06 Apr, 2021

Laneway in city’s west end named after rock music royalty

Cold Chisel and the highly acclaimed rock group’s front man Jimmy Barnes are being recognised for their Adelaide beginnings with a laneway named in their honour by the City of Adelaide this weekend.

Cold Chisel Lane features a 50 metre by 5 metre band-inspired mural painted by renowned local artist James Dodd. The artwork is also named ‘Cold Chisel Lane’.

The previously unnamed Cold Chisel Lane is located in Adelaide’s West End, between Hindley and Currie Street near Cry Baby Bar and underneath the under-construction Sofitel Hotel.

The laneway and mural are just metres from where the Adelaide-formed band landed their first regular residency at the Mediterranean Hotel in the 1970s, now Red Square.

The City of Adelaide has named the city laneway after Cold Chisel to acknowledge their Adelaide beginnings in 1973 and their valuable contribution to music locally, nationally and internationally.

Ahead of the laneway and mural’s official unveiling on Saturday (March 27), Cold Chisel lead vocalist Jimmy Barnes said the band had lots of good memories of their early days in Adelaide.

“Over the years we’ve continued to have great support at all of our gigs in the city,” he said.

“Having this lane named after Cold Chisel recognises those long-time Adelaide fans as much as it recognises the band itself.

“I am sure I staggered into the laneway that’s now renamed after us lots of times as a young fella on my way home from a night out too.”

Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Sandy Verschoor, said the laneway and mural promoted Adelaide’s great musical heritage.

“Cold Chisel Lane will become a music tourism destination, with the band’s large and loyal following to attract local, interstate and international visitors,” the Lord Mayor said.

“We are proud to formally recognise Cold Chisel’s beginnings in Adelaide and their strong ties to our city by naming a laneway in their honour.

“The City of Adelaide’s cultural identity is unique, and our creative reputation is internationally recognised. This project helps showcase the city’s status as a UNESCO City of Music.”

Mural artist James Dodd said the artwork pays homage to the band’s significance in Adelaide and to Cold Chisel’s many fans.

“The artwork brings together stories from a broad cross-section of people who all talk about how Cold Chisel has left indelible marks on their lives,” he said.

Matthew Halliwell