I first heard them in Steve’s garage. He’d turned it into his pad. It was the coolest place I knew. Except for Smithy’s garage. That had been turned into his pad. He had a fridge.
At sixteen, we were easily impressed. We thought we were so hip. If only we knew.
While our clothes may have let us down, my mate’s choice in music was impeccable. We dined out on The Beach Boys, and Australian Crawl, and Steve Miller band. The Mentals and the Doors were on high rotation on his ripper record player. The neighbours knew all about it.
One afternoon, he introduced me to another band. One that would send me soaring to places I’d never been.
They were a bunch of good ol’ boys with a unique country rock sound, out of the US West Coast. The Eagles.
What I recall from way back then, was the amazing harmonies. And guitar work that dazzled.
We would buy their new albums, and give them priority airtime in the garage. Any female visitors snuck in were stuck with Don Henley and Glenn Frey as well as us. Fair to say, few of them shared our devotion. Or stayed past song one.
Hotel California. C’mon, sing it with me now. You all know the words. Take It Easy. Life in The Fast Lane. And The Long Run. Our favourite.
As we got older and went our separate ways, those melodies stayed with us. Lines that bonded us. And described our journey.
We would catch up whenever we could, and dust off those tunes over cool drinks. We knew most of the lyrics. And would belt them out.
Others shook their heads. Our boys are an acquired taste apparently. That’s ok. Each to his own.
A few years back, they dragged their millionaire butts to Brisbane. What a treat. I got to do a story on my idols.
Cameraman Lukey and I managed to snag seats. What a show. Luke is the coolest kid in the class. I thought he might have fallen asleep. Instead, he loved it. Knew every song.
They made a DVD from the Melbourne concert. I have played it one thousand times. Usually late at night. With glass in hand.
They’ve been going for more than forty years this mob. And now, I’m going to visit them. Off to LA to see them in concert. Possibly for the last time. They could be in rocking chairs.
If you’re an American, going to the Friday night show at The Forum, keep an eye out for the excited Aussie. I’ll be easy to pick. Off-key, and mangling a lyric or two. It didn’t matter in Steve’s pad. I’m sure they’ll let me off.
Hold All Tickets 