Friday Flashback: What’s Equity Got To Do With It?

Back in 1984 the legendary Tina Turner made one of her various Countdown appearances… over the years she sang, hosted and chatted with the equally legendary Molly Meldrum.

At the time Turner was performing at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney and Melbourne in dinner+show concerts which had been booked prior to her enjoying renewed global success with Private Dancer. 

Actors Equity also allowed her to perform in Mad Max III: Beyond Thunderdome -but they drew the line at further concerts which Tina had wanted to for her many younger fans who couldn’t afford the Hilton tix at a steep $56 per head (yes really).

Under visa rules, Tina was banned from doing further work during her Australian visit. Even a floated charity concert was knocked back with the controversy attracting front page headlines.

Check the video of this Countdown moment, where a young fan’s t-shirt protest led to Tina, singing “What’s Equity Got To Do With It?”