Russell 'The Real Thing' Morris returns to The Imperial Hotel touring new album, 'Black and Blue Heart' - playing July 27th

After a staggering 50 year career, Russell Morris returns to The Imperial Hotel on Saturday 27 July with his new album, Black And Blue Heart.

Produced by the legendary Nick DiDia (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam) alongside Bernard Fanning, and backed by a dream studio band (Declan Kelly on drums, Wolfmother’s Ian Peres on keyboards, Matt Englebrecht on bass, and Dan Kelly on guitar), Black And Blue Heart is a testament to Russell's commitment to find unique ways to challenge himself creatively.

When Russell sent his Black And Blue Heart demos to Nick DiDia and Bernard Fanning, the two producers were blown away. They rang him back almost immediately, saying they could not stop listening to the songs. Speaking of the title track, Bernard Fanning says it is “a song for the ages”.

“Russell’s been a really substantial artist for a very long time but I think that song will live on with his best,” he says.

Born and bred in the USA, throughout the recording process Nick DiDia learnt of Russell’s Australian classic hits ‘The Real Thing’, ‘Wings Of An Eagle’ and ‘Sweet, Sweet Love’, and was blown away. “I was hearing this amazing history for the first time as we were making the record,” he says.

Russell Morris became the first Australian artist to score consecutive number one singles with his first two releases. ‘The Real Thing’, which is one of the classic psychedelic singles of the 1960s, and ‘Part Three Into Paper Walls’ both reached the top spot on the ARIA Chart, and what followed was one of the most remarkable stories in contemporary Australian music.

After six decades on the road, an album can almost write itself. But it takes a rare combination of talent and circumstances to realise that vision as vividly as Russell Morris does on Black And Blue Heart.

Doors open 7.30pm