The Meldrum Tapes- Molly Meldrum Interviews Iva Davies- 1986

A segment from the Australian music interview TV series The Meldrum Tapes, of which 24 episodes aired on the ABC in 1986. The Meldrum Tapes featured full length interviews that Countdown Talent Co-Ordinator, Ian 'Molly' Meldrum, conducted over his many overseas trips during the Countdown years, which aired on the ABC from 1974-1987. Where Countdown would feature a small part of the interview (constrained due to time), The Meldrum Tapes aired the interviews in full.

This clip features an interview of Australian singer Iva Davies, of the Australian band Icehouse (formerly known as The Flowers), conducted by Co-Ordinator Molly Meldrum.

The interview begins with a discussion about his early interest and experience in music, beginning with learning the oboe, which led him to the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music.

They then discuss Iva's entry into song writing, and his amazement at the success of The Flower's original songs, and the reaction to it. They also discussed the origins of The Flowers as a pub cover band. Iva also explains having to change the name of the band from The Flowers to Icehouse.

Also discussed is the apparent pause in their career, which led some people to believe that Icehouse had split up, and the background behind it. Iva also explains how Icehouse's style of music would not necessarily fit into the American market.

Vaxfacts: The name change of the band from The Flowers to Icehouse occurred in 1981, and came about during their first tour of North America- as there was already a band there called The Flowers, to avoid confusion and legal issues, they decided to not only change their name for the US, but also Australia and worldwide, to Icehouse, which was the title of an earlier Flowers single, and a reference to a small, old cold flat that Iva Davies once lived in.