Ian “Molly” Meldrum with Jeff Jenkins – Ah,Well, Nobody’s Perfect: The Untold Stories (Literature Review)

Following the recent mini-revival of Countdown on the ABC, it seems there is no better time than the present to take a look inside Meldrum’s second memoir, Ah, Well, Nobody’s Perfect: The Untold Stories.

Ian “Molly” Meldrum is something of a guru when it comes to Australian music – regardless of his thoughts at being named so. From Kylie Minogue to Michael Jackson, and almost every musical icon in between, Meldrum has been at the forefront of pop music history for decades.

While he may not be the most conventional of interviewers, he has a unique ability to strike up a rapport with almost anyone he meets, and its undoubtedly for this reason that A-list celebrities such as David Bowie, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Bruce Springsteen and The Rolling Stones have turned to him when wanting to make a splash in international media.

As the sequel to his 2014 Countdown memoir, The Never, Um, Ending Story with Jeff Jenkins, this book stays away from the music programme for which Meldrum is so well-loved (though those who have also read The Never, Um, Ending Story may recognise some excerpts of the celebrity interviews).

Instead, Ah, Well, Nobody’s Perfect discusses Meldrum’s life outside of all things Countdown. This book is about stripping Meldrum’s career back to its very beginnings, starting from his ill-fated time as a bank teller, all the way through to his time on Hey, Hey It’s Saturday. There are even more details of encounters with A-list celebrities, Meldrum’s career as a producer, and an insight into his unique relationship with his adopted son, Morgan.

Meldrum, is, it would seem a very much “you get what you see” type of persona. While most celebrities would embrace the opportunity of a writing a memoir to shy away from discussing certain areas of their lives (or people they have encountered over the years), Meldrum lays it all bare for the reader. Rather than try to portray a clean image of self-preservation, he is keen to hold nothing back, and this transparency, is no doubt what has endeared music fans and celebrities to him.

Though he does reunite with co-writer, Jeff Jenkins, the book has Meldrum written all over it. It’s mainly verbatim and can be a little full-on at times. But with anecdotes from friends and celebrities who he loves so dearly, from Mushroom Group’s founder Michael Gudinski, Russell Morris and even Shane Warne, his unique style makes Ah, Well, Nobody’s Perfect all the more palatable and gives readers a bigger scope of Meldrum’s career and personal life.

From start to finish, it’s personal, entertaining and an intriguing account of the career of one of Australia’s biggest pop music fans. Certainly, this memoir is a must have for anybody interested in the music industry, or just looking for a light read to while away the hours.