Better to die on your feet

DURING the past decade, Australian musicians have been forced to fend off many threats to their livelihoods: pokies, GST, new whingeing inner-city neighbours, illegal downloads and CD burning and, more recently, the Liquor Licensing Commission cracking down on live venues. But they are a resilient lot, our musicians. Not only were they responsible for some of the best releases of 2009, they are also usually the first to help out with benefit concerts. And there was none bigger this year than Sound Relief, which saw legendary bands Midnight Oil and Hunters & Collectors reform to play alongside Kings of Leon and Coldplay in memorable rain-drenched fund-raisers at the MCG and SCG that raised millions of dollars for Black Saturday victims.