Fed: Peter Garrett announces his Rock the Schools tour

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2009
Fed: Peter Garrett announces his Rock the Schools tour

By Alyssa Braithwaite, National Entertainment Writer

SYDNEY, April 29 AAP - Federal Arts Minister Peter Garrett is going back to school
to help teach kids how to rock.

The former Midnight Oil frontman has been announced as the patron of the Boost Mobile
Rock the Schools initiative, which tours secondary schools and teaches students about
careers in the music industry.

Bands including Operator Please, Van She and Dash and Will have passed on their knowledge
and advice since the program began in 2006.

Now students will have the chance to learn from Garrett about his days as part of one
of Australia's most successful bands.

"They can learn that it's not only about aiming to have great songs and putting on
a really spirited performance, it's also having high levels of organisational skills,
and it's about marketing and promotion, which is one of the most critical components,"

Garrett told AAP.

"It's a commercial business, so things like proper book-keeping, use of equipment,
insurance - the sorts of all-round business savvy skills that you need out there in the
wide world, you need them just as much in the rock `n' roll world."

Having spent 25 years and made 13 albums with Midnight Oil before entering politics,
Garrett knows the industry well.

At a time when many Australians are struggling through hard times, Garrett said young
people should not be put off from pursuing a career in music: when the going gets tough,
the tough get rocking.

"I think that when we're going through difficult times music means more to us than
ever before," he said.

"I know for a fact that a lot of acts keep touring through these periods and people
still come out and they want to hear what people have got to offer."

Garrett said he loved re-joining his Midnight Oil bandmates for a special performance
at Melbourne's Sound Relief concert last month, and but he's not ready to consider a return
to music right now.

"It was a unique opportunity because of the enormity of the event and the fact it had
impacted on so many people's lives and I really relished the opportunity to provide some
sort of support in that way," he said.

"Walking back out on stage with The Oils was a huge thrill for me, but ... I've got
a full time job and I'm going to stick to that for the moment."

Garrett's first stop on his Rock the Schools tour will be at Brunswick Secondary College
in Melbourne on May 6.

AAP acb/it

KEYWORD: ROCK

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.