Molly Meldrum Health, What Happened to Him? Biography
by A Maria
Updated Mar 24, 2023
Who is Molly Meldrum?
Ian Alexander Meldrum, also known as "Molly," is an Australian musical entrepreneur, record producer, journalist, and music critic. He gained prominence as the talent coordinator, music news presenter, and on-air interviewer for the popular music program Countdown from 1974 to 1987. He is widely recognized for his trademark Stetson hat, which he has been wearing in public since the 1980s (although it is often mistaken for an Akubra). Meldrum has been a prominent figure in the Australian music scene since the mid-1960s, beginning with his writing for Go-Set, a weekly teen newspaper, and continuing with his work on Countdown and other media outlets.
Molly Meldrum Health
Molly Meldrum is an iconic figure in Australian music journalism and television presenting, having been in the public eye for more than five decades. However, recent media reports have focused on concerning incidents related to his health and behavior. This article delves into Molly Meldrum's health, the incident where he urinated at a Rod Stewart concert, and what happened to him afterward. In December 2011, Meldrum suffered a severe head injury from a fall while putting up Christmas decorations at his home, which resulted in a coma and months of rehabilitation. He has since talked about his struggles with physical and mental health, including being diagnosed with PTSD in 2014. Meldrum also experienced other health issues such as a stroke in 2016 and a cancer scare in 2020. Following the urination incident, there were concerns about his well-being, with some speculating about alcohol addiction or dementia. However, Meldrum's partner denied these claims, saying that he was receiving medical care for his health issues. Meldrum has kept a low profile since then and has not made any public appearances.
What Happened to Molly Meldrum?
Molly Meldrum suffered a serious accident on 15 December 2011 when he was found unconscious in the backyard of his home in Richmond. It is believed that he fell off a ladder from a height of about three meters, resulting in severe head injuries, a broken shoulder, broken ribs, a punctured lung, and cracked vertebrae. He was immediately rushed to the Alfred Hospital, where he underwent intensive care and surgery. Meldrum remained in a sedated state for some time, and his brother reported that he had spoken some words, but they had no context. In January 2012, Meldrum's brother announced that he was breathing on his own and having conversations, although his recovery would be slow. On 19 January, Meldrum was discharged from the hospital and moved to a rehabilitation center. In April, he gave his first public interview since the accident, and a few months later, he interviewed Elton John and Katy Perry.
Molly Meldrum Career
In 1974, while meeting at the Botanical Hotel in South Yarra, Michael Shrimpton and Robbie Weekes were brainstorming ideas for a new weekly TV pop music show targeting the teenage audience. They realized they needed a talent scout and coincidentally, Molly Meldrum walked in, heading to the bottle shop to buy a bottle of Scotch whiskey. They offered him the job, and together, they pitched their idea to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) modeled after the British show Top of the Pops and Kommotion. Meldrum was appointed as the show's talent coordinator, and Countdown premiered on 8 November. Although he didn't initially appear in the series, each week had a different guest host.
Molly Meldrum Biography
SPECIFICATIONS
DETAILS
Name
Ian Alexander Meldrum
DOB
29 January 1943
Age
80
Place of birth
Orbost, Victoria, Australia
Occupations
Known for
Countdown compère
Hey Hey It's Saturday entertainment news correspondent
Molly Meldrum Health - FAQs
Ian Alexander Meldrum, commonly known as "Molly," is an Australian musical entrepreneur, record producer, journalist, and music critic.
Meldrum is known for his work as the talent coordinator, music news presenter, and on-air interviewer for the popular music program Countdown from 1974 to 1987. He is also recognized for his trademark Stetson hat, which he has been wearing in public since the 1980s.
Meldrum first became involved in the Australian music scene in the mid-1960s, beginning with his writing for Go-Set, a weekly teen newspaper.
In addition to his work on Countdown, Meldrum has contributed to a number of other media outlets, including radio stations and music magazines.
Meldrum has maintained a low profile in recent years and has not made any public appearances. He has faced several health issues, including a severe head injury in 2011, a stroke in 2016, and a cancer scare in 2020.