Airbourne's Hard Landing

By the time Melbourne’s recidivist rock & roll quartet Airbourne had finished spending six months of 2006 recording their debut album, Runnin’ Wild, in Los Angeles there was a pile of rubbish two metres wide in the corner of their rented apartment in Hollywood, where a bin was submerged under a mountain of empty beer cans and used plates. There were no internal doors left, as they’d taken them off their hinges and gaffa taped them over the windows so they could sleep during the day. And a rat was living under bassist Justin Street’s bed.

When the band finally got back home they were followed by a clean-up bill in the mid four figures from the owner’s agent.

It all begs the obvious question: how could a band that pledges allegiance to the raucous immediacy of Australia’s pub rock tradition spend six months making an album?

“We wanted it to be the best it could be,” explains guitarist David Roads, who is sweating out the result of staying out until 6am the morning of this interview. “Originally it was going to be three months, but we weren’t satisfied that we were doing our best.”

“We did talk a lot of shit,” admits impish vocalist Joel O’Keeffe. “Every vocal take would bring a two hour conversation.”

Airbourne are the loud but essentially sweet-natured new faces of the Australian rock revival. Their all-time favourite riffs are to be found in ‘Dogs Are Talking’ by The Angels and a Rose Tattoo double play of ‘Scarred For Life’ and ‘We Can’t Be Beaten’. But it’s AC/DC the four-piece – completed by Joel’s younger brother Ryan on drums – draw the most comparisons to, something the band are delighted with, especially if it’s the Bon Scott era.

“We grew up with their music, but it wasn’t on TV and our friends didn’t play it – they liked bloody Blink-182,” explains Roads. “If people say we sound like AC/DC I say Thank God, because we don’t want kids to have to go through what we did.

“Kids need proper rock & roll,” counsels O’Keeffe

Airbourne are sanguine about their signing and subsequent culling from the Capitol/EMI roster in America. They took their finished album with them and have subsequently signed with Roadrunner Records for the world outside Australia, where EMI have recently released the album to a genial reception. The band is undeterred by such developments, as they believe that rock is on the ascendancy and that constant touring will open up any closed door.

“It’s definitely the time for America. That nu-metal shit like Korn is only just on the way out now and hip-hop is as safe as The Wiggles,” Roads says.

The problem in Australia may be that the pub rock circuit no longer exists. The era of a band playing six suburban beer barn shows in the same city over a week and then moving on to the state may well have passed.

“Now bands are playing nightclubs more,” enthuses Roads. “Everything goes around in a circle and more people are going to shows again.”

Adds an excited O’Keeffe: “You can still do it. You just have to drive a little further between shows.”

Gaelic Club, Sydney, NSW
Friday 13 July

Mona Vale Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Saturday 14 July

Prince of Wales Hotel, Bunbury, WA
Thursday 19 July

Hyde Park Hotel, Perth, WA
Friday 20 July

Mojos Bar, Fremantle, WA
Saturday 21 July

National Hotel, Geelong, VIC
Thursday 26 July

Prince of Wales Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
Friday 27 July

Splendour In The Grass, Byron Bay, NSW
Saturday 4 August

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