By Beattie Tow
When Deni Gordon was asked to “pop into the studio next door”, she had no idea she was about to record the famous rage scream. To this day, you can hear Gordon’s voice when tuning into the popular and long-running ABC music video program.
The pilot for rage was being developed at the ABC in 1987. Gordon was in the studio working on a different show when she was approached to help record a sound for their pilot episode of rage.
“It was so quick, it took me minutes,” she said. “I was never back in the studio, it was over.”
Years later, Gordon saw rage listed as one of the most iconic voiceovers of all time.
“I was amazed … like who knew?”
Over the decades, the show has adapted to new technologies, streaming services and new audiences.
According to Gordon, the ABC had an interest in renewing the rage scream and was stopped from changing it by public intervention. A demonstration of the sentimental, nostalgic place rage has in the heart of many Australians.
Gordon was paid $40 for the use of her voice. When asked if this bothers her, she says it’s “water under the bridge”.
Although rage may be described as quintessentially Australian, Gordon originally hails from New York. Fresh out of the School of Performing Arts, she landed a job in a Sydney-based production of Hair.
“So, within two weeks of auditioning, I was sitting in Sydney, thinking where am I?” she said. “My first question in arriving in Sydney was ‘where are the people?’.”
It would be almost 50 years until Gordon returned to New York. Her journey in Sydney would see her working in theatre, radio, TV and film, catering, as a celebrant, and the voice artist of the famous rage scream.
Gordon is now on stage in a production of Tina as the grandmother of Tina Turner. She also works as a funeral celebrant. She considered working as a wedding celebrant but needed to apply to the Attorney-General’s Department who “deem you fit and proper”.
“I decided I wasn’t fit and proper, so I wasn’t going to apply to them.”
The story is an insight into Gordon’s character. One that is adventurous and unwilling to conform; evidence of her New York roots despite a life lived in Sydney.
“I just end up going with the flow, and then ending up doing things that I never expected.”
To this day, people tell Gordon: “‘We grew up with rage, we did everything with rage. You were with us from the morning ’til the night. You went on the road with us, you were everywhere.”
“It meant a lot to people.”
Featured image: Performer Deni Gordon. Artwork: Beattie Tow. Photo: Deni Gordon
