Q&A Scene: Jeff Duff

Steamed vegetables and tofu prepared with a tablespoon of love and a pinch of humour. It’s my favourite meal and one which I prepare most evenings for supper. Omnipresent.

Which song resonates most strongly and why?

Of the songs on the ‘Eggshells’ album, I like them all for different reasons. …but the song called ‘What planet are you from’ resonates heavily in my world. It’s a question I’m often asked… I often feel like the ‘Man who fell to Earth’ [Bowie movie] I do feel like I don’t belong here, or anywhere. This song implies my feelings towards being an outcast.

Any on the road anecdotes?

Nature, people, relationships, music… and genius!

What’s next for you?

I’m also performing an eight week season of the Ray Charles gospel show in June & July at the Collins Street Baptist Church in the heart of Melbourne. It’s called ‘Genius:the Gospel, Soul, & Rock’n’Roll of Br Ray’ www.geniusshow.com.au

What’s your scene?

In a flamboyant and often controversial music career Jeff has released twenty-six albums, including a recent album with members of legendary British rock band Deep Purple.

When Duffo took refuge in England in the eighties, he had, as they say, worn out his welcome in Australian rock.

He was simply too much of a handfull, this ‘waif with a wharfie’s voice!’ camping it up out front of his trail- blazing rock ensemble ‘Kush’ At the time, Jeff’s androgynous stage persona, dressed n leotards, garish make-up & a touch of the operatics was considered far too outrageous for many Australian audiences…so Jeff aka Duffo headed for London.

Jeff quickly established himself in the UK & became the darling of London’s new wave movement during the eighties staying one step ahead of his peers with his flamboyant performances.
The exhibitionism & visual assault so integral to British punk culture could have been a sequence from Duffo’s own fertile imagination.

Soon Andy Warhol was issuing forth his oft-quoted utterence: ‘Sinatra, Presley, Jagger, Popeye…& now Duffo”

Duffo returned to Australia in the late eighties to re-introduce his powerful voice and unique style to the local scene.

His recording & accompanying video of Lou Reed’s ‘Walk on the Wildside’ helped re-establish his career in oz & has become an Australian classic.

Jeff’s recent leading role in ‘Genius’, the Ray Charles gospel show staged in Melbourne was acclaimed by critics.’‘Duff was truly magnificent!…How such an extraordinarily soulful voice can come out of such a skinny white guy is beyond me” [PBI FM Radio Melb]

Jeff’s longtime admiration for David Bowie eventually led him to staging his own popular ‘Bowie Unzipped’ and ‘Ziggy’ shows.
The ‘Ziggy’ show recently completed a national concert tour of Australia culminating with a capacity crowd at the State Theatre in Sydney and five sold out shows at the Sydney Opera House.

Jeff’s recent 2012 album ‘Fragile Spaceman’ received critical acclaim….
      “Fragile Spaceman” is a mature, serious and beautiful statement from one of Australia’s more unique performers. ”He’s created one of the best albums you’ll hear all year”. [Australasian independent news & analysis]

Bowie’s official website ‘BowieNet’ also gave the album a great rap ‘There truly are some beautiful moments on this album and Jeff is in extremely fine voice. I hear little hints, most likely unintentional, of Peter Gabriel, & Elbow….get yourself a copy” [BowieNet news Feb 2012]

Jeff recently had an acting role in Baz Lurmann’s multi-million dollar movie ‘Gatsby’ starring Leonardo Di Caprio which was filmed at Fox Studios in Sydney.

Over the last twelve months Jeff has written and recorded a new album [his 27^th album] titled ‘Walking on Eggshells’ which will be released in early 2015..

”I don’t think it’s overstating the case to say that, had Jeff Duff hailed from a country in the top half of the world, he could now be as acknowledged and acclaimed as David Bowie or Lou Reed or Iggy Pop” –
[ Glenn A. Baker, rock historian]

www.jeffduff.com

www.bowieunzipped.com.au

www.jeffduffstuff.com

Tour Dates