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via The Republic

He’s heard the critics for nearly half a century imply that his band’s lighter rock of the 1980s is perhaps lighter weight. But, if that’s the case, h0w do you explain love song leaders such as Air Supply playing a string of eight countries in the next six months alone, especially at 15,000-seat arenas outside the United States?

“I usually don’t like to mention this about the sheer numbers, but we’ve probably played before as many people just in the past five years as we ever have (in that time span),” said 73-year-old lead singer Russell Hitchcock, speaking by phone from his home outside Los Angeles.

The six-member band, with Hitchcock’s original sidekick Graham Russell still on guitar — and still penning songs — will perform an approximately 13-song, hit-laden set at 8 p.m. Friday at Brown County Music Center in Nashville for those they affectionately call Airheads. And while the group’s key duo acknowledge some slight concert tweaks, they figure fans want them to be faithful to such well-known tunes as “Lost in Love,” “All Out of Love,” “Making Love Out of Nothing At All,” “Sweet Dreams,” “Even the Nights Are Better,” and “Every Woman in the World,” among others.

When Hitchcock has attended concerts by Paul McCartney (four times) and The Eagles (four times), he himself has wanted to hear the classic songs just as he remembers them in order to musically muse over the years.

“We definitely play what people want to hear,” he said. “Unfortunately, I’ve been to so many shows where I couldn’t always quite tell what song an artist was playing.”

For those who are wondering, Hitchcock’s tenor voice and his harmonies with Russell still sound as sweet in online clips as they did more than 30 years ago on recordings. Maybe the only complaint for some very proper pop fans about shows in the past year is that the group sometimes sounds surprisingly like harder-edged rock when live and in person today, which can nearly overshadow such precise vocals.

“Well, it is very loud,” Hitchcock said of the backing band that he gushes over.

But the lyrical heartbeat is still there, irrefutable evidence that this group is, as Time magazine once called it, “the most romantic band in the world.” Recent reviews, including those for sold-out shows in such major markets as San Francisco and Washingt0on, D.C., have lauded the group as an adult contemporary ensemble for the still starry-eyed and smitten lovers.

Yet, challenges remain.

Even after successes such as he and Russell being inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association’s Hall of Fame in 2013 and performing before a huge crowd of 175,000 at a concert in Cuba in 2005, Hitchcock still battles stage fright before every performance. He sometimes fought it with just a bit of merlot beforehand in the past. Now, he reminds himself that it will pass.

“I’m usually OK about three songs in,” he said.

He’s laid back about being recognized a couple times per week at airports and elsewhere, and chuckles about once frequently being mistaken for Elton John, thanks to similar specs and a similar haircut a few years ago. And there have been other erroneous sightings. A clueless teen girl gasped a while back when he was stepping from an elevator, and he noticed his round glasses.

“Are you John Lennon?” she asked.

The Australia native first joined forces with the British Russell in 1975 after meeting as castmates of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” which marked the first time he ever sang publicly. The two have worked together regularly ever since while never ceasing touring. Hitchcock never wants to write, and Russell said he has no desire to be lead vocalist. Hence, the effortless blending for 47 years.

Hitchcock had to think a while when asked about their biggest disagreement.

“Probably about where to eat,” Hitchcock said with a laugh. “Because he’s vegetarian.”

The one and only Air Supply is still going strong after more than 40 years. We spoke with lead singer Russell Hitchcock about his long history with singer-songwriter Graham Russell and their upcoming performance at the IP.

Tune in at WLOX.com

A visit with Graham Russell, one of the founding members of Air Supply ahead of their concert August 27th at Niswonger Performing Arts Center. For more information visit www.NPACGreeneville.com.

via Mercury News

Air Supply knew it had to live up to its reputation on Sunday night at the Mountain Winery.

“Time magazine said we are the most romantic band in the world,” guitarist-vocalist Graham Russell said from the stage. “So, I guess tonight we have something to prove.”

And Russell and his longtime Air Supply partner — lead vocalist Russell Hitchcock — certainly made a valiant effort in that pursuit during their approximately 90 minutes on stage in Saratoga, delivering a richly romantic set of love songs, tearjerkers and beautiful ballads for the capacity crowd.

The lovely historic venue was absolutely packed with “Airheads” — the affectionate nickname for the legions of diehard followers of this Australian soft-rock duo — to the point where even Russell seemed impressed by how many were in attendance.

“Wow — look at all those people up there,” he remarked as he looked to the upper reaches of the 2,400-capacity venue.

As the group delivered one memorable hit after another — starting with “Sweet Dreams” (from 1981’s “The One That You Love”) — it was easy to understand why this sold-out show was such a hit at the box office. Air Supply just has so much good material, including “Even the Nights Are Better,” “Just As I Am” and other numbers that rank among the top love songs of the ’70s and ’80s.

Plus, it was clear from watching the crowd that these weren’t just any old songs being played by the band. Instead, they were the soundtrack to first kisses and lost loves, high school dances and other such memories that leap once again to life when the right song is played. The fans listened to the songs with rapt interest, but they also sang along at top volume, shared hugs and kisses, waved their hands in the air and seemed to want the night to last forever.

As always, the amazing mountain setting, with the unparalleled views of the South Bay, greatly added to the enjoyment of the concert — not just for the fans, but for the musicians as well.

“What a pleasure to be in this beautiful venue here,” Hitchcock said. “It feels very medieval — that’s a big word for me.”

Hitchcock and Russell — who met while performing in an Australian production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” in 1975 — both sounded great as they were accompanied by a topnotch four-piece band on such winners as “Here I Am,” “Two Less Lonely People in World” and “Lost in Love.”

At one point during the show, Russell asked if there were any people seeing Air Supply for the first time — and, indeed, some people raised their hands in the affirmative. The superb guitarist then made a bold prediction:

“When you leave this venue, you are going to be an Airhead forever.”

And he could turn out to be right. Based on this great show at the Mountain Winery, it’s easy to see how Air Supply could be very habit forming.

Very excited to launch our new webstore at https://Shop.AirSupplyMusic.com/

Be sure to check back often as we will be adding lots of new products very soon!!

To celebrate 40 years of Now And Forever, we wanted to give you a chance to win something special as a thank you for all of your support during the years.  40 lucky winners that will receive a “Now And Forever” postcard signed by Graham + Russell. You can enter below. Good luck!

Air Supply – Now and Forever 40

Graham Russell is a musician, songwriter, and singer/guitarist of the soft rock duo Air Supply. In 1975, with Russell Hitchcock, he formed the guo in Australia. The duo have been singing and performing romantic songs and ballads, such as “Lost in Love”, “All Out of Love”, “Every Woman in the World”, “The One That You Love”, “Even the Nights Are Better”, “Goodbye” and “Making Love Out of Nothing at All”, for more than 45 years.

Listen now at Radio Kingston.

In this debut episode of You Gotta See This, Phil and Julie talk to one half of Air Supply about the business of music rights.

I must start this review with a special appreciation for guitarist Graham Russell of Air Supply.

During Air Supply concerts, such as a recent sold-out appearance at MGM National Harbor, Graham holds centerstage while the rest of the band takes a break in the middle of the show, and he recites a poem. This time, he recited “Am I” in a clear but hushed stage whisper. It was a wonderfully theatric moment, and the audience held his breath as he dramatically passed through the poem of his own composition.

Graham then presented a tongue-in-cheek ode to “The Perfect Lover,” which is in fact his guitar, and sang a song of that name. The covid-era composition, recorded by Graham and some bandmates as G and the Cool Cucumbers, flowed smoothly throughout the auditorium.

Our appreciation of the tall and lean guitarist, who is critically underrated, is not meant to detract from his equally magnetic bandmate, the vocalist Russell Hitchcock, who also was in fine form at MGM National Harbor on June 3. But Graham’s comprehensive but tender grasp of guitar mechanics, his effortless rhythmic synchronizing with the band’s excellent drummer, and his extraordinary compositions leave us wondering why he doesn’t more frequently appear on the top lists of classic rock guitarists in the world.

Graham and Russell began this performance in the Lost in Love Experience Tour, celebrating more than 45 years of Air Supply, with “Sweet Dreams,” their 1982 Top 5 hit, offering both men an opportunity to sing. And while Russell’s powerful tenor was certainly a defining feature of the performance, Graham sounded quite remarkable as well!

Soon after Graham’s midshow spotlight, Russell returned to the stage and the two shared the tale of how they met in Australia as cast members of Jesus Christ Superstar. Russell and Graham recognized each other’s talents immediately and began collaborating. The admiration the two men shared for each other from those early days was evident in abundance still today, and their shared confidence fueled their brotherly bond and in turn their penchant for showstopping moments.

After the recap, Russell and Graham took seats for a moving performance of “Two Less Lonely People in the World,” another USA chart success in 1983 and also a calmer moment for the often more theatric duo. As the men sang, the audience sang along with them, bonding in the warm embrace of the lyrics. Air Supply’s skilled songsmiths sang directly to the crowd, who sang back with enthusiasm.

Of course, when you say that almost everyone inside The Theater at MGM National Harbor knew every word to every line of each Air Supply song, you at the very least can point to the example of “The One That You Love,” the USA No. 1 singalong anthem dating from 1981. You’ll never find a roomful of people more eager to sing to a tune than a gathering of Air Supply fans eager to sing “The One That You Love,” and the highly anticipated group sing was glorious, cathartic and very much a lot of fun.

At the close of their set, Air Supply played “Making Love Out of Nothing at All,” one of the greatest pop torch songs in modern music. The sneaky 1983 power ballad began earnestly enough but soon built into the over-the-top hallmarks of its famed songwriter, Jim Steinman. Well, it may be a Steinman composition, but its undoubtedly an Air Supply tune, as no one could deliver those declarative, commanding lyrical turns of phrase like Russell, and no one could construct a foundation for the song’s musical explosion like Graham.

Those last tunes lingered in our heads as we headed home for the evening — a testament indeed to the timeless talent and musical prowess of two men who show no reason to slow down any time soon.

Visit ParkLifeDC.com for the full gallery.