A supergroup of musicians is paying tribute to one of the greatest Australian rock bands in history and sharing the love with Thirroul mid-December.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Kram of Spiderbait will join Phil Jamieson of Grinspoon, Chris Cheney of The Living End, Tim Rogers of You Am I and Tex Perkins of The Cruel Sea and Beasts if Bourbon for Easyfever – a celebration of The Easybeats plus Stevie Wright’s solo career.
“Back in the mid-60s Australia was a very different place and I think those guys were the first band to really conquer the world,” Kram said.
While the Friday On My Mind hit-makers were only active from 1964 to 1969, Kram said its members (mainly Stevie Wright, George Young and Harry Vanda) progressed to become the fabric to some of our country’s most iconic rock and pop songs.
Their songwriting partnerships spawned ear-worms such as Evie, Love Is In The Air and Show No Mercy. While Young – the brother of Angus and Malcolm – also went on to produce for his sibling’s project AC/DC.
Both George and Malcolm Young passed away in between October and November this year, something Kram said makes working on this project even more of an honour and hoped the group could only “do justice” to the songs.
“Artists, like anyone else, don’t last forever ... but the songs keep going long after the person has sadly died. So in a way, it’s a great way to pay tribute,” he said.
“Just look up The Easybeats on Youtube and you’ll just see all the screaming girls and the madness, it’s basically like Australia’s Beatles.
“[They] basically changed the face of Australian music forever.”
Kram and the rest of the Easyfever crew have all been part of the Australian music scene for decades and have each played with each other’s bands from time to time.
He recalled he was a young punk rocker the first time he saw Perkins with the Beasts Of Bourbon in Melbourne. Perkins was wearing a dashing blue suit and was “incredibly scary”.
“I was very, very reluctant to approach him and say ‘man, I like your stuff’ but years later I got to know him and he’s a total sweetheart,” Kram said.
“All five of us have known each other for years ... and hung out, and partied and had a great time. Its a great troupe of singers to have for the show.”
Easyfever, Anita’s Theatre in Thirroul, Thursday December 14. Tickets via www.ticketmaster.com.au
Other shows include Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on December 15, Brisbane’s Eaton’s Hill Hotel December 16, and Melbourne’s The Forum on December 19.