An article about Hunters and Collectors requesting radio broadcaster Steve Price to cease using the song Holy Grail.

Author:  Candace Sutton, news.com.au.

Date: 20 July 2016.

Original URL: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/television/hunters–collectors-tell-steve-price-to-axe-its-song-holy-grail-from-his-show/news-story/28df12239ff1189ae3e9defdb78c96cb

Article Text

Radio broadcaster Steve Price has been forced to remove the Hunters & Collectors’ hit Holy Grail as the theme song for his 2GB show following his controversial comments on the ABC’s Q&A program.

Members of the iconic band demanded Price no longer play their song to introduce his night time program because he called a female fellow panellist “hysterical” during a debate on violence against women.

The radio host announced on his show on Monday night that Hunters & Collectors, whose members have gone on to solo careers since it disbanded in 1998, had requested he remove Holy Grail from his line-up.

The song, which featured on the band’s 1992 album Cut, features lyrics about survival and has become an Australian rules football anthem.

The band members’ request comes just days after the panellist, Melbourne writer Van Badham revealed that her public clash with Price on Q&A had sparked days of online abuse in which commenters prayed for her death or made violent remarks.

Steve Price has had a fortnight he’d rather forget, though no one is letting him.

Van Badham suffered major online abuse after Price’s ‘hysterical’ sledge.

Hunters & Collectors asked that its 1992 song Holy Grail be removed from Steve Price’s nightly radio show.

Price came under fire after the Q&A July 11 program on which he called Ms Badham “hysterical” during a live debate.

The two were appearing as guest panellists along with senator-elect Derryn Hinch and MPs Tanya Plibersek and George Brandis when an audience member asked a question about prevailing cultural attitudes towards women which resulted in them being attacked or murdered.

Tarang Chawla, a family violence campaigner, cited the case of The Age newspaper’s reporter Caroline Wilson, who had been the subject of a remark by Nine Network personality Eddie McGuire.

During coverage of The Big Freeze, a charity event where football personalities were dunked in freezing water, McGuire joked about Wilson being held under water.

The live debate on July 11 included the panel (from left) Derryn Hinch, Tanya Plibersek, Tony Jones, George Brandis, Van Badham and Price.

Tarang Chawla, whose sister was murdered by her partner, was shocked by Price calling Badham ‘hysterical’.

Steve Price told fellow panellist Badham that being ‘a woman, doesn’t mean you’re the only one that can get upset’.

Mr Chawla opened his Q&A comments by saying “Sam Newman has courted controversy yet again for defending Eddie McGuire who joked about drowning Caroline Wilson”.

He continued, “My sister Nikita was stabbed to death with a meat cleaver by her partner in January 2015. She was 23. How will politicians and the media play a better role in bringing about long overdue cultural shifts so tragedies like mine are not normalised?”

Price was the first to reply, saying he knew Newman, McGuire and Wilson well.

“Eddie apologised immediately,” Price said. “If you listen to that broadcast in context, it was a bunch of blokes laughing about things they shouldn’t have laughed about.

“When it was brought to their attention that they’d said those things, all of them apologised. I think far too much was then made of it.

“As for Sam’s comments, who happens to be a good friend of mine on the Footy Show, I think he should regret the comments and shouldn’t have gone in to defend his great friend Eddie but I think too much was made of what was originally a joke on a football show.”

George Brandis and Van Badham listen to Steve Price defend his friends Eddie McGuire and Sam Newman about remarks made regarding journalist Caroline Wilson. Picture: ABC

Steve Price (pictured with Carrie Bickmore) has made controversial remarks on The Project previously.

When Badham, Guardian Australia political commentator, offered her response to Mr Chawla’s question, Price repeatedly interrupted.

“Just because you’re a woman, doesn’t mean you’re the only one that can get upset,’ Price interjected.

There were gasps from the ABC studio audience gasped and the camera cut to Mr Chawla, who looked shocked.

Badham said, “You’re proving my point very excellently about the attitudes,” to which Price responded, “I think you’re just being hysterical.”

Badham said, “It’s probably my ovaries making me do it, Steve,” and the audience applauded.

Price also came under fire on Twitter when he attacked a man who asked about leadership concerns.

Price’s comments came after Tarang Chawla described his sister Nikita’s (pictured) violent murder by her partner.

Steve Price broadcasts four nights a week with conservative columnist Andrew Bolt as a regular guest.

The live show was being broadcast at a time when Federal Election votes were still being counted.

“In the past few weeks we have yet again seen calls for a new Prime Minister, with conservative journalists like Steve Price’s pal Andrew Bolt calling for Malcolm Turnbull to resign,” the man began.

“If these ridiculous suggestions eventuated we would see our sixth prime ministerial term in 10 years. Who should Australians blame?”

Price took the question personally and responded, “Don’t you verbal me. You’re obviously hard of hearing.”

Twitter erupted with criticism of Price, with one person posting “Steve Price bullying a questioner. Wow”.

Another tweeted, “Perhaps Steve Price needs not to verbal an audience member. After that little performance Steve Price should never be invited on #qanda again”.

Price has previously clashed with Waleed Aly and Carrie Bickmore on The Project for his opinions on subjects ranging from breastfeeding in public, to mining and cyclists.

Comments

The claim that 2GB was “forced” not to use Holy Grail is incorrect. A request was made and this request was accepted.