September 2, 2017 – FTX Gold Speech

Australia.

She’s been in my blood from birth.

I’m not talking about a government because I don’t believe in them.
I’m not talking about a nation because I don’t identify with them.

I’m talking about the land.
I’m talking about the spirit of this land.

Picture a vast and seemingly empty red desert with a bleeding sun sky.
A single road ribbons in front of us as we speed along at high velocity.
We are in the blackest of muscle cars.

You can only hear three sounds and those sounds forge us into a single living breathing creature of flesh and steel.
The beating of our heart, the roar of our engine, and the screams of AC⚡DC.

That is Australia to me.
And every single time Grace, my high octane 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle, and I pull out of our driveway that is where we go.

That is what we become.

FTX Gold is a thank you to this land and all its inhabitants for making me.

For who would I be without AC⚡DC, the greatest band in the history of music?
Or without The Road Warrior or Fury Road, the greatest films in the history of cinema?

I want to dedicate our 22nd FTX to the loving and living memory of Charles Cornell, whose great heart can be found today in his granddaughter Naomi.

To Weesie Beans, a true friend, noble soul, and dear heart to one of my greatest friends, Daisy Mertzel.

And I ask you all to send all the joy and love we create today to fill and heal William Kinghorn.

As I often do, I will crack open a Bundaberg after our mission here today is through. But until then I leave you with the words of Young, Young, and Johnson:

“Stand up and be counted
For what you are about to receive
We are the dealers
We’ll give you everything you need
Hail hail to the good times
‘Cause rock has got the right of way
We ain’t no legend, ain’t no ’cause
We’re just livin’ for today”

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to….
FTX Gold