SydneyUnleashed.com

LATEST NEWS…PARIS HILTON'S STAR ATTRACTION: Star Casino's Marquee Club launch attracted celebrities galore from all around the world including Ashley Simpson, Slash, Aussie's Jodi Gordon and Sharni Vinson and her Twilight boyfriend Kellan Lutz and LMFAO members to name a few. However it was serial socialite Paris Hilton who stole the show, mingling with party goers and hitting headlines for various reasons. Hilton was also spotted frolicking around Bondi Beach and shopping in Sydney over the weekend. Almost 1000 celebrity and VIP guests attended the launch while DJ Afrojack and LMFAO's RedFoo performed live at the event. The launch comes on the back of recent troubles within Star Casino over the sacking of former boss Sid Vaikunta. Sydney may be far away from the bright lights and glitzy lifestyle of Hollywood, but that didn't stop the celebs from gathering in their droves. Here's hoping the Club does well…ONE DIRECTION GO GLOBAL: UK and Irish boy band One Direction have gone global with their debut album making American music history by going to number one in the Billboard top 200 chart. The five-piece, who came third in The X Factor UK in 2010, have long tasted success in Europe but the teen heart-throbs have now taken the world by storm. Their debut single "What Makes You Beautiful" was released in November 2011 and peaked at number one in the UK and their debut album followed in November selling 138,631 copies making it the fastest selling debut album on the UK Charts in 2011. The lads will make their Australian debut with a performance at the 2012 Logie Awards in Melbourne on April during their sold out Australian tour. It just goes to show you don't need to win these big talent shows to have success, and I wish the boys every success in the future…RIP JIM STYNES: Jim Stynes has passed away following a three year battle with cancer. The former Melbourne football legend passed away in the comfort of his own home surrounded by family and friends. A State funeral was held in St Pauls Cathedral in Melbourne for the footie legend and a massive crowd gathered at Federation Square to bid a fond farewell to the icon. Stynes was remembered as a generous, loving, and caring man who was a constant inspiration to his family, friends and the public. Debuting in the Australian Football League in 1987, he played a league record of 244 consecutive games between 1987 and 1998. He served as President of the Melbourne Football from 2008, and despite being diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in 2009, he continued to work during his treatment for brain metastasis. RIP a True Football great…BEN COUSINS ON DRUG CHARGES: Former AFL star Ben Cousins is back in Perth after being released on bail following his arrest in Esperance Airport for drug charges. Cousins is best known for his 270 game career with West Coast and Richmond in the Australian Football League. During his eleven years with West Coast, earning him several of the league's highest individual awards including a Brownlow Medal and Most Valuable Player, Cousins has also been listed as one the top 50 players of all time by journalist Mike Sheahan. His football career has been marred by highly publicised incidents involving recreational drug use, traffic convictions and association with criminal elements. Cousins stated that he "has nothing to say at this time" to the waiting media at Perth Airport. He was arrested at Esperance Airport after being charged with possession of methylamphetamine with intent to sell or supply…EXTRA PROTECTION FOR COWELL: Simon Cowell has added more bodyguards to his already 24-7 protection team following a break-in to his London home. British newspaper 'The Sun' states that the X Factor boss was confronted by a female intruder wielding a brick when he went to investigate a noise in his home. It is believed that Leanne Zaloumis, 29, of Catford, South East London, was found by armed police hiding on a seven foot shelf in Cowell's wardrobe. Zaloumis appeared in court charged with aggravated burglary with intent of GBH. Luckily no one was harmed in the incident…HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAGA: Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Lady Gaga has recently announced that she will no longer speak to the media during an interview with Oprah Winfrey. The pop star who turned 26 during the week told Winfrey that she plans to go on a media blackout during the coming months. "Other than this interview Oprah, I do not intend on speaking to anyone for a very long time.. No press, no television." Gaga has one of the most loyal fan bases in the music industry but despite her roaring success she has never been devoured by the fame monster. Gaga has created some of the most crazed and bizarre media explosions in recent years, be it from outrageous meat dresses or hatching from an egg on the red carpet, the world is going to be a quiet place if she succeeds in her media blackout. Nevertheless the world will watch in anticipation…MEGAN FOX PREGNANT?: According to reports in the USA, actress Megan Fox is expecting her first baby with husband Brian Austin Green. The couple are reportedly thrilled, a source told America's Star magazine "They just found out and are incredibly excited." The source added "It's still early, so they are only telling family members and close friends." The Transformers actress already has some parenting skills as she is stepmother to husband Brian's nine year old son Kassius. Fox and Green married in a private ceremony in Hawaii in June 2010. The insider also added that Fox is thrilled to be expecting a child of her own. "Megan used to only be concerned with her career, but now her family comes first." If the reports are true, a huge congratulations to you both…VICTORIA BECKHAM LIKE YOU AND ME: Victoria Beckham has claimed that her super slim figure matches that of the general public. The average British female sports size is a sixteen but despite this, the former Spice Girl (whose diet consists of steamed fish and raw vegetables and easily fits into a size six dress) claims she represents the general public. It's fairly evident that the star may used to fit that physique during her Spice Girl days sporting a healthy ten to twelve dress size. But in recent years her dieting and weight has made her one of the leanest women in Hollywood. The star who gave birth to her fourth child in July, last showed off her toned body in a recent Harpers Bazaar Magazine shoot for swim wear. The fashion designer is so convinced that she represents the norm that she has started basing her designs on her own measurements and has replaced models with her own body when it comes to fitting dresses for her clothing line…HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMA: The name Pattie Mallette may not ring a bell with most people, but the twitter world has exploded with "Happy Birthday Pattie" trending worldwide. Mallette is Justin Bieber's mother and the millions of Beliebers around the world have taken to social networking sites to wish her well on her birthday. Raising Bieber as a single mother, she has stood by her son through his whole career and is a driving force behind all his success. Justin's fans seem very grateful with the woman responsible for him with messages like "Happy Birthday Pattie. Thanks for giving birth to the sexiest creature on earth," and more genuine messages like "Happy Birthday Pattie. You've created and raised a beautiful son. He has turned from a boy to a young man. You did a good job." So I'll jump on the bandwagon here Happy Birthday Pattie Mallette…

Day Tripper (Melbourne to Albury)

Poet Cavafy captures the essence of the Bacardi Express rail journey from Melbourne to Sydney when he writes about the journey of the soul in his poem 'Ithaca', which embraces the search for meaning in life. And after being part of the best rock n' rolling rail journey Australia has ever seen, it's not the Bacardi rum talking.

Take one restored 60's Southern Aurora Heritage train, five bands, four cities, four shows, seven semi trailers, 16 buses, one helicopter, one glitter cannon, 8kg of passionfruit pulp, 400 meals, ½ tonne of ice, a 1000km journey, 21 train staff, copious amounts of Bacardi cocktails stamped with artist's names such as Faker, Jimmy Choo and Scribe, mix them all together and you get a journey of bacchanalian excess, impromptu jamming, laughter, debauchery and on the rails shenanigans.

The Bacardi Express pays homage to the Trans-Continental pop festival that took Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead and The Band across Canada in 1970. Paying homage to the past "is kinda what rock n' roll is about," says Faker's front man Nathan Hudson and adds; "The kind of truth that people put in their performances in terms of living what they do. That was definitely an era of performers that created a vibe around what they were playing, which was really important, and why doing things like this, like a train trip where the whole journey that took in the same kind of emphasis as the music and what music is about. Kinda celebrating creating music."

In terms of modern influences, Nathan says, "We were very fortunate to interact with different people on the Big Day Out. We saw Battles live, and LCD Soundsystem." Faker guitarist Stefan Gregory adds further, "They're kinda the moments you really take away with you. When you see something live, it really changes it. For me Battles, I listened to their album once and thought whatever and then seeing them live it actually really blew me away." "It's adding something visual as well. It's not based on an overt emotional currency," offers Nathan. When describing the natural progression of sound of Battles live, Stefan explains, "For me it kinda harks back to 70's Miles Davis jazz experiments, Bitches Brew in Cannes, and the guitar work of Sonic Youth. It's very organic. I don't think it's ideas that are logically conceived. That 70s stuff is wild. It's all about noise and organic progression of sound."

Often rock artists portray a certain image and influence fashion and teens with their hairstyles and a nonchalant image of cool. It is with tongue firmly in cheek that I ask whether Faker's hairdresser is on board the train. "You know what, I cut my own hair today, so I guess that's true," offers Stefan Gregory. Sometimes the emphasis of the rock n roll industry is inadvertently on image, rather than music, but Stefan tries to dispel this myth by proudly boasting that on facebook, in three out of four judgements, his hair was not as good as somebody else's hair. "So my hair cannot be that good. I felt quite good that I got a really low hair rating. There's actually something more to me than that."

First stop at the Forum at the ungodly hour of 11.30am, Bang Gang DJs spin some discs to get the punters in the mood. Hooded, quirky brother and sister hip- hop act the Bumblebeez put on an inspiring set. Faker slots in next with a dynamic live show we've come to expect, opening with 'Are You Magnetic?' and closing with past single 'This Heart Attack' with some impressive speaker stack scaling by Nathan in between, before punchy dance darlings PNAU fire things up with a sun, skull, wild strawberry, a dove, giant balloons and frivolity.

After the Forum gig, and vast consumption of deadly Rockstar cocktails, the bands, media and a lucky prize- winner are shuffled onto the bus to Southern Cross station, platform two, where the Bacardi Express has alighted. On board, there's a relaxed vibe, with two cocktail bars, a dining carriage and a jamming studio - The Bumblebeez. Pia Colonna cons me and unsuspecting passers by into playing a game that gives out electric shocks, and a couple of the Faker boys play poker and tinker on drums and keys in the jamming studio. Meanwhile, the media types (myself included) enjoy schmoozing, falling over and try all signature cocktails on offer.

Albury's gig at the SS & A club sees a repeat of the Melbourne show, albeit a little more merry and weary, with the addition of crowd stopper, New Zealand rapper Scribe and some impressive beat boxing from MC Beardyman. With another 24 hours to go and a 24-hour cocktail bar, anything can happen on this journey. "I'd like to meet all the train enthusiasts…and maybe find a future wife," says hopeful Faker guitarist Stefan Gregory. "A lot can happen in 48 hours!" exclaims Faker's vocalist Nathan Hudson and indeed it can.

Given that the Bacardi express is based on the Transcontinental Pop Festival; the journey pays homage to the past, celebrates the present and looks towards music of the future. With technology moving so quickly, I ask the Faker boys whether they would get themselves cryogenically frozen and come back in 200 years time and how they'd cope with the music of the time. Stefan Gregory responds excitedly without taking a breath; "Well, I'd get cyborg implants, by that time the music is gonna be so advanced the spectrum of sounds that we can hear is gonna be increased, by like, ten-fold and I'd definitely get cochlear implants so that I can perceive all that stuff and I'd have cyborg implants in my fingers like 10 arms so that I can play 10 different instruments at once and my brain will expand to like 1000 fold and will take up the size of a football stadium. We'd have brains the size of football stadiums, which, like blue tooth they would connect to your brain, which would be like a walking stick figure. Everyone's gonna be Naomi Campbell, walking around with bluetooth brains to football stadiums where the actual brains will be in giant computer vessels. It's gonna be fantastic!"

With a nod to past, present and the future, the Bacardi express was a hell of a trip shaking up the foundations of the mundane existence of the drudgery of the working week. The event is a credit to the organisers who allowed everything to flow smoothly on the day without a hitch. What a ride!