DON WALKER
Don Walker is an acclaimed Australian musician, songwriter, and author, best known as the principal songwriter and keyboardist for Cold Chisel, one of Australia’s most iconic rock bands. With Cold Chisel, his lyrics for hits like “Khe Sanh,” “Flame Trees,” and “Choirgirl” captured the essence of Australian life, blending raw emotion with vivid imagery. Cold Chisel’s success in the late 1970s and 1980s established Walker as one of the country’s most influential lyricists, his work becoming synonymous with Australian rock.
After Cold Chisel disbanded in 1984, Walker explored diverse musical avenues. He launched his solo project, Catfish, and released two albums, Unlimited Address (1989) and Ruby (1991). These albums showcased his ability to experiment with blues, country, and rock influences while maintaining his signature lyrical depth.
As a solo artist, Walker continued to evolve, releasing acclaimed albums such as We're All Gunna Die (1995), Cutting Back (2006), Hully Gully (2013), and Lightning in a Clear Blue Sky (2023). The latter album reaffirmed his status as a masterful songwriter, blending introspective lyrics with rich instrumentation to critical acclaim. In 1993, Walker teamed up with Tex Perkins and Charlie Owen to form Tex, Don, and Charlie. They produced highly regarded albums like Sad but True (1993), All Is Forgiven (2005), and You Don’t Know Lonely (2017), further cementing his reputation as a collaborative force. Walker also contributed to the soundtrack to the film Speed (1994).
Beyond music, he is also a celebrated author. His memoir, Shots (2009), received critical praise for its vivid prose and candid reflections on life, creativity, and the music industry. In 2018, Walker published Songs, a collection of his lyrics that offered readers a deeper appreciation of his craft and his unique perspective on storytelling. These literary works provided insight into the mind of an artist who has spent decades capturing the human condition in all its complexity.
In 2017, Don reunited with Tex Perkins and Charlie Owen for the third Tex, Don and Charlie album, You Don’t Know Lonely - "On their third album together, the sad, seedy composite character conjured by Tex Perkins, Don Walker and Charlie Owen is as reliable as a hangover after the races” - Rolling Stone, followed by a 26-date national tour.
The following year saw the remastering and vinyl release of Don’s albums We’re All Gunna Die, Cutting Back, Hully Gully, Live At The Caravan, Unlimited Address and Ruby, collected in the Blacktop Boxset.
In 2019, at the same time Songs was released, the live album Songs: Live at Camelot Lounge 2018, was released alongside a national tour.
After a decade between studio albums, Don returned to the studio in 2022 to record over two days what would become Lightning In a Clear Blue Sky, released in May 2023. The album was widely acclaimed as “Walker’s solo masterpiece” and described as “a solo effort as deep as the ocean and as dark as the night. Honest as a bee sting.”
The album preceded the Lightning in a Clear Blue Sky tour, spanning 2023 and 2024, which produced Don’s fourth live album, Live Lightning. Recorded at shows in Sydney, Melbourne, and Eumundi, the album was released in November 2024.
Don Walker’s artistic contributions span music and literature, resonating deeply with audiences for their authenticity and emotional depth. Whether through his solo albums, collaborations, or literary endeavours, Walker continues to be a towering figure in Australian culture and music. His works remain timeless, offering new generations a glimpse into the world through his lens, marked by honesty, grit, and a profound understanding of life’s nuances.
