As an entertainment reporter for more than 30 years, you’d have a lot to talk about.
And Richard ‘Dickie’ Wilkins is no stranger to a spectacle, having recalled some of his favourite music moments from his time in the industry, writing a column for The Sunday Telegraph’s Confidential on Sunday.
The 63-year-old Today show reporter tells all about the wild times he’s had with some of the country’s – and the worlds – biggest musicians and pop stars, dating back to the late 1980’s.
Totally revealing: The 63 year old Today show reporter has told all about the wild times he’s had with some of the country’s – and the worlds – biggest musicians
One group in particular grabbed his attention at their peak, and Dickie claims that Australian band INXS lived up to their name in true rockstar style after their notable electrifying performances.
‘It was always a who’s who backstage: actors, models, beautiful people, Kylie, Nick Cave, Bono, the Duran Duran boys, you name it, they were there,’ Richard told Confidential.
‘They didn’t call themselves INXS for nothing.’
And even 30 years later, Richard was still rubbing shoulders with those at the pinnacle of their careers.
‘They didn’t call themselves INXS for nothing.’: Richard recalls his time with INXS, saying they lived up to their name in true rocktar fashion
‘Those guys seriously could not go anywhere.’: The 63 year old Today show presenter spoke of his time with British pop stars One Direction, claiming they would often record their tracks late at night after a stadium gig
He said of his time with One Direction: ‘The guys had a police escort to and from the stadium…
‘Before returning to the hotel for a drink, a chat and a catch up and often a late night recording session. Those guys seriously could not go anywhere. ‘
Richard also spoke of meeting the late Prince, who shunned the reporter for over 20 years before finally agreeing to a short interview with him in 2013.
Backstage sing-along: He joined crooner Michael Buble for a harmonised backstage sing along before a show
He finally sat down with Richard and spilled to the reporter about his monumental career for over 45 minutes in his luxurious dressing room.
Richard also recalled also of a backstage sing-along with Michael Buble and seeing Michael Jackson jogging over a hill with the local army behind him.
The television presenter celebrated 30 years with the Nine Network earlier this year.
He recently gave a rare interview to 9Honey’s Super Mums podcast, describing how becoming a father at 18 changed his life.
King of pop: Richard experienced the king of pop Michael Jackson before he passed, claiming he was an electrifying showman like nothing the world has ever seen
The 63-year-old said the arrival of his first son Adam in 1973, who has Down Syndrome and is now 44, forced the former pop star ‘to suddenly grow up’.
‘I didn’t quite know how to handle all that at the tender age of 18, but now I often refer to him as my rock,’ Richard said of his firstborn child.
‘I don’t know what would have happened to me if I hadn’t been forced to suddenly grow up at the age of 18,’ he continued.
Milestone: The television presenter celebrated 30 years with the Nine Network earlier this year