"I'll Be Gone," written by Mike Rudd, was Spectrum's debut single, released in January 1971, and became a #1 hit in Australia. The band, formed in 1969, initially played covers before developing original material, and although they never repeated the success of this song, "I'll Be Gone" remains a significant part of Australian rock history.
I was 4 years of age when ‘I'll Be Gone’ was a hit on the Australian National Singles charts, but by the time in the mid eighties my turn came around for teenage music appreciation, ‘I'll Be Gone’ was still a radio staple, and was delightfully and permanently earwormed into my heart.
This project is certainly a nod to Mike Rudd and Spectrum and the special era of Australian music in the early '70s. The documentary explores the formation of the band, the writing, recording and release of I’ll Be Gone.
I was 4 years of age when ‘I'll Be Gone’ was a hit on the Australian National Singles charts, but by the time in the mid eighties my turn came around for teenage music appreciation, ‘I'll Be Gone’ was still a radio staple, and was delightfully and permanently earwormed into my heart.
This project is certainly a nod to Mike Rudd and Spectrum and the special era of Australian music in the early '70s. The documentary explores the formation of the band, the writing, recording and release of I’ll Be Gone.
Someday I'll Have Money - full version
Premiere screening promotion - May 2026
Trailer
Bill Putt
Ross Wilson
Prompted Mike Rudd to release "I'll Be Gone" as the single
Prompted Mike Rudd to release "I'll Be Gone" as the single
Brian Nankervis
Howard Gable - Producer on "I'll Be Gone"
After a bunch of songs, Howard asked Mike, "Have you got anything else?"
Spectrum then played 'I'll Be Gone'.
After a bunch of songs, Howard asked Mike, "Have you got anything else?"
Spectrum then played 'I'll Be Gone'.
Mark Kennedy - Drummer - Spectrum
Mark Kennedy - Drummer - Spectrum
Mark Kennedy's copy of the I'll Be Gone single
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Brian Pieper - Artist / Photographer
Onstage 1971 - Mike Rudd (left), Lee Neale (right)
Framed Image: © Brian Pieper
Framed Image: © Brian Pieper
National ABC radio interview about the documentary
with Rod Quinn and Chris Franklin, airing on 6 August 2026
with Rod Quinn and Chris Franklin, airing on 6 August 2026
RRR radio interview about the documentary
on Off The Record with Brian Wise, Mike Rudd and Chris Franklin live to air on 16 May 2026
on Off The Record with Brian Wise, Mike Rudd and Chris Franklin live to air on 16 May 2026
Premiere Screening - Brunswick Ballroom - May 20th 2026
On the the 20th May 2026, a wintery and rainy Wednesday night at the Brunswick Ballroom in Melbourne, Chris Franklin's latest documentary, 'Someday I'll Have Money' was screened publicly for the first time to a packed house of music fans.
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Brian Nankervis kicked off the night with his incredible music trivia crowd warm up, revving the audience into a frenzy of hand ups and joyous shouts of song titles and band names. |
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Brian then introduced the 40 minute documentary, and it captivated the audience from the beginning. Over 250 people giggled and clapped and soaked in the memory and wit of the interviewees, Mike Rudd, Ross Wilson, Brian Nankervis,
Howard Gabel, Mark Kennedy and Brian Pieper.
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Following the screening, Brian compèred a Q&A with Mike Rudd, Ross Wilson and filmmaker, Chris Franklin, exploring extra stories of that music era and reflections from Chris of the production of the film.
Brian Nankervis - MC, Mike Rudd, Ross Wilson & filmmaker Chris Franklin
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The night climaxed with a stunning performance by Mike Rudd and the Indelibles (Peter Robertson, Daryl Roberts & Broc O'Connor) and joined on and off by Ross Wilson. There was a lot of love in that room.
Mike and Ross played together in the late ‘60s in The Party Machine… it was so good to see them both on stage, Mike at 81, and Ross at aged 78…. doing their thing and doing it so well after 60 plus years of making music.
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Set List of the night: I'm Your Witchdoctor We Are Indelible Woman of the World (Ross Wilson on vocals) Make Your Stash (Ross Wilson on vocals) Some Good Advice Xavier Rudd is Not My Son It's a Lottery Crawling Up a Hill Come Back Again (Ross Wilson on vocals) I’ll Be Gone Encore; Esmeralda |
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Daryl Roberts - keys, Brian Nankervis - MC, Daryl Roberts - keys, Peter ‘Robbo’ Robertson - drums, Broc O’Connor - bass
Filmmaker Chris Franklin and Mike Rudd
Review
Mike Rudd, Spectrum and the Enduring Power of ‘I’ll Be Gone’ - May 23, 2026
by Richard Griffiths
On a cool Wednesday night at the Brunswick Ballroom, around 200 devoted fans gathered not simply to watch a documentary, but to pay tribute to a defining chapter of Australian music history. Chris Franklin’s Someday I’ll Have Money is far more than a nostalgic retelling of the rise of Spectrum and the immortal “I’ll Be Gone” it is a deeply affectionate, incisive and beautifully constructed portrait of creativity, survival and the uniquely Australian spirit that shaped the country’s progressive rock movement of the early 1970s.
Franklin captures the formation of Spectrum with warmth and remarkable attention to detail, tracing the chemistry between Mike Rudd, Bill Putt, Lee Neale and the astonishing young drumming prodigy Mark Kennedy. What emerges is not merely the story of a band, but of four musicians chasing originality during a transformative period in Australian culture. The film brilliantly contextualises the late ’60s and early ’70s music scene a world of pot filled music halls, relentless touring, experimental sounds and musicians learning their craft in real time as Australian rock searched for its own identity.
At the heart of the documentary lies “I’ll Be Gone,” released as a single in 1971 and destined to become one of Australia’s most recognisable songs. Franklin expertly charts the song’s evolution from a modest demo into a timeless anthem that still resonates more than five decades later. Hearing the isolated anecdotes and recollections behind its creation gives fresh emotional weight to a tune so embedded in the national consciousness that many Australians feel they’ve known it their entire lives.
The interviews are insightful and deeply human. Mike Rudd remains thoughtful, humble and quietly charismatic throughout, while the legendary Ross Wilson provides sharp perspective and humour reflecting both the camaraderie and competitiveness of the era, including his collaboration with Rudd in the Party Machine. Particularly moving are the reflections from Mark Kennedy captured prior to his passing offering a poignant reminder of the extraordinary musicianship that drove Spectrum’s sound. Contributions from recording engineer Howard Gable and the ever-entertaining rock historian Brian Nankervis enrich the film with technical insight, historical context and genuine reverence for the period.
Following the screening, the audience was treated to a fascinating on-stage Q&A hosted by Nankervis alongside Rudd, Wilson and Franklin. The discussion revealed the sheer challenges of navigating the Australian music industry during those formative decades the endless touring, primitive recording conditions, financial struggles and the determination required simply to survive as musicians pursuing ambitious and original music. It was storytelling at its finest funny, reflective, occasionally emotional and utterly authentic.
The evening then shifted from reflection to celebration as Mike Rudd’s band, The Indelibles launched into a masterful set drawn from Rudd’s remarkable catalogue. The performances were vibrant, tight and emotionally charged, reminding everyone present that these songs are not museum pieces they still breathe, pulse and connect. And when the unmistakable harmonic opening of “I’ll Be Gone” finally arrived, the room lifted collectively. It was less a performance than a communal moment of gratitude and homage.
Someday I’ll Have Money succeeds because it understands that great music documentaries are never solely about songs. They are about people, time, place and memory. Chris Franklin has delivered a loving and important film that honours Mike Rudd, Spectrum and an era that helped define Australian rock music. For those fortunate enough to attend Wednesday night’s launch, it felt like far more than a screening. It felt like witnessing Australian music history being properly celebrated by the very people who lived it