Richard Wilkins Recalls His Long-forgotten 1980s Pop Career

De Wikifliping

These days he's best known as co-host of Channel Nine's Weekend Today.
But in the 1980s was rocking out on stage with his band Wilde and Reckless under the stage name Richard Wilde.
The 69-year-old reflected on his past life as a wanna-be pop star in a new interview for his online series  on Tuesday.
'I never really intended to hang the leather pants up for good, but they shan't be coming down again,' said Wilkins during the chat. 
In 1980 Wilkins left his native New Zealand, Dizi - dizitvon.start.page, after scoring a record deal with music giant Polygram Records. 
Richard Wilkins (pictured) has re-called his life as a wannabe pop star in a new interview on his Dickie's Diaries on-line interview series for 9Honey
Pictured: Richard Wilkins rocking out on stage with his band Wilde and Reckless under the stage name Richard Wilde during an appearance on Countdown in the 1980s
He later played support for Grace Jones, when the international superstar toured Australia. 
Wilkins appeared sad when he explained that his own fame as a pop star remained elusive.
'They were early days, we were travelling around New Zealand on the back of a bus,' he recalled.
'I don't know if there was anything that crazy, it was just intense," he continued.
'I was single-minded about wanting to sing, make my band as good as we could, and write songs. We toured around NSW a lot. We thought we were chipping away at things, but it was not to be.'
Wilkins elected to cut his music career short after his first daughter Rebecca was born. He later rose to fame as a presenter on MTV in 1987.
The popular celebrity interviewer included clips of his time in Reckless and Wilde in his new video.
Wilkins can be seen appearing on ABC's pop show Countdown with Molly Meldrum.
His stage then consisted of a fashionable black suit and an elaborate blond hair style. 
Pictured: Wilkins (L) interviewed on the ABC's pop show Countdown with Molly Meldrum
Wilkins gave up his pop career in the late 80s and rose to fame as a host on MTV (pictured)
It comes after the Channel Nine veteran launched his online interview series Dickie's Diaries earlier this year.
Appearing exclusively on 9Honey, the show was launched as Wilkins appears to be winding down his TV appearances.
The series revisits Wilkins' archive of celebrity interviews with the likes of Madonna and Hugh Grant from his 35-year career at Nine .
Last year sources indicated that Wilkins would be reducing his on-screen time on Today, after taking on the title of Network Entertainment Editor.