Air Supply continues to feel the ‘love’ from its many fans
Russell Hitchcock never wants to hear the words “soft rock” in conjunction with his band Air Supply ever again.
The Australian-born singer won’t blow a fuse if those words are uttered in reference to the band he formed with guitarist and singer-songwriter Graham Russell back in 1975, but the gently chiding tone is very evident.
“I really don’t like seeing it in print,” says Hitchcock, on a short break before an Air Supply concert in Minneapolis. “We’re not Metallica and we’re not Peter, Paul and Mary, but our show is loud and dynamic and full of energy. To be honest, I never quite understood what it meant. I hated it even before I started in the music business.”
Hitchcock had been flirting with the music business for a number of years before meeting Russell during a production of Jesus Christ Superstar in 1975. Australia took to its homegrown boys almost immediately, giving them their first Top 10 hit with Love and Other Bruises the following year, but international recognition eluded the two and the revolving cast of musicians that played with them.
It was in 1980 that they finally cracked not only the U.S., but also much of the rest of the world with AM radio smashes like Lost in Love and All Out of Love, songs that will whirl forever in our collective consciousness due to constant use on television, supermarkets and elevators.
The hits continued through the early- to mid-’80s, mostly songs with the word “love” affixed to it, but even without radio support in the later years, the two have soldiered on with the help of a very dedicated fan base. They’ve never broken up or threatened retirement, and they’re even talking hesitantly about a new album, their first since 2010’s Mumbo Jumbo. We spoke with Hitchcock about the band’s early years, the possibility of new recordings and a surprise encounter with Robert Plant.
Q You might not like the term “soft rock” to describe what Air Supply does, but you definitely stuck out as a gentler group among harder acts of the time.
A We released our first album in Australia in the era of AC/DC, The Angels and Midnight Oil. Those were some very aggressive audiences, and we went out there in white suits and afros and played Lost in Love. We got canned by the critics, but bottom line is people loved our recordings and bought them by the truck load. I’ve met over the years a few people who were unkind to us in the early days, and it’s always nice because well, I’m still here.
Q Was there a camaraderie amongst Australian bands at the time?
A Sure. We would bump into Bon Scott and the guys from AC/DC, or travel on a train in Japan with the guys from INXS. I knew Peter Garrett from Midnight Oil, not as a close friend, but I know him from back then, and the thing is there was no sense of competition. Everyone was grateful to be on the road and playing music. Now, if you dress in a certain way or whatever, some people don’t think you’re cool enough. It’s become a divide in the industry, and that’s sad because it’s such a small industry.
Q I know you’ve had some nice encounters with other rock figures who appreciated what you did.
A It was in India in ’95, I think, and we were being given an award. We played a cricket stadium for the VH1 India awards, and the other people who were there included Robert Plant, who sang with Roger Taylor and Brian May (of Queen). Bryan Adams was there, as were the Macarena people and a bunch of other acts. I was walking from my dressing room when I saw Plant talking to some reporters. Now, I’m a fan, and Plant is a legend. As I was walking past, he excused himself from the reporters and introduced himself to me, saying it was a pleasure to meet. He was and is a lovely guy, and not egotistical at all. He just loves and appreciates good music in whatever forms it takes.
Q Your last album, Mumbo Jumbo, came out in 2010. Any plans to get back in the studio and follow it up?
A Well, we’ve actually released songs online now and again since Mumbo Jumbo, but in fact we do have an album-sized project coming up. We’ve just been doing the online thing for fans, because we figured we can’t get new material played on the radio anymore. Graham and I have some good friends in L.A. that are in radio, we’ve known them for 20 or 30 years, and whenever we take them new songs, they always say, “This is fantastic, but people don’t want to hear new things from you, they want to hear Lost in Love and Sweet Dreams.” That p---es me off, because the material has never deteriorated in quality. I can’t speak for Graham, but at some point I began to think that you just can’t fight city hall. Go with the flow. I still have this wonderful career, after all.
Q So you still love what you do? A I really love what I do. There was a passenger on a flight from Atlanta who once asked me that, and I said that I love performing, but I don’t necessarily like getting up at 6 a.m. for a flight. (Laughs) I’ve met some musicians who are cynical about it, and usually that’s just who they are. My great issue is with people who complain about having to play one of their songs. Well, it afforded you a lifestyle and a career, and the people that supported it deserve to hear it. You can’t just stop playing it.
Q In your case, you’ve got a bunch of songs that are forever going to be played at weddings. That’s not such a bad legacy.
A I know! Also, I told Graham after our first recording in 1976 that I was blown away that our songs and voices were going to be on a record. I said that one of the great things about it this is that my voice is there forever for my daughter’s great-great-great grandchildren to hear. That’s an achievement.