Rock Icon in Court for Speeding on Way to Gig

Cold Chisel guitarist Ian Moss will have to watch his speed whether he’s taking the last car out of Sydney or passing flame trees as a weary driver. 

The legendary rocker was nabbed by police doing 115km/h in a 100km/h zone over the Labour Day long weekend in October while driving to Brisbane from Armidale in NSW’s northern tablelands. 

Moss is one of the founding members of Cold Chisel which is known for Australian rock classics such as Khe Sanh, Flame Trees, Cheap Wine and Choir Girl.

Opting to contest the matter in court, an administrative mistake meant the musician was convicted and fined in his absence.

Moss appeared before magistrate Christine Haskett in John Madison Tower on Tuesday when his lawyer Paul McGirr sought to have his conviction thrown out.

His case would have been heard in the adjacent Downing Centre but that complex has been closed due to flooding from a burst water main since June 17. 

‘Oh, it’s Mr Moss,’ magistrate Christine Haskett said, recognising the Cold Chisel founding member.

When asked his 70-year-old client’s age, Mr McGirr said: ‘I don’t want to embarrass him, he looks better than me.’

Cold Chisel guitarist Ian Moss was nabbed doing 115km/h in a 100km/h zone last October while driving to Brisbane from Armidale in NSW ‘s northern tablelands. He is pictured outside court

Moss fronted a magistrate in John Madison Tower because the adjacent Downing Centre Local Court is closed due to flooding caused by a burst water main. He is pictured with lawyer Paul McGirr

Moss had his Peugeot on cruise control at the time he was caught by police, the court was told.

The car did not have an automatic braking mechanism and sped up going down a hill, Mr McGirr said.

He described his client as a modest man who was not a jetsetter.

‘He’s one of those old school rockers who likes to get into his car and drive,’ the lawyer told Ms Haskett.

Moss appeared in court supported by the band’s tour manager Chris Bastick.

Bastick provided written evidence to the magistrate that Moss had done a lot for charity, including by driving to remote towns and doing concerts there.

‘Because of his legendary status… people will turn up anywhere and pay to listen to him,’ Mr McGirr said.

Moss was also travelling to the US to go on a motorcycling trip and a conviction would upend all of that, his lawyer argued.

Moss is one of the founding members of Cold Chisel which is known for hit rock ‘n roll classics like Khe Sanh, Flame Trees, Cheap Wine and Choir Girl

As well as the administrative matter leading to the conviction in his absence, Moss had also had his licence suspended for a month in error, the court was told.

‘It’s been a real runaround with respect to this particular matter,’ Mr McGirr said.

Ms Haskett agreed that a conviction was not warranted, instead imposing a three-month conditional release order.

Cold Chisel, who formed in Adelaide in 1973 and have sold more than 7million albums, performed a 50th anniversary tour last year.

Moss wrote Bow River for the band’s 1982 album Circus Animals and it has become his signature tune, along with the solo recording, Tucker’s Daughter.

His vocals also feature on Cold Chisel favourites Saturday Night, When the War Is Over and My Baby.