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| Sunday, 19 December 2004 |
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by Mahes Perera
But then here in Sri Lanka it was radio, SLBC that made them a popular group, creating a fan base for their style of singing and for their hits. "It's fabulous in this part of the world said Russel at the media briefing. The secret of their longevity the twosome reveal is their great song ability. Ever since they worked together as cast members for a stage production of Jesus Christ Superstar and later decided to launch off on a singing career there was no looking back for them. Their launch came at a right time and they called themselves 'Air Supply' after a dream that Graham Russell experienced! Friendly and easy going Russell and Graham off the media table talked about many things. "We were scheduled to perform in India thrice over and everytime it got cancelled due to bad weather so this is a first for us here in Asia. "Our latest DVD album is titled 'It Was Thirty Years Ago Today' and it contains two of our live concerts in Canada, brand new songs and a documentary as well. It's a great album and we hope you are able to get one." You have said in an early interview that with every new album you broke new musical ground, in what way? "In the sense, that whatever was current and hip at the time that we worked on an album, we absorbed some of it, because we want to live in the present." What were your influences in music? "The Beatles in pop music of course. Their impact was something, they brought a new dimension to music and they put new words into the English language which was fascinating. How confident are you of increasing your youth audience? "At the moment we have a very favourable youth audience in all the States. Our fan base the 'Fan Club Air Heads' has hundreds of thousands of members and any young person can get on to our website its free." You've been on the scene from 1977 when 'The Whole Thing Started' would there be a time when you decide to 'lay down your guitars'? "No. We will sing until we can't anymore. Look at Tom Jones he's still around and popular too. If we are then, where we are today, we'll go on. Air Supply's backing group comprises Jed Moss on piano who has been with the duo for the past nine years, Jonni Lightfoot the music director is a multi instrumentalist plays bass and he's being playing with Air Supply for the past four years while Mike Zerbe the drummer joined the outfit two years ago. The three of them are jazz based musicians and at the concert they will be performing an original called 'Mutton Chops'. Air Supply's songs over the years have relied on the 'love' entity which has given the duo a distinctive identity that has reached out and struck a sensitive chord with their fans. Professionally Graham and Russell know each other better than anyone. They never take each other for granted, never considered not working together and both are appreciative of the career they're carved out for themselves. |
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In the music world they say that longevity is an important factor in an
industry where brevity is prevalent. Air Supply has maintained that
fortunate status and are looking forward to new challenges to take them
with success through the future years. "We've been a great act we
don't happen to rely on radio alone" says Russell Hitchcock with a
confident smile.
