Australian music icon Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum is ‘struggling’ with his health and has largely withdrawn from public life, a close source has revealed.
Next month will mark 50 years since Countdown, the long-running ABC music show that propelled Meldrum to stardom, debuted on Australian television screens.
Meldrum, 81, who has made headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent years, failed to show up at a Royal Australian Mint event in Melbourne on Wednesday to release a commemorative countdown coin.
Former Countdown host Gavin Wood has revealed his long-term partner has struggled with his health since his highly publicized fall from a ladder in December 2011, which nearly killed him.
“The fall, it’s all because of the fall, it was a horrible thing to have happened,” Wood said. the Herald of the Sun.
‘He will be 82 years old in January. He’s been a public figure his whole life and I think he’s just enjoying a quieter life.
“He’s still Molly, he’s still interested in music and he’s still 11. He’s still mischievous, he still has that spark that we love, but I think he’s enjoying life being a normal person.”
Although Meldrum did not attend the coin toss, he did release a statement and dropped his famous catchphrase whenever he recommended an artist on the show.
Ian ‘Molly; Meldrum arrives at the Olivia Newton-John State Memorial Service at Hamer Hall on February 26, 2023 in Melbourne
“I have very good memories of those days and a show that I will never forget,” Meldrum said.
‘We made a difference to the music industry in Australia and that’s why I’m delighted to see the commemorative coins being made.
‘Do yourself a favor and get one. The iconic countdown lives on.”
Wood said his former colleague Meldrum would be “pleased” to see something “as beautiful and imaginative” as the coins commemorating the spectacle he is synonymous with.
Meldrum with pop superstar Kylie Minogue at the Australian Music Vault launch in 2017
Wood, who was an announcer and occasional substitute presenter on Countdown, which ran from November 8, 1974 to July 19, 1987, said the program was a product of Meldrum’s enthusiasm and foresight.
The show was something Meldrum “lived, breathed, drank, consumed” — it was “everything” to him, Wood said.
Meldrum has remained out of the public spotlight since his last controversy 18 months ago.
In March 2023, Meldrum made headlines for exposing himself and appearing to urinate on the floor at a Rod Stewart concert in Melbourne.
A video obtained by Daily Mail Australia shows him exposing his private parts near the end of the pop singer’s show at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.
He appeared to urinate on the floor while facing the stage and wearing his trademark Stetson cowboy hat.
Meldrum and singer John Paul Young appear on stage at Countdown Spectacular 2 at Sydney’s Rod Laver Arena in 2007.
November marks 50 years since Meldrum (right) rose to fame as the face of Countdown. He is pictured interviewing Elton John (left) in 1979.
The alarming incident came after a series of other strange antics by Meldrum in recent years.
In January 2023, Meldrum caused a stir after dropping his pants during his old friend Sir Elton’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
During his final act, the I’m Still Standing hitmaker brought Meldrum on stage for a performance of The B**** Is Back.
Meldrum blamed a wardrobe malfunction, but footage soon resurfaced showing him performing the same antics in front of spectators at the 2022 ChillOut Festival in Daylesford, Victoria.