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When Rod Willis first saw Jimmy Barnes in a faded club in 1977, he thought the band’s name was dreadful. Picture: Eric Algra
Rod Willis who discovered the band Cold Chisel and became their manager for 32 years is selling his northern beaches sanctuary he has held for almost four decades.
After years on tour with the rock band travelling throughout Australia and overseas Rod returned to beachside Sydney buying a private slice of paradise in Avalon on a big block of land that is being auctioned this month.
Rod is credited with propelling the Adelaide-based band into stardom taking them from small clubs and bars to touring towns throughout Australia and promoting them to becoming one of the nation’s best-known groups.
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Former Cold Chisel manager Rod Willis, pictured next to Jimmy Barnes, with the band backstage at Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta, in 2020. Picture: Robert Hambling
Rod Willis and his wife, Gay, bought the home with its saltwater pool at 21 Kevin Ave, Avalon for $265,000 in 1987.
Hits like Flame Trees, Choir Girl, Saturday Night, Khe Sanh and Cheap Wine are all Australian standards now, written mostly by band member and keyboard player Don Walker and powerfully sung by the legendary Jimmy Barnes.
Rod has repeatedly told stories of the first time he saw the band, in a faded club in Chinatown in 1977.
“I thought the band’s name was dreadful,” he said.
“They opened up and the lead singer had his back to the audience which I thought was a bad start.
“Then suddenly this voice came out and I thought, ‘Whoa’.”
Rod immediately offered to manage the boys when he learnt they didn’t have a manager and was particularly impressed with Jimmy Barnes’ distinctive sound.
“No one was interested in them, which was kinda weird,” he told an ABC reporter.
21 Kevin Ave, Avalon comes with a modern kitchen.
Rod’s recent book Ringside charts his own music manager journey and the highs and lows of Cold Chisel which broke up in the early 1980s.
He tells the story of arriving at his North Sydney office one morning to be informed by his secretary that he had missed all the action, Jimmy had been hanging fellow band member Steve Prestwick out of a first-floor window.
Meanwhile Rod was regularly paying hotel repairs for bashed in doors following fights.
Now retired and aged 78, Rod is selling his family home just a 300m level stroll to Avalon village and the beach.
His home at 21 Kevin Ave is on 1391sqm of land and has a saltwater pool and tropical gardens.
Open-plan living areas lead outdoors to the pool.
Peter Robinson, of LJ Hooker Avalon Beach, said the four-bedroom, two-bathroom home was the kind of home where memories are made.
“Kids and their friends drop by for an after-school swim in the pool, while extended family gather for the holidays,” he said.
There are several living zones, decks, views of the pool from nearly every room and a double garage.
This single-level home with potential to expand goes to auction on Tuesday March 18 and has a $3.25m guide.
Rod and his wife Gay had paid $265,000 for the property in 1987.
