The Money or the Gun

The Money or the Gun was an Australian comedy/talk-show on the ABC network. It ran from late 1989 to mid-1990, with occasional specials until 1994. It was written by Andrew Denton, Simon Dodd, Bruce Griffiths, and George Dodd, directed by Martin Coombes and produced by Mark Fitzgerald.
Each episode was based on a significant theme, with Denton interviewing a number of people as well as conducting vox pops on the street. Significant episodes include "Guns-The Musical" and the award-winning episode on disabilities, "The Year of the Patronising Bastard". In 1993, a one-off special was called "Topic of Cancer", which talked to teenagers with cancer. In 2003, Denton held a 10-year reunion for the people on the 1993 show, as part of his ABC interview programme Enough Rope.

"Stairway to Heaven"

Each week a guest would perform their own version of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven". Versions would occasionally tie in with the theme of the episode but the most surprising of all was the version by Rolf Harris which eventually reached number 7 on the UK singles chart. Generally the performance of "Stairway" would be a break in the program and the artists would have no other part in the program. The CD release won an Aria Award in Australia in 1993 and was subsequently released on the Atlantic Label in the USA though truncated.
Performers and styles included:

Kate Ceberano and The Ministry Of Fun, in a funk style
John Paul Young, in the style of "Love is in the Air"
Pardon Me Boys, in a swing style
The Beatnix, a Beatles tribute band, in the style of "I Want to Hold Your Hand", "Please Please Me", and "Twist and Shout"
Nick Barker & The Reptiles, in a heavy blues style
Rolf Harris, in the style of "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport"
The Australian Doors Show, a Doors tribute band, in the style of "When the Music's Over"
Sandra Hahn, Michael Turkic and the Opera Australia chorus, in the style of an epic Wagner opera
Robyne Dunn, in the style of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by The Beatles
Elvis impersonator Neil Pepper, in the style of "Viva Las Vegas"
Toots - Jenny Lovell in the flesh, voice by Helen Jones, a femme fatale performance in the style of Jessica Rabbit
The Whipper Snappers, in an indie rock girl group style
Friends Of The Castanet Club, as a sea shanty
Toys Went Berserk, a post-punk version
Bob Downe, in the style of a lounge singer
The Rock Lobsters, a B-52's tribute band, in the style of "Rock Lobster"
Jodie Gillies, in the style of a Broadway musical
Etcetera Theatre Company, as a techno dance in the style of Talking Heads
The Jeff Duff Orchestra, a chamber orchestra with vocals
Fargone Beauties, as a country thrash in the style of "Dueling Banjos"
Judi Connelli, as a gospel song
Barry Crocker and Doug Anthony All Stars in a unique style
Vegemite Reggae, in a modern reggae/ska style
The Symphony Chorus of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, as an a cappella chorus
Leonard Teale, as a dramatic poem
Rory O'Donoghue in the style of an advertising jingle and an Australian ballad

Two compilations of the performances were released in 1992: a video which featured 25 of the 26 performances, and an album, called Stairways to Heaven, which featured 22 of the 26 performances. An album consisting of 12 tracks was released internationally in 1995.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are a set of annual ceremonies presented by Australian Recording Industry Association, which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. They commenced in 1987.
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