Jeff Duff
In a flamboyant and often controversial music career Jeff has released twenty-six albums, including a recent album featuring members of legendary British rock band Deep Purple.
When Duffo took refuge in England in the eighties, he had, as they say, worn out his welcome in Australian rock. He was simply too much of a handfull, this 'waif with a wharfie's voice!' camping it up out front of his trail- blazing rock ensemble 'Kush'.
At the time, Jeff's androgynous stage persona, dressed in leotards, garish make-up & a touch of the operatics was considered too outrageous for many Australian audiences...so Jeff aka Duffo headed for London.
Jeff quickly established himself in the UK & became the darling of London's new wave movement during the eighties staying one step ahead of his peers with his flamboyant performances.The exhibitionism & visual assault so integral to British punk culture could have been a sequence from Duffo's own fertile imagination.
Soon Andy Warhol was issuing forth his oft-quoted utterence: 'Sinatra, Presley, Jagger, Popeye...& now Duffo''
Duffo returned to Australia in the late eighties to re-introduce his powerful voice and unique style to the local scene.
Jeff's longtime admiration for David Bowie eventually led him to staging his own popular ‘Bowie Unzipped’ and 'Ziggy' shows.The 'Ziggy' show recently completed a national concert tour of Australia culminating with a capacity crowd at the State Theatre in Sydney and five sold out shows at the Sydney Opera House.
Jeff's recent 2012 album 'Fragile Spaceman' received critical acclaim.... “Fragile Spaceman” is a mature, serious and beautiful statement from one of Australia’s more unique performers. ''He’s created one of the best albums you’ll hear all year''. [Australasian independent news & analysis]
Bowie's official website 'BowieNet' also gave the album a great rap 'There truly are some beautiful moments on this album and Jeff is in extremely fine voice. I hear little hints, most likely unintentional, of Peter Gabriel, & Elbow....get yourself a copy'' [BowieNet news Feb 2012]
Jeff recently had an acting role in Baz Lurmann's multi-million dollar movie 'Gatsby' starring Leonardo Di Caprio which was filmed at Fox Studios in Sydney.
Duffo’s UK albums recorded in London, late 70’s & 80’s will be performed by Jeff at concerts in 2017 for the first time in Australia. Jeff is releasing a jazz funk album and an orchestral album in 2017….no time for sleep!
''I don’t think it’s overstating the case to say that, had Jeff Duff hailed from a country in the top half of the world, he could now be as acknowledged and acclaimed as David Bowie or Lou Reed or Iggy Pop” –[ Glenn A. Baker, rock historian]
His extensive body of work is now available to purchase on iTunes, or to stream through Spotify. Have a look at Jeff in action in 'Bowie Unzipped' below, and say hi to Jeff on Facebook here.
Read more on Jeff here.