Heartbreaking Heath Ledger connection to hit Aussie song
More than 15 years after Eskimo Joe's hit song Foreign Land was released, band member Kav Temperley has revealed how the tragic death of acting legend and fellow West Aussie Heath Ledger inspired the single.
The 46-year-old recalled the moment he found out about Ledger's passing in 2008, saying he was just streets away from the movie star's house in America on the day he died.
'We had to go away to New York to do this amazing gala performance at the Lincoln Memorial Center,' Tamperley said.
'And you know, it was a big deal because we were going to be performing in front of a whole lot of dignitaries and we were just walking the red carpet on our way into this show when this very official looking man came up to me and said, 'Just to let you know that Heath Ledger has just died'.
The band — Temperley, Stuart MacLeod and Joel Quartermain — were left shocked.
'We were pretty taken aback because he was this very young, very talented guy from Perth, Western Australia, where we were from,' Temperley said.
'And it turned out he died streets away from where I was walking that day ... we were pretty affected by his death, as was everyone at the ceremony.'
The next day, Temperley was sitting in a hotel room trying to write a song when details of Ledger's life and death started being discussed on TV.
He said hearing about Ledger's life prompted him to think about the impacts of fame and when he returned to Perth, he shared his thoughts with MacLeod and Quartermain.
'You know, when you get pushed through this fame shaped hole, you kind of come out a little bit sideways and you're grasping at something that's real,' he said.
When the band couldn't come up with lyrics for the bridge of the new song, Temperley was encouraged by Quartermain to just sing whatever was in his head. Australian band Eskimo Joe. Credit: Supplied / RegionalHUB
'This idea of Heath Ledger was going around in our heads, so I stood in front of the microphone and Joel said, 'Just go for it, just sing anything that comes into your head'.
'And this is what came into my head, 'I smell the blood of an Australian. Try to understand me if you can'.'
Fans of the band were surprised to hear the story behind the song, with many thanking Temperley for sharing details.
'Means more to me now. Thanks Kav,' one said.
Another commented: 'Great song with such a sad subject. Every time I hear it, I think of Heath Ledger.'
A third added: 'Omg Kav ! I'm crying x thank you for sharing this, such an amazing song now is so much more poignant.'
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