Flashback Friday – Over ten years ago I photographed, and reported on, Stevie Wright’s book launch. 
First published: Beat Magazine
Stevie Wright Book Launch @ Moser Room, Melbourne
Thursday 6th August 2004 
Australian rock legend Stevie Wright made a magic, rare appearance at the Moser Room, with celebrity friends, to launch his biography Hard Road, The Life and Times of Stevie Wright, co-written by Glenn Goldsmith.
Molly Meldrum introduced the evening, while a full house, overflowing with free liquor, writhed with anticipation. Many had already had their book signed by the man himself, but it wasn’t set in stone whether Stevie would be able to perform later that night.
The Pictures’ and You Am I’s Davey Lane started off the set with For My Woman, followed by You Am I’s Tim Rogers singing Wedding Ring and Good Times. Grinspoon’s Phil Jamieson continued with St Louis and Cheetah’s Lyndsay Hammond was fantastic with her edgy, angsty version of Hard Road. 
Jet’s Nick Cester was to sing Evie Part 1 but didn’t quite make it from the airport –or something like that, so Blake Scott –introduced as “some guy from Perth”, saved the day and was fantastic.
Then, the moment we were all waiting for: emerging on stage was the legend himself, Stevie Wright, powerfully singing Evie Part 2 on his own, Sorry with Phil Jamieson and She’s So Fine with everyone. It was an emotional moment –and one of celebration also, witnessing such a revolutionary performer live on stage. Stevie was still as charismatic and captivating as the images I had seen of him in his Easybeats’ days. The effects of years of heroin addiction and alcohol abuse were obvious in his entire being but while performing, Stevie Wright is still oh so fine.
By Mary Boukouvalas.
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