The Angels story started in 1974 when the much-loved Adelaide group The Moonshine Jug and String Band went electric, debuting their new outfit, The Keystone Angels, at the Modbury Hotel. Rick Brewster put down the washboard, picked up the electric guitar and Australian music would never be the same.
As Jimmy Barnes declared, The Angels are “a band that changed Australian music forever”.
The new band’s first big gig was supporting Cheech & Chong at Adelaide’s Thebarton Theatre. The audience threw Minties at them, but the band was undeterred. They then jumped in John Brewster’s EH station wagon and hit the road, “doing gigs wherever we could get them”.
They played at Sunbury, toured as Chuck Berry’s backing band, supported AC/DC on a South Australian tour and played with Ike & Tina Turner. And then, after being urged by Bon Scott and Malcolm Young, the legendary Vanda & Young signed the band to the iconic Albert’s label. Producer George Young suggested dropping “Keystone” from the band’s name, and the classic Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again became the first release by The Angels.
In 1978, the band toured with Meat Loaf and David Bowie, scored their first Top 40 hit with Take A Long Line, and released the landmark Face To Face, which went quadruple platinum and spent 79 weeks on the charts. As Ross Wilson would later reflect, it was “a breakthrough album in the evolution of Australian music”.
The rest, as they say, is history, with The Angels landing eight Top 10 albums and 17 Top 40 singles.
“It’s been a hell of a ride,” John Brewster smiles. “I liken it a bit to a rollercoaster – there have been lots of twists and turns and ups and downs. But when you look at the whole trip, it’s just been great.”
“Our relationship with the audience means everything to the band,” Rick Brewster adds. “In fact, it’s the reason we’re still going.”
After 12 years as the band’s drummer, Nick Norton stepped out from behind the kit and became The Angels’ new lead singer in 2023, joining John and Rick, and John’s sons Sam (on bass) and Tom (on drums).
“It’s been such a blast getting out front and up close with the fans,” Nick says. “Singing these songs is such a privilege. I’m certainly aware of the band’s enormous legacy, but I’m just having an incredible time.”
Nick also brings a third guitar to The Angels’ famous wall of sound. “For the very first time in The Angels’ history, we’ve got three guitars live on stage,” John Brewster says. “The fans are loving it, and we are too.”
“The Angels is bigger than any one of us,” Rick Brewster points out. “It’s a band that’s all about the songs and the power of the guitars.”
These shows are a celebration of everyone who has played with The Angels and everyone who’s enjoyed an Angels show.
The Angels: established 1974. Still rocking in 2024. There is No Exit.
THE ANGELS are Tom Brewster (drums); John Brewster (guitar/vocals); Nick Norton (lead vocals/guitar); Rick Brewster (lead guitar); Sam Brewster (bass/vocals)
50 NOT OUT – NATIONAL TOUR KICKS OFF TONIGHT AT THE PRINCE BANDROOM, MELBOURNE – WITH SPECIAL GUEST MI-SEX
A TWO-SET DEEP DIVE INTO THEIR CLASSIC CATALOGUE OF UNFORGETTABLE HITS
Tickets on sale now via theangels.com.au
Fri 28 June Prince Bandroom- St Kilda, VIC
Sat 29 June Croxton Bandroom – Thornbury, VIC
Fri 05 July King Street – Newcastle, NSW
Sat 06 July Factory Theatre – Marrickville, NSW
Fri 12 July Doyalson RSL Club – Doyalson, NSW
Sat 13 July Hindley Street Music Hall – Adelaide, SA
Fri 19 July Mounties – Mt Pritchard, NSW
Sat 20 July Hornsby RSL – Hornsby, NSW
Fri 26 July Freo Social – Fremantle, WA
Sat 27 July Astor Theatre – Perth, WA
Fri 02 August Beats at Sopo – Southport, QLD
Sat 03 August Alexandra Hills Hotel – Brisbane, QLD
