Brian Mannix
Brian Mannix (born 7 October 1961 in Melbourne) is an Australian rock music singer and actor.
He was formerly the lead singer of 1980s band Uncanny X-Men, and in 2006 performed in the Countdown Spectacular and at the 2006 AFL Grand Final. Uncanny X-Men are known for their hits such as "The Party", "How Do You Get Your Kicks?", "50 Years" and "Everybody Wants to Work".
Mannix was also a regular on the ABC1 television quiz show Spicks and Specks where he usually played on Myf Warhurst's team. Mannix appeared as a contestant on Channel 7's series of Dancing with the Stars in its twelfth season during 2012 where he came fifth with professional dance partner Melanie Hooper.[1]
Mannix tours regularly with former Kids in the Kitchen lead singer, Scott Carne, and their Absolutely 80s ensemble, playing their hit songs from the 1980s era.
in 2016, Mannix was cast as "Buddy," a leading role in the successful stage musical "We Will Rock You" based on the music of Queen and written by Ben Elton. The musical ran for six months straight from 30 April to 30 October 2016, first at Sydney's Lyric Theatre, followed by the Lyric Theatre at Brisbane's QPAC, and the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, where it closed with a spectacular performance on Sunday, 30 October 2016.
On Friday, 28 October 2016, it was announced that Mannix would rejoin with his Uncanny X-Men band mates for the "Rock In The Vines" concert, to be held at the Sutton Grange Winery, near Bendigo, Victoria, on Friday, 27 January 2017.
Mannix is married to Susan Mannix (née Hebbard) and has two children, Casey and Max Mannix.
Early life
Mannix won a 'beauty contest' in his childhood after being entered by a family friend, claiming the title Mr Ocean Grove 1971.
Film appearances and cameo roles
- Barry in the 1987 film The Bit Part
- Max/Lionel in the Australia TV series The Flying Doctors between 1986 and 1991
- Scum in the 1992 Australia TV mini series Good Vibrations.[2]
- Conor Cleary, a love interest for Lauren Carpenter in several episodes of Australian soap Neighbours in 1993
- David Emelyn Hughes in the Australia TV series Blue Heelers in 1993
- Ian James in the 2000 feature film Chopper
- Swinger in the Australian TV series Last Man Standing in 2008.
- Burt Pride in The Australian TV series Bogan Pride in 2010
- Guitar Man in the Australian TV series Offspring in 2010
- Mannix also appeared as himself in the 2010 Australian feature film Ricky! the movie.[3]
- Contestant I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Australia Season 2 (2016).
Absolutely 80s tour and career revival
Mannix had more recent attention for his 'Absoutely 80s' tour.[4] Beginning in 2006, the tour plays at venues around Australia and features other popular eighties stars and bands such as Boom Crash Opera, Kids in the Kitchen, The Black Sorrows, The Choirboys and Wa Wa Nee. The Absolutely 80s concept has continued through 2015.[4]
Mannix furthered his career revival by providing the vocals for an EDM song F**K (Yeah!) by DJ Paddy Duke.[5]