchestras to thousands of people, believing that the concerts were loss-makers. Palmer’s response? “I have a lot of money to lose.”

“If I start sort of drifting away and start looking around and having a good time, I’m likely to forget where I am,” Morris said about the orchestra gigs. “You’re not the boss.”

Morris called Palmer’s idea and help in redefining the Russell Morris audience “a beautiful gesture”.

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Since the shows at the Sydney Opera House and Hamer Hall, Morris has released The Real Thing – Symphonic Concert, a live album recorded in Melbourne in July. You can purchase the two hours+ live album on CD and vinyl here.

In addition to the live album, Morris is taking The Real Thing back on the road for a string of encore symphonic concerts taking place in Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney. You can find the tour dates below and buy tickets here.

A lifelong Russell Morris fan, Palmer envisioned the symphonic concerts to help recognise Russell’s esteemed and popular contributions to Australian music.

“This is a big deal for me, the biggest of my career, and I can only thank Clive Palmer for his generosity in making it happen,” Morris said in a statement earlier this year.

Palmer added, “I have followed Russell’s career from the 1960s and am just one of his many admirers who have recognised his drive, energy and passion on his inspiring musical journey.”

The image of Clive Palmer is credited to Jwmcdonald81, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.