Richard Wilkins: Footage of rock-and-roll days resurfaces as films Weekend Today in New Zealand

Richard Wilkins is celebrating his 67th birthday as he hosts Weekend Today from his native New Zealand.

And on Saturday, footage from his rock-and-roll days as Richard Wilde resurfaced on Weekend Today showing the Channel Nine entertainment editor front and centre on stage.

He first rose to fame with a music career in his home country of New Zealand in the 1970s with his band Wilde and Reckless.

A ‘Wilde’ time! Footage of Richard Wilkins’ rock-and-roll days resurfaced on Saturday as he celebrates his 67th birthday while filming Weekend Today in his native New Zealand

Among the clips shown was of him in his younger years playing the violin and singing, dressed in a fitted red shirt and white trousers with stripes.

That was followed with a snippet of the TV presenter with his band and singing Here For A Good Time.

He certainly dressed for good time on stage in a yellow top with high waisted flared trousers. 

Younger years: Richard rose to fame with a music career in his home country of New Zealand in the 1970s with his band Wilde and Reckless. Among the clips shown was of him in his younger years playing the violin and singing, dressed in a fitted red shirt and white trousers with stripes

Younger years: Richard rose to fame with a music career in his home country of New Zealand in the 1970s with his band Wilde and Reckless. Among the clips shown was of him in his younger years playing the violin and singing, dressed in a fitted red shirt and white trousers with stripes

On stage: That was followed with a snippet of the TV presenter on stage with his band, singing Here For A Good Time, and dressed in a yellow top with high waisted flared trousers

On stage: That was followed with a snippet of the TV presenter on stage with his band, singing Here For A Good Time, and dressed in a yellow top with high waisted flared trousers 

Another clip showed him in a recording studio with head phones of his trademark luscious deep blonde locks belting out his song More Than Everything.

The video package coincides with the re-release of his records with Wilde and Reckless after 40 years in a 19-track album called the The Wilde Years. 

Richard spoke his touring days, telling co-host Lelia McKinnon: ‘I remember those years so clearly.’ 

In the studio: Another clip showed him in a recording studio with head phones of his trademark luscious deep blonde locks belting out his song More Than Everything

In the studio: Another clip showed him in a recording studio with head phones of his trademark luscious deep blonde locks belting out his song More Than Everything

‘With my little band, we used to travel around this part of the world back in the late ’70s, in a little van, playing in the pubs and clubs around here,’ he said from their location at Lake Wānaka in New Zealand’s Otago region.

Richard also spoke about what life was like on the road with his young family – his then girlfriend and their two children – Adam and Rebecca. 

On Friday, he told Stellar his touring days were packed with 14 shows a week. 

Special release: The video package coincides with the re-release of his records with Wilde and Reckless after 40 years in a 19-track album called the The Wilde Years. He recently recalled life on the road with his band and his young family during his music career in the 1970s

Special release: The video package coincides with the re-release of his records with Wilde and Reckless after 40 years in a 19-track album called the The Wilde Years. He recently recalled life on the road with his band and his young family during his music career in the 1970s

His heyday: He said his girlfriend at the time 'Lynette, who's the mother of two of my kids' joined the band on tour and ran their fan club. He also revealed that his life on the road was far from the rock-and-roll lifestyle, 'we weren't staying in swanky hotels or drinking fancy booze'

His heyday: He said his girlfriend at the time ‘Lynette, who’s the mother of two of my kids’ joined the band on tour and ran their fan club. He also revealed that his life on the road was far from the rock-and-roll lifestyle, ‘we weren’t staying in swanky hotels or drinking fancy booze’

‘My girlfriend at the time, Lynette, who’s the mother of two of my kids, was on the road with us – she used to run the fan club,’ he said, referring to his high school sweetheart.

The TV presenter said that his life touring with his band was far from the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.

‘We weren’t staying in swanky hotels or drinking fancy booze, but it wasn’t about making money, it was about living the dream,’ he revealed.

Before starting his broadcast career with Channel Nine, he was known as Richard Wilde and had a record deal with the now-defunct label PolyGram. 

Family man: Richard is a doting father of five children to four different mothers: sons Adam, 48, who lives in New Zealand, Nick, 35, and Christian, 25, and daughters Rebecca, 37, and Estella, 16

Family man: Richard is a doting father of five children to four different mothers: sons Adam, 48, who lives in New Zealand, Nick, 35, and Christian, 25, and daughters Rebecca, 37, and Estella, 16 

In 1987 he became the first host of MTV Australia when it launched in partnership with Nine.

Richard is a doting father of five children to four different mothers: sons Adam, 48, who lives in New Zealand, Nick, 35, and Christian, 25, and daughters Rebecca, 37, and Estella, 15.

Estella’s mother is fashion designer Collette Dinnigan.

Richard is dating flight attendant Nicola Dale, who he was reportedly introduced to by mutual friend Ben Fordham at a party last year.

New love: Richard is dating flight attendant Nicola Dale, who he was reportedly introduced to by mutual friend Ben Fordham at a party last year

New love: Richard is dating flight attendant Nicola Dale, who he was reportedly introduced to by mutual friend Ben Fordham at a party last year

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