Aussie rock icon Tex Perkins has announced that he will be running as independent candidate for the upcoming Victorian State Election, with his primary focus on restoring the crumbling St Kilda music venue, The Palais Theatre.
Perkins has been campaigning with iLoveMyPalais, a group dedicated to gaining state funding for the venue, has now stepped up to the plate, throwing his name into the political hat and seeking the seat of Albert Park, as Musicfeeds reports.
Perkins spoke of the situation stating “the neglect of such an iconic performance venue, along with all the buck-passing from both sides of politics, it’s just not good enough.”
“The Palais is a state-owned heritage building and there are policies for how you maintain these buildings, instead, she has been neglected by both sides of politics for far too many years.”
The current state of the iconic Aussie venue is said to be deteriorating rapidly, with large pieces of the concrete exterior and many of the window having degraded over time, the building is also said to be suffering from “concrete cancer”.
In accordance to a report by The Age repairs are estimated at a staggering $32.5 million, the adored live music spot having been allegedly ignored for 90 years.
The Port Phillip council have managed the venue since 2006 and just recently pledged $7.5 million to bring the Theatre to its full glory, asking the State Government to provide the remaining $25 million.
Perkins is not the only musician to bring The Palais into media headlines, with Mick Jagger during The Rolling Stones’ concert at Rod Laver last week commenting, “I’d just like to tell you, we played at the Palais Theatre about 50 years ago, The Palais Theatre is just about still there – give generously.”
It’s great to see such a force getting behind one of Australia’s most treasured performing platforms, the Aussie music scene cannot afford to lose yet another iconic live music venue like the terrible closing of The Palace of Melbourne’s CBD earlier this year.
Despite the concerning future of The Palais Theatre, 2014 has brought some positive live music venue news.
Already we’ve seen Melbourne’s Shadow Electric band room that powered into full-time as well as the reopening of Brunswick’s Railway Hotel, in Sydney there has been the addition of The Roller Den, The Hub, and The Lewisham Hotel, while Brisbane has witnessed an explosion of great venues with The Brightside, Woolly Mammoth and ex-Powderfinger member’s stunning refurbished WW2 hanger, The Triffid.
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Want To Save The Palais Theatre? Vote For Tex Perkins
You Can Vote For Tex Perkins In The State Election
Tex Perkins Enters The State Election, Vows To Save The Palais Theatre
