The Choirboys have cemented their place in Australian music culture as one of the quintessential pub rock bands, and almost 30 years on from the release of their rock anthem ‘Run To Paradise’, The Choirboys are still taking their show on the road.
The Choirboys are all set to hit the stage at The Depot on Beaumont this Thursday 4th December for an intimate three-piece acoustic show, and we caught up with bass guitarist, Ian Hulme, in the lead up…
Looking back over your history in The Choirboys, if you had to pick on moment to re-live again, what would it be?
Well, I’m not sure… As I think back over the decades, I’d say the very first few rehearsals we ever had would be the moment. Back in the late 70s in a boarded up old shop in Roseville… It had electricity!
Hard to think that it all began so long ago! Did you ever imagine your career in music would span over almost four decades, or did you always feel like it was ‘music or bust’ for you?
Music was the only way, but there was never a multi-decade plan! For me, it was always the desire to get the next album done and it often felt like it was kinda slow going at the time.
You undoubtedly get asked this question in every interview, but we’re going to go there one more time for good measure! How does it feel to have written a song that has gone down in Australian music and cultural history as one of the best Aussie rock anthems of all time? Does the band have any theories as to why ‘Run To Paradise’ became so important to the Australian public?
We feel very privileged. You couldn’t design the way it turned out, but it just so happened! I don’t know why, but it’s one of those songs that just seems to capture a moment in time and seems to last forever.
It almost sounds like the hit song came along at the right place and right time in music history, a bit of a ‘happy accident’ turned music juggernaut! After the release of ‘Run To Paradise’, as a band did you feel a lot of pressure from external sources and your fans to deliver another hits as big as that?
Back in the 80s there was always pressure from record companies, managers and so on, telling us “You gotta write hits, you gotta go here, you gotta go there, you gotta be this, you gotta be that.” Everyone had an opinion, but they were all just grasping at straws. And really, it’s all about what is at your core, and the reason why you started doing it. Songwriting is an emotional thing.
Over the past 30-odd years, the line-up may have changed from time to time, but The Choirboys as a band have never broken up or taken a hiatus. What do you think is the key to your longstanding run as a band?
I don’t know… Maybe we’re all a bit thick! There were moments when I think we should have taken a break, but that becomes the meat of life!
You’re headed to Newcastle this week to play a fairly intimate, stripped-back show as a trio – What was the reason behind option for a three-piece as opposed to your usual four-piece set up for this show? Have you performed in this format previously?
We have done three-piece acoustic performances before, not many though so it is a bit special. I think we like to mix it up and do things we don’t normally do, it gives us a challenge and shows all our songs in a different light. It’s revealing!
Can fans expect anything different from your three-piece show, any surprises?
They’ve all got something a bit different, definitely a lot more personal… We go around and hug everyone in the room!
You can catch The Choirboys delivering all their classic hits in a new light as a trio this Thursday 4th December at The Depot on Beaumont St. Limited tickets available, phone 02 4962 2114 or book online: http://www.thedepotonbeaumont.com.au/choirboys-live/
