Richard Wilkins recalls life on the road with his band and with his young family in the 1970s

My life as ‘Richard Wilde’: Today Extra host Wilkins recalls going on tour with his rock band and his then high school sweetheart and their two young children in the Seventies


Before becoming a TV star, Richard Wilkins rose to fame with a music career in his home country of New Zealand in the 1970s with his band Wilde and Reckless. 

And on Friday, he recalled what life was like on the road with his young family – his then girlfriend and their two children. 

The 66-year-old told Stellar his touring days were packed with 14 shows a week.

‘It wasn’t about making money, it was about living the dream’: Richard Wilkins recalled his life on the road with his rock band, Wilde and Reckless, and his young family during his music career in the 1970s

‘My girlfriend at the time, Lynette, who’s the mother of two of my kids, was on the road with us – she used to run the fan club,’ he said, referring to his high school sweetheart.

The TV presenter said that his life touring with his band was far from the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.

‘We weren’t staying in swanky hotels or drinking fancy booze, but it wasn’t about making money, it was about living the dream,’ he revealed.

His heyday: He said his girlfriend at the time 'Lynette, who's the mother of two of my kids' joined the band on tour and ran their fan club. He also revealed that his life on the road was far from the rock'n'roll lifestyle, 'we weren't staying in swanky hotels or drinking fancy booze'

His heyday: He said his girlfriend at the time ‘Lynette, who’s the mother of two of my kids’ joined the band on tour and ran their fan club. He also revealed that his life on the road was far from the rock’n’roll lifestyle, ‘we weren’t staying in swanky hotels or drinking fancy booze’

Before starting his broadcast career with Channel Nine, he was known as Richard Wilde and had a record deal with the now-defunct label PolyGram.

In 1987 he became the first host of MTV Australia when it launched in partnership with Nine.

Richard is now the entertainment editor for Nine, and regularly hosts segments on Today and Today Extra.

Special release: Richard's records with Wilde and Reckless is being re-released after 40 years in a 19-track album called the The Wilde Years

Special release: Richard’s records with Wilde and Reckless is being re-released after 40 years in a 19-track album called the The Wilde Years

Richard’s records with Wilde and Reckless is being re-released after 40 years in a 19-track album called the The Wilde Years.

The frontman has previously said he would not be getting the band back together, but noted that he might get back on stage for charity. 

‘I can’t sing that high anymore, for starters. Maybe I’d do one song once somewhere for charity. But there are plenty of other people doing it better than I could, so I’ll leave it to the experts,’ he said.

Family man: Richard is a doting father of five children to four different mothers: sons Adam, 48, who lives in New Zealand, Nick, 35, and Christian, 25, and daughters Rebecca, 37, and Estella, 16

Family man: Richard is a doting father of five children to four different mothers: sons Adam, 48, who lives in New Zealand, Nick, 35, and Christian, 25, and daughters Rebecca, 37, and Estella, 16 

Richard is a doting father of five children to four different mothers: sons Adam, 48, who lives in New Zealand, Nick, 35, and Christian, 25, and daughters Rebecca, 37, and Estella, 15. 

Estella’s mother is fashion designer Collette Dinnigan.

Richard is dating flight attendant Nicola Dale, who he was reportedly introduced to by mutual friend Ben Fordham at a party last year. 

New love: Richard is dating flight attendant Nicola Dale, who he was reportedly introduced to by mutual friend Ben Fordham at a party last year

New love: Richard is dating flight attendant Nicola Dale, who he was reportedly introduced to by mutual friend Ben Fordham at a party last year