On the day The Angels release their highly anticipated double album Brothers, Angels & Demons, the legendary rock band have announced an exciting tour of the same name, celebrating all their greatest hits. It has been an incredible year for The Angels. In what marks almost five decades of rock, the band celebrated with a tell-all biography, penned by industry alumnae Bob Yates, The Angels, and scheduled an intimate run of book shows talking about the behind-the-scenes happening of the iconic band. Now it is time to get back to the music, bringing the band back out on the road for what they do best, playing live.
The Brothers, Angels & Demons tour will complement the double album – showcasing audience favourites and some rarities. “The Angels has always been about playing our music live,” says John Brewster. “This show will encompass some aspects that aren’t always a part of the show, like Rick [Brewster] playing some keyboards, some acoustic performances and the odd special guest. These shows will knock the fans out.”
One of the exciting things about the Brothers, Angels & Demons tour is that it features hand-picked special guests for each show – bands who have been a special part of The Angels’ story over the years. The tour includes guest performances on select shows by Diesel, Rose Tattoo, MI-SEX and Hitmen DTK, as well as the Dave Wilson Band. “We have reached a moment in time when we are celebrating the whole journey,” says John. “These bands are part of that journey. It just seems right to include them in our, and the fans’, celebration.”
It is certainly a trifecta of celebration – the book, album and a massive tour. There is also an intimate book tour – featuring the Brewster Brothers and Raymond Hawkins – scheduled before the band officially hits the road, making it one of their busiest years to date. “It’s a huge year for us, a busy one with book signings, and promotional trips to various capital cities for Rick and me,” says John. “The book tour will be interesting as we’ll be answering some questions from the audience, playing some music stripped back to the two of us. It will be great to reunite with Raymond again, he was our amazing lighting director / designer at the time we put massive production into pub and theatre gigs. He was there with us when we toured the world and has great stories from those days. Then, to follow, the Brothers, Angels & Demons tour with wonderful guest bands who have history with us. This tour will take in large theatre venues and some regional clubs. The Angels camp is about to get very busy – the way we like it.”
This is just the start, with 2018 already shaping up for a big one as well. It will mark 40 years since the release of the band’s ground breaking multi-platinum album Face To Face, which will be a massive celebration in itself. Looking back – and forward – John says the band is all about the music, and all about the fans. Something that hasn’t really changed in almost five decades and is even more paramount today.
“Put simply, there are five musicians who want to be there, who are all writing and recording new music for The Angels and who share a passion for the greatest rock experience ever – a live show,” he says. “Rock on! We couldn’t have done it without the fans. The band has always been about doing it in front of people, writing a new song, and testing it on the audience… you know straight away whether the song works or not. We’re grateful for their part in the whole process. Vive les fans!”
Tickets for The Angels Brothers, Angels & Demons tour are on sale now. The Brothers, Angels & Demons double CD pack is released today, Friday 4th August 2017.
The book The Angels by Bob Yates, with Rick Brewster and John Brewster is out now. For information on The Angels official, intimate book tour reading, music, questions and answers with Rick and John Brewster – with special guest Raymond Hawkins as master of ceremonies– please visit www.theangels.com.au
BROTHERS, ANGELS & DEMONS SPECIAL GUESTS
Rose Tattoo have a long history with The Angels. “They were stable mates at Alberts when we signed in the mid-1970s, along with AC/DC, Ted Mulry Gang, John Paul Young, Harry Vanda and George Young,” says John. “We have toured many times in the past with the Tatts and want to do it again. They have monster songs and great attitude.” Another nice link is that long-time friend and former The Angels member Bob Spencer will be playing with the Tatts during the tour.
Hitmen DTK were a band who were heavily influenced by The Angels. “Johnny Kannis credits The Angels for introducing them to the suburbs at a time when they were an inner-city band,” says John. “They did many gigs with us around Sydney and are welcome guests.”
In fact, Hitmen DTK’s Johnny says The Angels kick-started their career in the suburbs. “You guys introduced us to the beer barns of Australia and to an audience that loved passionate, adrenalin driven rock n roll, an audience we’d never have gotten on our own,” he says. “Through this first up connection, our big break came when we caught the eye of your producer Mark Opitz who signed on to produce our debut (self-titled) album.”
No strangers to performing together of late, MI-SEX and The Angels have a special shared history, especially given The Angels book author Bob Yates was former manager for the band. “MI-SEX were signed to CBS back when we joined that stable in 1980,” says John. “They were on tour with us in the USA at the same time as us, so we have a shared history. Last year we had them as special guests on our Hard Wired tour and they were fantastic.”
MI-SEX’s Murray Burns remembers the first time the band saw The Angels in the late 1970s at the encouragement of Bob Yates. “The place was jam-packed and their high-energy performance was a revelation to us,” he says. “MI-SEX had a very different sound to them, but watching that show was a crucial beginning to reshaping the energy of what we were doing on stage.”
Diesel came onto The Angels radar a bit later – it was the early 1990s after the launch of his band Johnny Diesel and The Injectors. “They [the band] were managed by our then drummer Brent Eccles,” says John. “In later years, Diesel played on the same bill as us at Day On The Green gigs and others. He joined us on stage at the Chris Bailey benefit in Adelaide’s Thebarton Theatre in 2013, a most memorable though sad occasion. He is a good friend… great to have him with us.”
The newest inclusion, the Dave Wilson Band, impressed Rick Brewster from the outset. “Dave is a fantastic blues-rock guitarist,” he says. “He and his three-piece band play wild versions of Hendrix-Stevie Ray Vaughan-Clapton etc. I met Dave 18-months ago and have since had many sessions with him. He has opened up doors in guitar playing that I never knew existed. He has become a good friend and also teaches my son Jody. Come early, the Dave Wilson Band is not to be missed.”
Friday 13th October 2017
Thebarton Theatre, ADELAIDE SA
Special guest: MI-SEX
www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100
Saturday 14th October 2017
Astor Theatre, PERTH WA
Special guest: MI-SEX
www.astortheatreperth.com | 1300 111 369
Friday 20th October 2017
Enmore Theatre, SYDNEY NSW
Special guests: Diesel & MI-SEX
www.ticketek.com.au | 132 849
Friday 27th October 2017
The Palms at Crown, MELBOURNE VIC
Special guest: Rose Tattoo
www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100
Saturday 28th October 2017
The Palms at Crown, MELBOURNE VIC
Special guest: Rose Tattoo
www.ticketmaster.com.au | 136 100
Friday 3rd November 2017
Country Club, LAUNCESTON TAS
Special guest: Dave Wilson Band
www.tixtas.com.au | 1300 795 257
Saturday 4th November 2017
Wrestpoint Showroom, HOBART TAS
Special guest: Dave Wilson Band
www.tixtas.com.au | 1300 795 257
Friday 10th November 2017
Doyalson RSL, CENTRAL COAST NSW
Special guests: Rose Tattoo & MI-SEX
www.doylo.com.au | (02) 4390 0622
Saturday 11th November 2017
Ettamogah Hotel, KELLYVILLE NSW
Special guests: Rose Tattoo & MI-SEX
www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 438 849
Friday 17th November 2017
South West Rocks Country Club, SOUTH WEST ROCKS NSW
www.rockscountryclub.com.au | (02) 6566 6252
Saturday 18th November 2017
Laurieton United Services Club, LAURIETON NSW
www.laurietonclub.com.au | (02) 6559 9110
Friday 24th November 2017
Panthers Penrith, PENRITH NSW
Special guests: Rose Tattoo & Hitmen DTK
www.ticketek.com.au | 132 849
Saturday 25th November 2017
Waves, WOLLONGONG NSW
Special guests: Rose Tattoo & Hitmen DTK
www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 438 849
Friday 1st December 2017
Eatons Hill Hotel, BRISBANE QLD
Special guests: Rose Tattoo & MI-SEX
www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545
Saturday 2nd December 2017
Nightquarter, GOLD COAST QLD
Special guests: Rose Tattoo & MI-SEX
www.oztix.com.au | 1300 762 545