Vale Ollie Olsen
Vale Ollie Olsen.
We sadly pay tribute to Ollie Olsen, a multi-instrumentalist, composer and sound designer, and a significant figure in Australia's post-punk movement. He passed away after a long battle with multiple system atrophy.
Ollie joined APRA in 1988, having already made a mark in 70s bands The Young Charlatans and Whirlywirld. He collaborated with the late Michael Hutchence on the MAX Q project and wrote Michael's solo work 'Rooms For The Memory', a top 10 ARIA Single.
His ECCO HOMO single 'New York New York' was featured on the Double J 'Singles Stories' series, which remembers timeless Australian 7-inch singles.
Music Victoria recently announced Olsen's induction into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame for his contribution to the state's music. The ceremony takes place next week.
Music Victoria CEO Simone Schinkel said, “Ollie Olsen is easily the people’s choice for a Hall of Fame induction. Music Victoria has been overwhelmed with calls for his induction dating back many years. He is a true artist and visionary in every sense of the word, consistently forging his own path, delivering groundbreaking sounds with each new decade, influencing generations of musicians, and we’re proud to celebrate his enduring legacy.”
We send our condolences to Ollie's family, friends and fans. Support Act's 'Help a Mate' campaign for Ollie is accepting donations.
'Rooms for the Memory' performed by Michael Hutchence. Written by Ollie Olsen.
