Steve Irwin Memorial

The Blenders were honoured to accept a request from John Stainton, the managing Director of ‘The Best Picture Show Company’, Steve Irwin’s management company. John asked The Blenders to participate in Steve’s Memorial Service. At very short notice the members all rallied and learned the harmony parts for three new songs, in only five days, as only a group of dedicated performers would do.

This wasn’t the first time The Blenders had been involved with The Best Picture Show Company. Eighteen months earlier they had learned ‘Outback to Hollywood’ and ‘Man of Action’, with John Stainton personally visiting the chorus to film and record the songs. He was impressed with the speed of learning (approximately one week) and the energy the chorus produced. He vowed that they would work together at some stage in the future. Neither John nor The Blenders would have wished for the circumstances that eventually brought them together again.

With the Memorial Service being broadcast world wide, this was a tremendous honour for the Blenders. For those involved in ‘the Crikey Chorus’ as they became affectionately known, the experience was incredibly emotional and moving. There were many tears shed during the rehearsals on the Tuesday, and even more throughout the service itself. This is certainly one event that the Blenders will remember – along with the rest of the world.