Years after producing the ABC’s TV news theme, former ABC Radio Manager Peter Wall has found himself with an unlikely Top 20 hit. The news theme has been remixed by Perth band Pendulum and has today shot into the top 20 iTunes downloads.

Wall produced the theme with writing partner Tony Ansell while working for ABC 1233 Newcastle almost twenty years ago. He was alerted to the remix last week by a regional radio reporter who heard it pumping from a V8 car stereo in Rockhampton.

 The Pendulum version has already had thousands of downloads on iTunes and sells for $1.68 per download.

Wall told radioinfo: “I hate to sound like a raver but some randoms have done a sick version of our theme. Wait for the filthy beat to drop…it’s genius.”

More seriously, Wall added: “Actually at 62 I am quite pleased to see our reworked theme on the front page of iTunes. It’s lovely.”

The unlikely rebirth of the theme, which was replaced by a new theme in 2005, has given Wall some unexpected notoriety, with coverage in the Sydney Morning Herald and on Jono and Dano’s networked drive show.

“Tony Ansell and I always loved this piece of music, it’s probably the best thing we ever wrote…along with the ABC’s 1982 Commonwealth Games music…Victory….now there’s a thought…I wonder where that 45 is downstairs?”

All the fuss about his music producing career prompted Wall to go searching amongst his old photos for some memories. He was unwise enough to send this cheesy old photo to us here at radioinfo. Wall is on the right with the ‘fashionable’ wide tie.

Listen to some of the Pendulum version below and search for ABC News Theme (Reixed by Pendulum) for download to iTunes.