Dingo

The dingo (Canis lupus dingo) is a wild dog found in Australia. Its exact ancestry is debated, but dingoes are generally believed to be descended from semi-domesticated dogs from East or South Asia, which returned to a wild lifestyle when introduced to Australia. It and the dog are classified as a subspecies of Canis lupus in Mammal Species of the World.

The dingo's habitat ranges from deserts to grasslands and the edges of forests. Dingoes will normally make their dens in deserted rabbit holes and hollow logs close to an essential supply of water.

The dingo is the largest terrestrial predator in Australia, and plays an important role as an apex predator. However, the dingo is seen as a pest by livestock farmers due to attacks on animals. Conversely, their predation on rabbits, kangaroos and rats may be of benefit to graziers.

For many Australians, the dingo is a cultural icon. The dingo is seen by many as being responsible for thylacine extinction on the Australian mainland about two thousand years ago, although a recent study challenges this view. Dingoes have a prominent role in the culture of Aboriginal Australians as a feature of stories and ceremonies, and they are depicted on rock carvings and cave paintings.

Dingo (band)

Dingo is a Finnish rock band formed around 1982. They fused Finnish melancholy with catchy rock melodies. The band was led by the frontman Pertti Neumann (also known as Pertti Nieminen). For a few years of top success, Dingo was one of the most popular Finnish rock bands and caused a phenomenon called "Dingomania" all over Finland.

Dingo's hit number one was called "Autiotalo", released also in English as "The House without a Name". There was even formed a separate youth culture in Finland, the Dingoes. The success, however, lasted only for a couple of years and Dingo broke up in October 1986. The band regrouped in 1998 and continues to perform occasionally. During their career, the band sold over 500,000 records in Finland.

Apart from "The House without a Name" Dingo has released the following songs in English: "Tell Me Now" (1986) and "Tobacco Road" (1986).

Biography

1980s

Dingo was formed in 1982. Through different phases it reached its permanent line-up and recorded a demo which was sent to different labels, for example Finnlevy and Poko Rekords. Poko Rekords abandoned the demo and there has been a rumour that the demo "accidentally" ended up in the wrong drawer. On the other hand, it took only one song to convince Finnlevy. That song was “Hölmöläisten laiva” and from the songs we know, “Sinä ja minä” was also on the demo.

Dingo (film)

Dingo is a 1991 Australian film directed by Rolf de Heer and written by Marc Rosenberg. It traces the pilgrimage of John Anderson (played by Colin Friels), an average guy with a passion for jazz, from his home in outback Western Australia to the jazz clubs of Paris, to meet his idol, jazz trumpeter Billy Cross (played by legendary trumpeter Miles Davis). In the film's opening sequence, Davis and his band unexpectedly land on a remote airstrip in the Australian outback and proceed to perform for the stunned locals. The performance was one of Davis's last on film.

Production

The movie was filmed in Meekatharra, Perth, and Sandstone, Western Australia, as well as Paris, France.

Christian Faure was the assistant director of the movie.

Music

Davis, who plays the role of Cross, provided the film's soundtrack in cooperation with Michel Legrand.

Box office

Dingo grossed $132,500 at the box office in Australia.

Home Media

Dingo was released on DVD by Umbrella Entertainment in July 2005. The DVD is compatible with all region codes and includes special features such as a new 5.1 channel soundtrack, trailers, and an image gallery.