Khe Sanh finally becomes a Top 40 hit!

It promises to be a huge week for the legendary Cold Chisel, with their “Light The Nitro” tour going on sale at 9am this Thursday. However, the good news is already rolling in for the band.

Last night, more than 33 years after its initial release, their classic song Khe Sanh made the national Top 40 for the first time ever.  For a song that was banned on commercial radio when it was first released, this week’s appearance on the ARIA Singles Chart follows the recent digital release of Cold Chisel’s remastered catalogue which also propelled Flame Trees, Cheap Wine and When The War Is Over back into the charts.

And in what is almost certainly a first for an Australian band, Cold Chisel have no less than nine albums in this week’s ARIA Top 100 Album Chart. East has actually gone back into the Top 20 more than 30 years after its release. Every one of the band’s six studio albums made the list as did three of the group’s live titles – Swingshift, Ringside and The Last Stand. In fact, leading music retailer JB Hi Fi had nine Cold Chisel albums in their Top 40!

The commercial success of the band’s re-releases has been matched by an overwhelming critical response:

• “In a rarity for Australia, the reissued albums are presented thoroughly, respectfully and attractively. Each album comes with a personal and thoughtful essay by a fellow musician or critic or fan… There’s history here and it has received the treatment it deserves.” Bernard Zuel, The Sydney Morning Herald
• “This remarkable reissue set reminds you just how deeply engrained in the fabric of Australian life Cold Chisel is.” Ray Purvis, The West Australian
• “Cold Chisel’s albums have been digitally, and faithfully, remastered as part of this brilliant reissues program, where attention to detail is the order of the day.” Cameron Adams, Herald Sun

On Wednesday, the band will also grace the hallowed cover of Rolling Stone magazine with an in-depth interview with the band, talking about the background for the reissues and their upcoming national tour.

It will also bring a smile to the dials of Cold Chisel fans to learn that Jimmy Barnes continues to recover well from some recent illness. He has no heart problem, has not been hospitalised and is preparing to be in top shape for the commencement of Cold Chisel tour rehearsals in September.

Tickets for Cold Chisel’s Light The Nitro tour go on sale to the General Public at 9am this Thursday 4 August. More details are on the tour page.