Perth Dad Rocks 60,000 Fans From Stadium Rooftop

Most guitarists dream of playing stadiums, but Troy Nababan does it from a platform 12 stories high with no handrails and a see-through floor.

The 38-year-old father from Morley, Australia, is the Fremantle Dockers' official guitarist, rocking out above 60,000 fans at Perth Stadium. Strapped into a harness, he performs classic rock covers during home games, standing where most people would freeze in terror.

"I dreamed I would play stadiums when I was very young, but I thought that opportunity had maybe disappeared as I got a little older," Nababan said. Now he's one of the few musicians who can say they've performed to a sold-out Perth Stadium crowd, joining the ranks of Ed Sheeran and Coldplay.

It all started with a random phone call in 2019. His booking agent needed a long-haired guitar player for what they called "a bit of a strange gig," and Nababan's luscious locks helped seal the deal.

Even after hundreds of games, he doesn't look down. The biggest danger isn't the height or the slippery metal grating when it rains, but something far more embarrassing.

"The way the harness grabs is like a seatbelt," he explained. "If I jump up a little too much, it sort of grabs, and I am wedgied."

But Nababan refuses to play it safe. "This is not the sort of gig you can do passively," he said, running and jumping as much as the platform allows while pumping up the crowd below.

Sunny's Take

What makes this story shine is Nababan's reminder that opportunities don't expire with age. The music-obsessed dad who once had little interest in footy now lives and breathes the sport, teaching TAFE students and recording music between games. He keeps over 30 guitars in his purple-hazed studio, many covered in rhinestones as tributes to his 80s hair metal heroes like Mötley Crüe.

His philosophy remains simple: always say yes to opportunities. Before each game, he loads up on coffee and sugar, ready to create an electric atmosphere one more time.

His hair care secret for 42-meter winds? A generous dollop of coconut oil keeps those rock star locks from drying out while he lives the dream he never let die.