The H Files with Kevin Hillier

Kevin Hillier
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  • Music Interviews
  • Updated Bimonthly

The H Files with Kevin Hillier has a very simple charter. Kevin Hillier wants to chat to interesting people and bring their unique and fascinating stories to you. Their stories are the star of the show. Those 'stars' might make you laugh, cry, groan, scream or all of the above. One thing for sure, you will be richer for the experience. 

  1. 5d ago

    The H Files with Kevin Hillier Episode 38 Eric McCusker

    Eric McCusker's imprint on Australian pop music is awesome. Think songs like 'Come Said the Boy', 'Summer of '81', 'Chemistry' and a little ditty called 'State of the Heart', just part of his songwriting contribution to Mondo Rock, plus being a bloody good guitar player.  In this expansive chat with Kevin, Eric fills in the days before Mondo Rock - a musical adventure and apprenticship that crossed the globe - and his experiences as part of one of this country's most prolific pop bands.  From meeting Elvis in Hawaii to choosing music over medicine, Eric has had a most entertaining and interesting life journey.       Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media © 2026 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 10m

  2. Jun 1

    The H Files with Kevin Hillier Episode 37 Vika & Linda Bull and Beach Boy Al Jardine

    As they prepare for their induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame, Vika and Linda Bull take time out to chat about 'Where Do You Come From" their brilliant new album. The sisters share the stories behind the very personal songs that make up this new record and the preparation for a national tour which is is about to begin. Tour and album info here vikaandlinda.com.au    Also on the touring agenda is Beach Boy Al Jardine bringing the Pet Sounds Band to Australia to relive the musical magic of The Beach Boys. Al has been around since the beginnings of the Brian Wilson inspired supergroup, but still finds joy in performing timeless classics like God Only Knows, Help Me Rhonda and Surfer Girl.        Tour info here  https://davidroywilliams.com/tours/al-jardine/  Coming soon Episode 38 with Eric McCusker of Mondo Rock fame. No really, this time I mean it.        Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media © 2026 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min

  3. May 10

    The H Files with Kevin Hillier Episode 36 Mike Scott of The Waterboys & Bill Evans

    The Waterboys are currently touring Australia and their founder and frontman Mike Scott joined me to talk about the tour, playng live, their album dedicated to actor Dennis Hopper and of course that monster hit they had that still sounds epic - The Whole of the Moon.  The Waterboys – Australian and New Zealand Tour | Destroy All Lines Saxophonist Bill Evans is bringing his latest VansBand All Stars tour to Australia in October. A one time Miles Davis alumni, Bill is a master and his body of work covers every musical genre, all of which will be part of his first tour here in 25 years.  Tickets are on sale now!www.gaevents.au   Coming soon Episode 37 with Eric McCusker of Mondo Rock fame.        Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media © 2026 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    55 min

  4. Apr 24

    The H Files with Kevin Hillier Episode 35 Don McLean and Reg & Pete from Mental As Anything.

    Long, long time ago Don McLean had a hit with American Pie. Fifty five years later, we still love the song and Don will be playing it live during his October Australian tour to celebrate that 55th anninversary. Don chats about his life and times, including American Pie and why he is still performing at the age of 80. The ongoing musical autopsy on the song American Pie is not a concern to Don, as he tells me "It is the hand I have been dealt. And it is a winning hand." I also ask Don: Is American Pie his greatest work? How did it feel to have a classic song written about him?  Who are the three men he admires most ?  Don McLean's American Pie 55th Anniversary Tour begins October 10 at Mareeba. Tickets at Ticketmaster and more at https://donmclean.com/       By comparison, the relatively youthful Mental As Anything are only celebrating their 50th anniversary. Reg Mombassa and Peter O'Doherty, musical and real life brothers, join me to discuss the new tour, the documentary that chronicles the band's history and some of their favourite moments from those heady days.  Described as an ambitionless band, the Mentals had a string of top 40 hits spanning three decades, sold out shows across Australia and international success when they least expected it. The Mental As Anything 50th Anniversary Tour starts June 12 at The Gov in Adelaide tickets at Ticketmaster. More at  www.mentalasanything.com  Coming soon Episode 36 with Eric McCusker of Mondo Rock fame.        Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media © 2026 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 4m

  5. Apr 5

    The H Files with Kevin Hillier Episode 34 Francis Rossi, David Briggs and Kevin Borich.

    What a star-studded episode 34 turns out to be. Guest One: Francis Rossi OBE. Founder, leader, lead singer, lead guitarist and sole continuous member of Status Quo - a mighty feat on its own, but he also has a new solo album The Accidental to chat about. Francis - who loves a chat but doesn't like looking in the mirror - is happy to share some memories from the Quo days and his very colourful life.     Guest Two: David Briggs AM. When we left David Briggs in episode 33, he was enjoying the success of his song Lonesome Loser with Little River Band, but all that was about to change. In part 2 of my chat with David, he discusses leaving LRB and moving more into producing, including the first Australian Crawl album.      Guest Three: Kevin Borich KEV. I check in with Kev, who is about to hit the road for some shows in New South Wales and Melbourne in the next few weeks.   Kev's touring dates: Friday 10th April Wallsend Diggers & Mezz Bar  - Newcastle Saturday 11th April 2026 - Camelot Lounge  - Marrickville  Thursday 16th April Memo Music Hall St. -  St.Kilda  Saturday 18th Archies Creek Hotel - Archies Creek Sunday 19th Musicland Fawkner - Fawkner  You can check out The Accidental on all the usual music platforms as well as Francis' website www.francisrossi.com  Coming soon Episode 35: Reg & Pete from Mental as Anything and Don McLean.   Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media © 2026 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    59 min

  6. Mar 21

    The H Files with Kevin Hillier Episode 33 Ralph McTell & David Briggs

    On the eve of his farewell tour of Australia, Ralph McTell joins me to chat about his many Australian experiences, his enormous catalogue of songs, his love affair with his guitar and the ups and downs of having such an iconic hit as Streets of London.   My other guest is David Briggs, another man known for his prowess with the guitar. It was that skill which brought him to our attention as a long time member of the Little River Band in their halcyon days. Not only a guitarist, David wrote one of the band's biggest worldwide hits, Lonesome Loser. The story behind that song, his days on the road and in the studio with LRB plus life before all that are discussed in part one of this interview.        The H Files with Kevin Hillier Episode 33 with Ralph McTell and David Briggs. Ralph is touring across Australia from May 7th tickets https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=RALPHMC26 Coming soon Episode 34 with Francis Rossi of Status Quo fame and David Briggs Part Two.  Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media © 2026 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 8m

  7. Mar 1

    The H Files with Kevin Hillier Episode 32 Derek Smalls Ex Spinal Tap.

    Their musical footprint is undeniable and the mere mention of the name brings gasps to a generation. Spinal Tap blazed a trail through the music business, ignoring the rule book, rewriting the etiquette of rock, blowing up many sound systems worldwide and causing pandemonium at airport security. And in one final act of anarchy, they blew themeselves up. Bass player Derek Small walked out. The shockwaves are still being felt as Derek tells Kevin in this illuminating chat about the demise of the band that brought the world classics like Big Bottom, Sex Farm and Bitch School.  Derek is now carving out a solo career sans the influence of David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tuffnel and the shackles are off, as he launches into his post-Spinal Tap life with new original songs Rear View Mirror and Balls.  Derek has much to get off his rockstar hairy chest and does so.        The H Files with Kevin Hillier  Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media www.howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts © 2026 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    36 min

  8. Jan 24

    The H Files with Kevin Hillier Episode 31 Skyhooks Part 5 Ross Wilson, Mark Irvine and Peter Green

    Skyhooks were a rare combination of fan favourite, media darlings and respected musicians. They wanted to be noticed, and they were.The H Files brings you stories and recollections about Skyhooks from many different people, inside and outside the band. It is not a Skyhooks history lesson, more a homage to a very exciting era of music and a band that led the way with an original sound and look that captured the nation.  In Part 5 you'll hear Ross Wilson, who saw the band in the very early days, signed Greg to a music publishing deal and then became the producer of the first three Skyhooks albums. Ross' memories take you inside the studio, on the road in the USA and more.   3XY disc jockey Mark Irvine got teamed with Shirl in 1984 for a short term Rocktober on-air promotion that became a permanent pairing. They became a very successful radio team and a professional and personal partnership was formed. Peter Green was a 70s Wollongong teenager who loved the music and that passion led him to Melbourne, where he is now official historian and the man behind the Official Skyhooks Facebook page and YouTube channel, plus curator of Skyhooks memorabilia.      Musical excerpts in this episode  Hey What's the Matter   featuring Steve Hill  live Benefit Concert  Living in the 70's     Shirl solo Live soundcheck Melbourne Music Festival 1988 Love's Not Good Enough    From Ego is Not a Dirty Word  Blue Jeans   from Straight in a Gay Gay World  Women in Uniform  from Guilty Until Proven Insane Jukebox in Siberia     The Latest and Greatest       Ego is Not a Dirty Word    Ross Wilson featuring Bongo Starkie  Five Decades of Cool Palais Theatre 2009 Every Litte Bit Hurts    Shirley Strachan solo single  Crazy Heart    from Straight in a Gay Gay World 3XY Shirl & Irvine Show    1988  courtesy of Ken Francis  Love on the Radio    live from the In the Heat of the Night concert Myer Music Bowl Melbourne 1975 Let it Rock       Hits and Riffs  Meglomania, Life in ther Modern World and Don't Take Your Lurex to the Laundromat    from ABC TV Special  Guilty Until Proven Insane  The H Files with Kevin Hillier  Post-production by Chris Gates For Howdy Partners Media www.howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts © 2026 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 49m
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About

The H Files with Kevin Hillier has a very simple charter. Kevin Hillier wants to chat to interesting people and bring their unique and fascinating stories to you. Their stories are the star of the show. Those 'stars' might make you laugh, cry, groan, scream or all of the above. One thing for sure, you will be richer for the experience. 

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