User:Dario Western

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Dario Western (born 27 December 1970 in Manchester, UK) is a Brisbane based musician, songwriter, photographer and nudist activist. He emigrated to Brisbane in July 1982. His father, [Alan Western] is a well-known local jazz singer and his sister Melissa is also a jazz singer as well as an actor. Dario first got into music as a child when he took up playing the piano in primary school, and later violin, guitar and trombone when he was in high school. He wrote his first song "Marianne" at the age of 15 for a music project, inspired by an article in People magazine about a German woman who was imprisoned for killing a serial killer who murdered her daughter. He later played drums in school band West End, and moved to Townsville in 1993 to further his musical interests, but to no avail. Upon returning to Brisbane, he landed a job as a talent scout at a glamour models agency which sparked his interest in photography. The business folded within a year, but he continued his photographic pursuits. His photography was featured in the nudist magazine Australian Sun & Health during the late 1990's, including an article on the TV series "Nude Moments". He has also produced photographic work for Brisbane bands The Busymen and White Elephant Snow. During the 1990's, he was involved in a band called Blackened with his then-girlfriend Julie Hepburn. They were styled on the Britpop movement of the 90's, and had radio airplay but split up in 1999. Dario turned his musical attention to a woman called Bonnie Moir, whom he had met at a Bundaberg Rum Toga Party in February 2000 which featured local bands Lavish and Rhubarb. Her health problems prevented her from working with him until 2006. In the interim, he formed a friendship with cult electronic musician David Barker (aka D-Wizz), returning to live performing as a duo called D-Wizz2.0. This band is styled on guitar/drums duos The White Stripes and The Whats, although their material is more inspired by pop music from the 60's and 80's. Dario has also appeared in music videos by The Whats ("Oh", 2005) and rap group Bokmastaz ("Rappers D'light", 2006) as an audience member. As of 2007, Dario is working on a band called Laissez-Fayre with vocalist Caroline Smith. This is a concept band which is out to promote the naturist lifestyle to the Generation X and Y crowd as well as continuing his working relationship with Bonnie Moir and David Barker. He has recently been charged with the mission of being the Brisbane organiser for the World Naked Bike Ride. This is an annual event, starting in 2004 to protest against oil dependency as well as promoting social awareness and tolerance of nudism. The event has attracted much media attention in Brisbane, and he has featured in several newspapers riding a bicycle nude with only a pair of socks and a helmet.