AIRBOURNE JOEL O'KEEFFE Interview- New Album- Collab w/ Mutt Lange & Bryan Adams-AC/DC Comparisons ?

Feel [music] the power, feel the feel. Turn it up on the metal voice. The metal voice [music] [screaming] in Montreal, Canada. >> What's that? Glad you're in Canada. >> Yeah, Montreal. >> Oh, Montreal, mate. >> Caught you. Caught you years ago. >> Yes, that's a very thick Canadian accent you have. Good to hear your voice, mate. >> Uh, Canadians love Australians. >> Australians love Canadians. I think we're I think when we find each other in a pub, I think, you know, we all have a great time. You know, we get along very well. >> We got a connection. Somebody once told me that Australians are like Americans and New Zealanders are like Canadians. I don't know. I don't know. >> I mean, I don't know. I think it's it's it's like Well, I don't know. I think that's I maybe they're talking about the geographical or the the human numbers or something like that, but um Americans are a very different thing. It's, [laughter] you know, I think the Canadians, the Australians, the New Zealanders, we're all in the Commonwealth. I don't even know what I don't even know what the hell that means, but like >> it's just something that connects us, you know? >> That's right. >> It means we're run once ruled by the queen. That That's what it means. >> Yes. Yeah. And I I think you even have a maple syrup that was because we can get it in Australia. It says maple syrup fit for the queen. And I don't even know if it's just a marketing thing, but I don't know if she >> You know what? I think what bies us together is the fact that we went out to these territories that were very rough to settle. >> Yeah. >> And and I think that's what it was. The the uh spirit of uh innovation or whatever you want to call it. >> Yeah. Definitely, mate. Definitely. >> Settlers. >> And the thing is there's there's only so much of us like we're not we're not a very popular like like there's not a lot of people that live in on in our countries, but they're rugged lands, but it makes us tough and hard. But when we show up to the Olympics and we're going up against some of these bigger countries with a lot more people, we have to work twice as hard because there's only so and we we do this everything that Canadians and Australians do are very similar in that way. >> Yeah. >> I mean your like your musicians like your bands like Brian Adams or or um or you know um >> Rush >> Rush you know and all your producers Bob Rock like I mean Bruce Fairburn, Mike Fraser who worked on >> Mike Fraser. >> Yeah. you know, the these are geniuses and the um and it's just they have to work harder than the other guys because you know, there's a lot more of them and you know, it's it's the little mountain sound which is responsible for the world's some of the world's biggest records of all time >> is Canadian 100% as maple syrup is, >> you know, [laughter] and Tim Hortons and and and uh and Moose Head Lagger, you know, >> Moose Head Logger. That's okay. >> Well, the good news is this interview already started with some good uh banter about Canada and Australia and how we're the same but we're like polar opposites, right? [laughter] >> Yeah, exactly. You're in the great white north. I I And we're in the We're in the We're the great hot south. >> That's right. That's well said. >> Good news. >> All right, Gutsy. >> Good news. Gutsy coming out on Pine Farms August 28th. >> Yes. August. Well, it's been bumped to September the 4th now. So, we're coming out September 4th. That's okay. Um, it's, you know, just so many copies that people need, we had to print more. [laughter] >> Oh, there you go. >> I screwed up your name here. I put Ryan, but hold on. >> That's okay. >> Yeah. I mean, you know, you guys were the reference point. Well, first, welcome back. I mean, again, I haven't seen you in a while. It's been uh since Bone Shaker, you know, going back to what, seven years now? >> Seven years, mate. Took a little while. Took a while. >> What's the news? What happened? >> Well, well, somebody caught a cold and spread it throughout the world and then everyone got sick and they shut everything down and like we were, you know, that happened and then so that took him that took a minute to get over that problem. But we were writing songs the entire time. Then we went out on tour. We're still writing songs. But we wanted to get this record right. And to bring you back to the Little Mountain sound, we took influence on those those records in the way that they were made. And and that takes time, you know, to to get those tones and get write those songs and and get those get those vocal takes. And with Brian House, Canadian another, you know, from the school of Little Mountain Sound, we So we with Brian House and and Mike Frasier, >> um, and his engineer Carl Decair, we said, "Let's bring the Little Mountain Sound out to Australia. It's never been done. So, let's see if we can do it." And we took them, we brought them out to this jungle, and we said when when they got there, we said, "Look guys, we we didn't tell you this, but the [ __ ] place is full of snakes and spiders, and there's rats everywhere." It's like and this and the thing about the king brown snake is it it chases you so it doesn't kind of like just retreat and this is one of the most venomous snakes like in the world. >> Oh my god. >> We had antivenenom kits, right? So we have these antivenenom kits. There's one in the studio, one down at the um at the house that we're staying in and everyone kind of had these antivenenom kits and we're like >> does anyone know how to use these things? Like what are we going to do if we actually get bitten? >> I get like a gun. That's what I would do. A gun is my antivenenom kit. Well, see, you can have guns. We can't [laughter] in Australia. They took them away. So, we've got we've got like a knife, a knife, a fork, and a spoon. That's what we can use to stop the snake. Or was what an Australian will do is get a spade or a shovel and he goes, "I'll just cut the [ __ ] thing in half." And he chops the snake in half. It's ridiculous move. Um but um but anyway, so we um so it took a while because we wanted to get the songs right and we wanted to put everything into them and and you know it just if it didn't if song wasn't making the cut we had to make it better or just cut the song. [clears throat] >> I just want to say something. We'll pause right there in the new album but you just were you just opened for Iron Maiden Edworth right? >> We did. We did. >> Yeah, we were just at Edfest. Yes. So >> how was Edfest? I mean the museum outside all the >> Yeah, it was great. They had all the all the old props and everything and and stuff like that which is fascinating to see because these days, you know, it's a lot of if you go to a show now, a lot of a lot of bands and artists, it's a lot of video walls and kind of stuff like that and physical props. It's like old school physical theater. >> Yeah. >> And it's like, you know, with Tom Cruz making the the return to Top Gun. They could have used CGI jets and planes and that, but no, no, no. He went and got real fighter pilots, put himself in the plane and flew the things and was doing that. And this is the this is the difference in what makes a good film or or just a boring Netflixon kind of whatever the hell. Like Christopher Nolan, we just did an ad for the the Odyssey, the new movie Odyssey. We did a spoof ad just recently where we're dressed up as these sort of Romans and stuff and we're trying to get into a Trojan horse. It's it's going to be showing. >> Yeah, sorry. Greeks. The Greeks. >> Don't go mistake with the Romans. [laughter] got got to the Greeks. >> Jimmy, >> that the Greeks and we're trying to get into this Trojan horse, but it's going to go through Germany everywhere. But, um, talking about how you make a film, Christopher Nolan's out there shooting this thing on film in IMAX cameras and there's millions of extras and they're doing the, you know, like when they made movies like Ben Her, you know, these massive productions and so we took influence from that to make this record. We took like in our own way we were like we're not we're going to spare no expense and there will be no time like no uh if if anyone has a watch or a clock smash it like never neverland you know with the movie Hook. Um so was it took a moment but um look Edfest was amazing. Iron Maiden was absolutely amazing. The was really great to play there. It was so hot. It was unbelievably hot. >> Did you meet the band? >> Uh yeah we've met them before. We didn't see them that day, but we we saw Bruce walking around, said a quickday, but he was doing his tour thing, but um no, it was good. Said quickday and um No, they were great. They were really really good. >> So, right now you're you're in the UK, right? Right now. >> Yeah, we're we're in Spine Farm Universal Music. Uh Spine Farm, our label is here in the building with all the other labels um and everything. So, this is this is the rock and roll area. Like there's there's walk if you walk around the corner, it's all Taylor Swift and everything else over there. So, we're all the bad boys over here in the rock and roll [laughter] and and hopefully the air conditioning is working. >> Yes, mate. It is. You know, >> it's hard sometimes in the United Kingdom, it's hard to find good air con, but I think Univers Universal Music's got the got the technological and and the and the and the might and the financial might to pay for proper air con and they do. >> I mean, you know, you're talking about the the struggles of of performing, especially in heat like that. I mean, >> you know, last time we were supposed to interview you, you had some rib problems, so we were lucky enough to have Ryan fill in for you. Uh, I mean, you know, you guys are physical. You're out there. You're climbing rigged rigging [laughter] and you know, looking back, would you do anything differently or that that's airborne? >> Oh, mate, I I wouldn't I wouldn't I wouldn't do a thing differently. You know, it's it's um you know, like it's rock and roll and we kind of don't really plan it out anyway. So we we we work out the songs that we're going to play live, you know, and we go, we'll play these songs tonight. But sometimes we change them in in the set. We go, [ __ ] it. We're going to play this and we'll just have a jam and we do things like that. But um but uh but yeah, no, we wouldn't change a thing. I mean, we came out the we released our first record and then the whole every headline was financial crisis of 2008 and that was that was a wasn't a great time to release a rock and roll record. But that's where we began with our backs up against the wall at the hardest possible thing. The most unpopular form of music, I do believe, was actually rock and roll. Was voted as rock and roll. I think jazz was more popular than rock and roll in 2008. So, So, it's it's look, it's been a a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll. That's for sure. [laughter] >> Do do you still get the you know the AC/DC sort of these guys are just like AC/DC and you I mean does it bother you or is it is it >> No, no, it never does. It's it's it's it's like I mean Eddie what would you say this? It's like someone saying, "Hey, man, you guys play, you play exactly like Wayne Gretzky. That's not a [laughter] bad thing, you know, like, you know what I mean? That's not a bad thing. >> I can play If I can play, it's pretty cool. >> If I can play half as good as Wayne Gretzky, mate, I'm pretty happy with that." You know, >> I mean, you you know the history of Australian pub rock. You mean you can go back to Lobby Lloyd and the colored balls, you know, Rose Tattoo, Cold Chisel, and a little band little band behind me here. >> But you Yeah. What's the most prominent aspect for you of the Aussie sound? >> Oh, I think the most prominent aspect is is it's something that um that Angry Anderson said from Rose Tadoo. He said, "Nobody attacks the guitar like an Australian." It's an interesting way to describe it because we're not really like our band in particular, we're not the most technical musicians at all and we're really not the most talented at all. But if you do put us together as a group, we do make a sound, a unified sound. And I think that's what makes every band, you know, um, make their sound. Um, and I think that being an Australian band and what we do is that the the most important aspect is that we come from a long way away and our audiences they demand that we entertain them and because they power drink, you know, they they it's like they they they want they want the music to be as infectious as the speed of of the the alcohol that they're drinking or they just want to tear it up and go wild. You know, like the Canadians like [ __ ] you just want to rip someone just rip the roof off and go nuts. Australians crowds are like that. And if you take a band and say, "Hey, you know what? We're going to fly you over to Canada and you're going to play your show over there." Well, we're not going to we're going to be thinking about it the whole time. I've never been to Canada. What's this? We're going to [ __ ] we're going to go there and we're going to as soon as they let us off the plane, we're going to run off with our guitars and [ __ ] start playing, you know? So, and we we have a saying, go hard or go home. So that's what we do. >> That's why Australian sound is so intense, but it's such a good time. We want everyone to rock, you know? >> Yeah. >> I think I think the I think the [ __ ] meter is pretty high in Australia. >> Yeah. Yeah. We You know what I mean? Like it's No, we just cut the crap completely, you know? Um >> they can sense you out. If you're fake, they can sense you out pretty fast. >> Yes, mate. Exactly. They can. Exactly. you you won't last that you you you will be eaten alive. And it's and it's like we mentioned before because we are a small populous country is a vast small you know with a small population we have more to prove. >> We have way more to prove that's why we have bands like Rush you know and they they're up at the top of their game even today. >> They really are. And so is Brian Adams by the way. And the thing is if you get in an Uber or a taxi and and the radio's on there's a 50-50 chance you're going to hear a Brian Adams song. It's kind of like a oneman Canadian Beatles. like you really got to give it to him. >> You got to give it to him. And it's a great way to put it. He is the Beatles. The one man beetle. Yeah. >> One man Canadian Beatles, you know, and he he um he's still writing great songs. I like that song you just put out about how we want won't be the 51st state. I think that was a good little Hey, you're our neighbors. Let's just [ __ ] Hey, hold on a minute. Get the [ __ ] off our lawn. You know, you know, this is a Canadian. This is Canada. just don't you forget, you know, this like and the thing about um Australia and Canada is is that if you want to get from Vancouver to Toronto and you're in a touring band, >> you got to drive and you can stop along the way and play a few places like, you know, I don't know, Winnipeg or uh somewhere along the way and um we always used to say Winnie the Peg, Winnie the Pooh. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> But we but you go through Canada and it's beautiful countryside. It's it's a beautiful place to see, but the reality is it's a long drive. And it's the same in Australia. Melbourne to Sydney, it takes you a day to drive there. You want to go to Brisbane, it takes another day to get up there. So, >> you know, we understand that we have to travel to rock as well. And I think that galvanizes your band and your crew and it teaches you something. Um, and crowds when you if you go and play a small town like um Cam Loops where I broke my ankle in Cam Loops. um you go all the way out to Cam Loops and uh and play for them. They just went nuts. They were like, "We don't get bands like this here, you know, and we just roll in with all the marshals and the lights and go bang." >> It was I'd love touring Canada and look, we we are actually talking plans to get back to Canada. Maybe there will be a couple of US shows, but it's mainly Canada because Canada >> that's great. >> Yeah, Canada has a we have a real good connection, especially especially um in Quebec and places like that. And of course >> that's where we're at. We're in Montreal. Montreal. >> Yeah, exactly. Montreal. So, >> well, that's good news. >> Yeah. So, we're going to be back. >> Look at that lady in back of you. Look at that lady in back of you. Look, she's just like hanging there. Go turn around. Look, she's just kind of like, what? What are they doing there? >> Oh, they're the staff. They're working. >> The hell's going on in there? Like, there's some [laughter] >> No, it's a No, >> what's going on there? She's like >> those crazy rock and roll side of the building. >> Yeah, [laughter] >> that's really funny. Somebody's cheating or something. >> Songs, right? >> Alive After Dark. >> This is great. >> Yeah. Do a selfie. >> I'll show them. >> Alive After Dark. Last Play Out. What a great single. >> Alive After Death. Yes. No, mate. It's We shot a video for it. Have you seen the video? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. So, we wanted to make an old school video for that one and we wrote it about Lei. Um, and we because we was putting putting him back together in my head. I was like, you know, when you say my name, you give me back my tongue. And cuz it was about like we play these festivals and there's Mohead patches on all these jackets out there, the battle jackets and and you know, Mohead's getting played out of the PA and Hell Fest. They've got the giant Lemie statue. >> And it's it's him saying back through to through the fans saying, you know, keep me alive. You know, I'm on the last you keep me alive. You keep me alive. you know, he's he's saying it back through uh from from from that from the beyond. It's kind of cuz he he used to say at the end of every set, we are Motorhead. Don't you forget us. And I would stand there and go, how the [ __ ] is anyone going to forget you? Like no one is going to forget you. But he was that down to earth and that humble that he would say things like that. And of course, you know, the opening is um we are motorhead and we play rock and roll. And [snorts] it was it was just like, you know, like if he could say something like through this through this other medium of a way, it's kind of how the song happened. It's so because it's a sad thing when you go and play a place like Whacken and you used to see the Mohead logo and it's not there anymore. >> Yeah. >> Until you walk out on stage and you see the Mohead shirts everywhere >> and it's it they keep him alive. They keep him alive, you know. So, we had to do the video, the live video. We did that in France in Paris um and um at the Zenith and it was just yeah, five five and a half thousand Frenchies just going nuts. [laughter] Um and it was great. It was great. >> You know, we're old enough to remember in the 80s, uh if one person had a motive had vest or t-shirt, it's like, "Oh, this guy's hardcore, right?" >> Yeah. Yeah, you go around, you got 5-year-old kids wearing Ace of Spades and it's >> like they're the mainstream, you know, they went from being Another Perfect Day was too commercial, lost a lot of fans, and now, you know, got commercials playing Ace of Spades. So, >> yeah. Well, looks look mate, there is a younger generation that is coming through >> that is is getting into rock and roll. Scott Anne was talking about it the other day. We spoke to an interviewer and he said, I just spoke to Scott yesterday. He said the exact same thing that you just said, which was, "Mate, we're seeing kids in the crowd wearing Mohead T-shirts, wearing Van Halen t-shirts, and there's no way that they've seen them live." >> Right. >> In the same way that I didn't get to see Bon Scott live with AC/DC, um, I got to discover Bon Scott, but I never got to see him live. But instead of just one album coming out every year for me, I was able to go back as a kid and get every Bon Scott album and play them all at once. And I was like, whoa. It was like a mind-blowing experience. And kids today are doing that and they're finding these records and they're saying, "This ain't AI. This ain't the [ __ ] This this ain't this ain't this ain't like the Taylor Swift thing that's around the corner." Um, you know, like I'm not trying to talk bad about them. I'm just saying that kids are are loving rock and roll genuinely wanting to play a guitar and wanting to do this. It's the first time I've seen it since we've been in a band and that came out the financial crisis of this, you know, world of where rock and roll just is the most unpopular, uncoolest music ever. Um, and us saying, you know what, never say die. >> No. Are are you more of a Bon Scott or a Brian Johnson fan? >> Mate, I am both. I am both. I'm completely both. I respect both and I love both. And I don't think you can have AC/DC without the pair of them. I think with Bon and I think with Brian. Brian is a phenomenal singer and he's a phenomenal front man and he's he's singing he's like 80 now or something and he's out there doing it. Like, come on. >> It's incredible. And he's so cool and such a humble guy and and who's got the like, talk about balls to step into the shoes that the greatest rock and roll singer, Bon Scott. >> Who's got the balls to do that? >> There's There's only one guy and it's Brian Johnson. Well, Axel Rose did for a minute was I thought he was pretty good. I thought he was pretty good. Um and um but but you know like that's Brian Johnson you know like he's you got to give him that and he and that album Back in Black and of course you know Thunder thunder struck the song is the most played AC/DC song in every everywhere in the world. If you've got an arena of people or or a hockey match or whatever it is and you want to get them going that's the one song that it'll get them going and and you know Bon Scott he's on the wall back there is the greatest frontman of all. He really is. And all of us hold ourselves to him and go, "How can we learn more from him?" This this great, you know, he was he he could just lean into the mic and be so quiet and talk to the crowd and look at them and, you know, >> those eyes [laughter] and he would go back to become a rock and roll singer and he'd be back. He'd be like, "Wow, he he was a master of this." He >> And the lyrics, too. The lyrics tongue and tongue and cheek lyrics. That's >> one of the greatest lyricists of our time is Bon Scott. and and you know, so is Lammy, two very great poets. Um, and you know, with Bon and and that to I really wish I got to see him live. I And everyone Yeah. Everyone who says that they've seen him, I ask I say, "What was it like?" And tell me everything. Every little memory you got. I've got all day. [laughter] >> The eternal Peter Pan. >> Yeah, exactly. Allan. Yeah. I mean, let's go. You know, uh, I always tease Jim because he loves asking bands, what was the direction on this album? I mean, you know, Motorhead, Airborne, I'll let you answer it, but, you know, kind of consistent >> on this album. What how did what's the musical direction of Airborne on this album? [laughter] >> Well, look, um, I guess you know, it's rock and roll. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> Um, look, we grew up like back to the Little Mountain Sound. Um, instead of just taking musical influences alone, we we were always obsessed and we made these charts when we were starting the band out because we couldn't get a producer when we began. So, we thought, you know, we're going to study M Lang and we're going to study Bob Rock and Bruce Fairburn and and and Bob Clear Mountain and we're going to study these people and write down. I have a massive ability to really hyperfocus on things. So I started for example with Mutlang I managed to get a hold of all the records I could that he'd worked on and I would go okay so in in the song um you know uh giving the dog a bone I don't remember which one it was but for example we're coming out of the chorus and there's a little solo thing there or he'll do something there or he'll introduce something there something new is happening by the time you get to the second verse something like that and I go okay did he do that on the highway hello okay he did did he do that with the cars he did it there and then I go [ __ ] did he do that with De Leopard and I go find the spots where he did that with them and then I go, "All right, did he do it with the cause? Did he do it with Shaniah Twain?" And I'll go over there and I'll go, "He did it with Shania Dwayne. He put it there. There's that same thing." And and I'd go, "All right, so in this song at this time he did this. At this song, he did this. He did this. This song was in the key of this and he chose to do this key when he did that. That was the same key when he did it there. And it was the same thing he did it there. That was arguably about three or four notes. That was only about three or four notes, but it was a hook. It was something he could sing and it was memorable. And every time I listen to it, I'm like, "That's so cool. Is he going to do it again? Is he going to reintroduce?" Oh, he did it in the breakdown now. Did he go and do that with Shai Dwayne? Yes, he did it there. Yes. And he did. And I'd start doing all these for one little production songwriting technique that he did. And I would do this over and over again. And And we made this chart, this massive chart. Ryan and I made this massive chart. And then we went I was exhausted. It was like took a couple of weeks. And I went, "Now, let's go to Bob Rock." Okay, so we got the cult, we got we got we got we got in the sand, we got Aerosmith, the pump a pump album, we got um you know, like Bon Joy, like it just went on and on and on and we made these charts and and it was just learning so much and it was um so the musical direction, the original question you asked >> was to make a record like our heroic producers used to make. >> Yeah. And and by the way, Mud Lang also did Brian Adams. And if you listen to Brian Adams, waking up the night. That's right. And you look listen to the way he does the sort of back vocals and the chants and all that. It's identical to Deaf Leopard if you really pay attention to it. >> It is. It's very similar. It is. And you know, a lot of that it's Mut's voice. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> That's M Lang singing. >> So in other words, Mud Lang produced you, but he didn't really in an indirect way. Is that what you're trying to say? >> In in an indirect way, he was with Brian Adams on this record. There [laughter] was a couple of No, no, no. Him and Brian, we were writing a couple of songs together and um so they would take the songs, go away with them and come back and then we would work change a couple of things, not too much, but a few little things here and there. But um uh and it that team, that waking up the neighbors team, the M Lang and Brian Adams thing is is amazing. I wish they I wish those two could have the time to make more music together because if it wasn't for M Lang, I mean that we wouldn't I don't know what rock and roll would be. So automatically there's no Highway to Hell album. There's no De Leopard, there's no Back in Black, you know, there's no cars like there's there's he's changed the face of music. Bob Rock is the same. Metallica don't have Enter Saman. It doesn't. Sorry, the black album. They will. They would look they were doing some pretty cool stuff. Let's be honest. It was heavy. It was there. If we didn't have Saint Anger, would the world be any different? [laughter] >> Yeah. Slightly >> That was a Bob Rock, by the way. >> Slightly less influential. Yeah. [snorts and clears throat] >> Maybe it would have been okay. We would have survived that one. >> Yeah. >> But, you know, you know, I'll let LZ answer that one. [laughter] >> But you're you're right. I you know I was listening to Kid in a Candy Store and you got the you got the chorus but I'm hearing this guitar playing in the back and oh that's new that's something that's hasn't been done and and then you got Here she Comes the chorus is I don't want to use the word poppy but a little bit more melodic than we expect. >> Yeah. A bit more melodic. A bit more de le you know a bit more mut lang you know. Yeah. Definitely. Now you're telling us this now I see it. I see it all. >> Congratulations. It it's coming through on the album. Thank you, mate. Well, that's the ones that Brian Adams and and M Lang had worked on that on that on that song Here She Comes in particular. So, um but the funny story was that um cuz Brian Adams was telling us a lot of stories as well as we were going along and and really teaching us a lot. One of the funny stories he told us was when he's working with Mud is he was working on the song, it was on here, it was on Waking Up the Neighbors, I think it was Touch the Hand of a Man or Touch the Hand of a Man, something something like that. And he goes and Brian's like, "M, you know, I just they've recorded all the music and he's singing the verses and he's like, "Ah, you know, I don't really like this verse is just not working. I just I just the chorus is great. We've got the chorus, but you know, I think we should try singing something different and I just can't get it to work." And M's like, "Well, do you like the the music under it?" He goes, "It's oh, it's it's it's all right, you know, or something like that and he goes M then just goes presses rewind, holds down the delete button and deletes the verse other than the drums and then takes his fingers off of the chorus cuz you got to do it manually by tape and then puts his fingers down after the chorus, deletes the next verse, takes his fingers back off and and and Brian's like, "You just deleted everything but the drums." He's like, "Which write a new one? We'll write a new one." and and that mentality of write a new one. We've always kind of thought that's how you would do it, but to hear it like that, it just cemented it and we went, I love that you you just write a new one. Delete. It's a scary thing to press delete and you've done all this work. But then, you know, then they made a hit. Brian came in and then they did that. He had a new he had a new guitar thing that he did there and he goes, "If Mud hadn't deleted it, it wouldn't become the song it is now." So, it's a lot of little stories with songs like that that we were going along and going. >> But Joel, I I nowhere in the notes did it say that Brian Adams contributed to this album. >> Oh, really? >> Yeah. Allan, did you see any notes on Brian Adams? How many songs did Brian Adams co-write on on your album? >> There was two songs. >> Okay. So, here come here she comes in and you and Here she Come Rhythm in You and Here She Comes. >> Okay. All right. Well, this is good to know. Okay. See, when you first said it, I go, "Is he kidding?" I go, "No, >> no, no, no. Dante, >> this is a co-write, right? They they kind of wrote the songs, then you guys sort of reinterpreted what they did." Is that? >> Yeah. Yeah. So, we we we sent them the music and then they sent it back and they changed a few of the arrangements and then, you know, and we we started getting into the lyrics about it and um they had some really great ideas and it was just it just kind of how it flow. Brian was on the road so we had to go back and forth online, but um he was always checking in straight away and he would say like, "Guys, we can do better, guys. we could do better. You know, it's amazing when we get him and he would listen to it and say, "Yeah, no, that's it. You've got it. That's it. Put that one to bed now. Let's get on to the next one." He's just a machine that But he puts his heart and soul into it. He says, "I I remember he was he was on the on the FaceTime. He just sort of closed his eyes and he said, "I always do my best. I always do my best." And he went into a place and I just never forgot when he did it. It was just really inspiring. It's like he really does care so much and he he didn't have they didn't have to give us their time or their talents or any of this but they did it and they just were just like wow like we're just some Aussie rock and roll band you know we're working with the biggest the biggest guns in the world here like you know so it was really great. No, I mean he's he's you look at any Kiss albums in the 80s and lots of other albums. Oh, Brian Adams, Jim Valance, right? How many songs were they played outside of their genre and they went on to other other styles of music? I mean, a songwriter is a songwriter, right? At the end of the day, and Brian's one of the best. >> Did Did you contact him? Did you contact him or how did that work? Dante uh our ANR guy and and and inspir inspirationist and label coach and all of these things that Dante is was was also the editor at Karang and a bunch of other things. He knew Brian personally. He knows Brian personally. So he reached out to him and said, "Hey, you know, I got this band doing this record. Um you know there Airborne and and Brian's like, "Oh yeah, I know of them, you know, and um and I'll he said, "Would you like to get involved?" Yeah, you know, that sounds exciting. Send me some music. So, we sent him some music and then >> and then bang, we're off to the races. It was that it was that quick. And and and Brian Adams, like like you said, like he's a song like a songwriter is a songwriter. He's a phenomenal songwriter. And and he's also a real rock and roller. Like he's he he's he's he loves rock and roll and he can when he wants to rock, he rocks, you know. And if you go obviously you would have seen him live, you're Canadian. It's he pushed he's [ __ ] got he's rocking it up there, you know. >> I saw I saw him open up for Lover Boy like on his one of his, you know, >> Wow. >> 1981. >> Jeez. Lover Boy had balls putting it putting him on before them. >> Well, they did. They did. And but this is before he became Brian Adams, right? >> God. Okay. >> Like this is this is like that was probably one of my first shows I saw in an arena, you know? And and I mean when he started out like that sound a pure rock and roll sound uh you know summer 69 stuff like that it was it was kind of unique at the time there a lot of metal going on and pop and synthesizers and and he kind of you know like in Bruce Springsteen got that same kind of able to get it down to let's get it back to the basics and I think that's what he did to launch his career. He really did, you know. He really really did. And his songs have lasted forever. Like Run to You is is one of my favorite songs of all time. >> It's just an amazing amazing riff. It's just great. I love it. >> And so so Brian called up uh Mut. Hey Matt, I got a band for you. And they just they went back and forth and they bring you one. >> Yeah. Well, the thing is because no one can contact Mut. He's he's he's very um he's very aloof. I don't even think Metallica can get him on the phone, you know, like he's that kind of guy. Um, so but he's a personal friend of of Brian's and um and so >> and I can see why they both have phenomenal voices. They're both phenomenal songwriters. I can see why those two would get along and um yeah, so reached out to him and and it was as simple as that. And um yeah, it was just what an honor, you know, and like back to that chart that we were making and then there's the guy, you know what I mean? Like >> Yeah, exactly. >> You did your homework. You're well prepared. >> Yeah. I I didn't do my homework at school, but I did it on M. >> Funny. Funny how we do we we press we we spend so much time on the things we love, but the stuff we don't. We're kind of like homework, but >> you know, but the thing is that's what life's about though, right? Do what you love. >> Passion. Passion. All right, we got to wrap this up. So, new album's coming out. I think it's great. Allan, I know he thinks it's great, too. >> Some great songs. Alive After Death, here she comes. Gutsy, who put the rhythm in you, Bogata, rock and roll heaven about all, you know, all the greats with past, right? >> Yes. Yes. And that's how we sign off the record. It's It's the perfect way to sign this record off to say thank you if Thank you to them. We wouldn't be here without you, but we'll never forget you and you know, we love you. So, it's that's the the way to do it. And the last line, of course, is um rock in peace Aussie. He he he passed away during the making of the record. So, it was But I did get to go to Villa Park and I went and saw the final show. >> Nice. Nice. >> I've never seen anything like that and I don't know if I again. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's, you know, listen, we're looking forward to seeing you in Montreal, Canada. I know last time you guys were here years ago, seven years ago. >> Yeah, I'm looking forward to it, mate. >> It was great. Yeah, it was fantastic. >> We'll be back. Don't you Don't you worry. We we we cannot wait to get back to Canada, mate. We're already talking about it next year. So, we'll be there. Don't you worry. >> We'll catch up to you. Maybe we'll do a live interview in person. I know we did last time with your brother, >> but >> yes, let's do it. >> Let's do it. >> Absolutely, mate. >> Joel, it's been a pleasure. >> We'll have a pint. >> We'll have a pint, my friend. >> August 28th. Sorry, September, right? >> September 4th. >> September 4. All right. On Spine Farm Records. Thank you very much, Joel. >> Thank you, Joel. >> Cheers, gentlemen. Rock on. Hairs.