Tony Mahony lives and works in Melbourne. He has
been the visual artist in charge of translating all things Dave Graney
for the last twentty five years. He has been responsible for every album cover
since "Lure of the tropics" as well as every single. He has also directed
every video that Dave Graney and the Coral Snakes made as well as the
short film, "Smile and wave" and the accompanying video for "your masters
must be pleased with you" for the Dave Graney Show. He is also responsible
for every photo session during the same period. He also collaborated with
Dave Graney on the 1997 book about songwriting "It
is Written, baby" and designed the cover for the 2011 Dave Graney memoir "1001 Australian Nights". .
The covers of "the Soft'n'sexy Sound", "the Devil Drives", "the Dave Graney
Show"as well as the re issued "Night of the Wolverine", "You wanna be
there. . . . " and all the accompanying singles have been characterised
by a meticulous hand drawn and coloured style. Tony eschews the Photo
shop techniques that are responsible for most other cd artwork you see
about the place, preferring the long, slow, hand drawn technique. He has
made many other videos for artists as diverse as Stephen Cummings, the
Black Sorrows, Rebeccas Empire, the Welcome Mat, Weddings Partys Anything,
Renee Geyer, the late David McComb, Paul Kelly and Monique Brumby.
In 1997 Tony, Dave and Clare collaborated on a pilot for an adult tv show
to be called "AO". Set in a mansion and based around the back room life
of a disillusioned pop singer who wanders forlornly about his mansion
while an endless party goes on elsewhere, running into guests who someone
has invited to stay, two segments were filmed, one with American performer
Henry Rollins and one with West Australian socialite and personality,
Rose Hancock Porteous. The basic premise was to feature non mainstream
people in a heightened, vivid atmosphere where they would be able to speak
loudly and perhaps or the first and only time. It proved to be too hard
to get through the incredibly sensitive and collaborative stage of talking
it up through a network.
If you wish to contact Tony you can do so through this web site.
Tony Mahony's 2004 short film "RAY"- watch it here at VIMEO
Ray from Innit Digital on Vimeo.
Music by Dave Graney and Clare Moore.
In 2014 Tony directed the feature movie "THE MULE". Watch the trailer here...
A few words about yourself Tony?
"I grew up in Yarrawonga, the land of the
freckled cleavage, "Australia's aquatic Paradise". I can remember
only two truly artisitic events: the thirty year old Town Bullshitter,
Ray Pritchard, riding his bike off the diving board; and Valda Paviovic
shaving her pubic hair to match the GT stripes on her boyfriends' Monaro.
I could draw but in the country that's no particular advantage unless
you were going to be The Signwriter. I made a Super 8 film when I was
twelve called "the Bikie Gang in which a bunch of two wheeled hoodlums
terrified the town. The film making part didn't really appeal that much,
but I always hoped the story would really happen and Yarrawonga would
get on the tv news. Sometime later it did, but failed to make the TV.
Also sometime later I became a signwriter, but not The Signwriter as the
locals remained loyal to the peg legged alcoholic Ricky, who'd been doing
it for years. He said to me, "it's a fickle business kiddo, they're
all pricks around here..."Then added , pointing to his can of VB,
"that's why you need something to fall back on." (I did end
up getting some of his work though, due to his inability to climb a ladder).
A hundred jobs later and I'm a Director. Along the way there's been stills
work, short films, TV shows, a book with Dave Graney, stacks of music
clips and a couple of ARIAS. (The first I didn't find out about for three
years and the second brought my flow of work to an absolute halt for six
months) ."
The first live show you saw?
I was 13 and got into the Rock Isle (Mulwala) pop festival, under the
fence. The act on stage was Greg Quill and Country Radio. They had cowboy
hats and I was impressed. . . . everyone else was pissed out of their
heads.
My idea of indulgence?
Having a chef who didn't mind me cooking about half the time.
The first Australian LP you ever bought?
The Ariel record with the auto production line picture on the inside.
. . the bit about "the garden of frenzied Cortinas". Can't remember the
name of the record though.
The one Artist who inspired you to be involved
in visual arts?
Ed Roth.
Name your 3 favourite albums of all time?
Impossible but here goes: "A love supreme", John Coltrane. "Come fly with
me", Frank Sinatra. "Suicide", Suicide. "Midnight Cowboy", soundtrack.
"Gris Gris", Dr John. "Ascenseur pour l'schafaud", soundtrack by Miles
Davis. "Masterpiece", the Temptations.
Favourite movie?
Again too hard, "Two lane black top". . . . but, "Midnight Cowboy". "Broadway
Danny Rose". "Raging Bull". "The postman always rings twice". "Vanishing
point". "Double indemnity". "Chinatown". "Manhattan". "Walkover"
Favourite book?
"Savage Night" by Jim Thompson-unputdownable, amazing finish. "Ham on
Rye", Bukowski-relentless and really funny. "Dick Continos blues", James
Ellroy.
The song you wanna hear when you get back from
the pub, drunk?
"Superfreak"by Rick James.
If you won a whole lot of money, how would you
spend it?
Continually collect great cars and other art.
What tv shows should be rerun?
"Get Smart", but it is! "Johnny Staccato" with John Cassavettes as a jazz
pianist private detective. "Twin peaks", even just for Joan Chen and the
backwards talkin midget. "my names McGooley" because I'm sure John Mellion
was really drinking the beer and they had a character called "donk". A
US rock show of the late 60's called "Somethin else". They used to have
Steppenwolf on a lot. "the Gong Show" with Chuck Barris, he should be
coaching St Kilda.
Given the ability to travel any where in an
instant, where would you choose to live?
In Lisbon or any city in Italy or with stacks of dough in New York or
San Francisco. Never in the countryside.
Who is your favourite novelist?
Jim Thompson.
Which painting or sculpture would you like to
own?
Any of Frank Sinatra's works as featured in "a man and his art". A Philip
Guston painting, "Friend to M. F. " or anything of his. A Frank Auerback
painting called "Julia sleeping 1978" or anything of his.
Whats your favourite weekend treat?
St Kilda beating the stinkin' GST lovin' arses of Carlton in the AFL.
Preferred drink?
Tough one. Beer is great:the ONLY thing Tasmanians do well. Mexican beer
is great, as is Belgian but out here it's like six bucks a bottle. Shiraz
is great. Vodka martinis with two olives are very hard to beat, but so
are good Margaritas, frozen or otherwise.
If you could be anyone else in the world who
would you like to be?
Maybe a successful Italian Painter, one that can work anywhere and be
on the money with each show. Not too marketed, but one whose public knows,
expects and accepts. Like Enzo Cucchi or Mimmo Paladino or Jean Debuffet
in France. The worst of all this art world stuff is, of course, the Poms.
Damien Hirst and all those saps trying to be Malcolm McLarens. Art has
many obstacles.
