.

.

Interview with
Veronica Campbell (Lead Guitar)
Steven Campbell (Lead Vocals, Bass)
Ryan Roma (Drums)
Arthur Divis (Rhythm Guitar)
from
AVALANCHE

(8th May, 2021)

Interviewer – Dave Bruce

.

.

Have you always wanted to be a musician? When did you start writing music?
Veronica Campbell (lead guitar): I’ve always fiddled around with the guitar, but didn’t take it seriously until high school pretty much after I got into AC/DC, saw them live on the Rock or Bust tour and had my mind blown. Everyone always tells you you can’t make a career out of music or art or whatever, but at the show, I just thought, these are a couple of dudes that started in western Sydney when they were teenagers and look at em now, I’m from western Sydney, I’m a teenager, why shouldn’t I give it a try? And I haven’t stopped since.
Steven Campbell (lead vocals, bass): I was about 13-14 when I started playing music with one of my close friends, it wasn’t really a passion at first but something we just wanted to do for fun. After a few years I hit a crossroad where I was finishing school and thinking about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life and the only thing that made sense to me was playing music, I’d dabbled in writing songs but nothing had ever been very good. That was when I decided to get a better education of music and I did a diploma in music at the local TAFE. Even though I never finished it, I came a lot more into my own at that point and started writing a lot more, and then when I moved to Sydney I knew I wanted to keep it going and when I found the band it’s just been an ever growing snowball effect.
Ryan Roma (drums): I never would have thought I would ever be playing or gigging in my life but I was always fascinated with drums since age 5 always listening to Chris Slade on the live from Donington album when I was a kid saying to my parents this guy is sick. But mum thought it would of been a phase that I would have grown out off which is understandable because I was a kid who used to go through tons of phases and just put everything all aside once I got bored of it so I waited a couple years till I was about 13/14 and I saw my dads old kit sitting in the garage so I jumped and had a crack and my family was actually shocked that I just sat down and played a 4/4 pretty natural and from then on I had this spark and this passion driving through my bones thinking fuck this is sick as I wanna be a drummer and to this day I very much love it.
Arthur Divis (rhythm guitar): Been playing since high school sort of on and off though. Honestly didn’t see myself playing in a band, didn’t think I was hood enough- still don’t think I’m good enough haha.

Which music did you grow up listening to? How has it influenced your current style?
Veronica: Lots a classic rock like AC/DC, Guns n’ Roses, The Rolling Stones, but I also really got into Aussie pub rock like Daddy Cool, Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, Skyhooks, Hush, Rose Tattoo and also really really into blues. BB King, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Canned Heat, Johnny Winter…loads more. It has really influenced my playing and our sound as the band cos we always try to bring in that blues element and that early 50s Chuck berry kinda influence, especially with my leads, and also that really raw, dirty pub rock sound that’s uniquely australian.
Steven: My parents always played rock to me growing up, from Supertramp to Metallica. When I was a teenager I really went through a metal phase and just wanted to listen to the heaviest music I could but when I went to do my diploma my taste grew a lot to the point where you could even find me listening to jazz and classical pieces on the right day but rock has always been my solid ground so to speak and however far I’ve strayed from it I’ve always come back to it.
Ryan: I was always growing up listening to AC/DC ever since I was a kid and even when i was in my mothers stomach from what I have been told hahaha must be why I love them so much but here and there as a kid I would always listen to my dad’s cds containing a mix of The Beegees, The police, Simple minds and I was also very much into heavy metal, thrash and death metal as well but I always back tracked to AC/DC no matter what and how, Phil Rudd’s drumming has influenced my style people think  a 4/4 is just a 4/4 but it’s about how you do it how he gives a swing ya know.
Arthur: Grew up listening to hard rock 70s and 80’s stuff mostly from mum and dad as you do. Feel it’s influenced me as what we play now resembles mostly that.

How would you describe your sound?
Arthur: Loud.
Ryan: If AC/DC got into a room with Motorhead, Rose Tattoo and Chuck Berry and said Hey you down to fuck? And they all had a baby together.
Steven: Energetic, punchy and a whole lot of fun.

Why do you think people resonate with your music?
Steven: We’ve had a lot of people say that they appreciate what we’re doing simply because there’s not a lot of straight hard rock bands nowadays, especially from such young people. So I’d say it’s mostly a nostalgia factor mixed in with a bit of respect.
Ryan: Probably because it’s just pure Kick to guts Rock N Fucking Roll 70s aussie rock style that not many bands play nowadays.
Arthur: Hopefully people just have a good time with it. I feel our sound also is pretty different to the other mainstream rock bands nowadays.
Veronica: we definitely try and write music that people can mosh to and dance to and bang their head to and I think that’s why it resonates so well. It’s just music you can lose yourself too.

.

.

Your new single “Second Hand Band” has just been released! Describe its origin and evolution.
Steven: yes! Well this is the third single off our upcoming EP and our fifth single release all together. We actually recorded it last year along with the rest of the songs on the EP, just after covid hit and all the gigs and anything music related got cancelled, we just hunkered down and spent a couple months perfecting the track and the EP in the studio so it’s been sitting on the back burner for ages now. And we honestly can’t wait to finally get it out there!
Veronica: in terms of its evolution, I wrote most of the song in a matter of about 15 minutes, after I came up with the initial riff it all just fell into place quite easily. Then I brought it into the guys to finish it, do their bits and add the lyrics, which Steven came up with. It came together so well because we really wanted to do something very raw and simple but powerful and catchy. So it’s got a very early 70s vibe, and guitar wise it’s all about the rhythm and the extra little embellishments with the lead guitar which I thought was cool. It’s pretty minimal for what it is but that’s what often rocks the hardest and what I tried to play around with when writing it.

Do you have any more new music in the works?
Steven: At the moment we’re writing material for a full length LP, we’ve been constantly writing stuff for the past few months now and we’re also trying to be more critical of what we’re writing, we want these songs to be reflective of everything we’ve done so far and show how much we’ve grown as musicians and as people in general. We also want them to just be a good bunch of hard rock songs, and hopefully something that can pass the test of time. We don’t want to have any gimmicks or to follow any passing trends but something that can speak to any fan of rock n roll, including ourselves.

Do you have any shows/tours coming up? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?
Steven: We’re about to embark on the biggest tour we’ve done to date, 12 dates in 4 states over 5 months, including 2 festivals. It’s really gonna be massive and we can’t wait, you can find all the dates on our Facebook or our Instagram bio, as well as on Spotify, songkick, etc. We’re keen to re-visit some  familiar places and visit some places we’ve never been before. Our live shows are definitely what we do all this stuff for and when people come they should expect a good time. They should feel like they’re at the craziest, wildest party they’ve ever been too, you know the one that ends up on the local news. The ones you can’t quite remember, but you’ll never forget. They should expect blood, sweat, piss and hell even some tears sometimes, our live show is what we’ve come to be known for and we keep trying to make em bigger and better every time!

If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why? 
Veronica: I reckon Airbourne would be great fun to play with. The other obvious answer is Angus Young and AC/DC but honestly I don’t think I’d be brave enough haha. Also just about any blues player would be a dream come true.
Steven: Jack Black would be the best person for me. The first concert I ever saw was a Tenacious D concert and they were the reason I first wanted to play music when I was young. I loved that they were hilariously funny but that they could really really play.
Ryan: 100 percent Kurt Cobain something about that guy that was intriguing from the books I have read his pretty mysterious and i like that hahaha
Arthur: Dave Grohl. How funny would it be haha. Some may say we look alike. Like exactly alike. Awesome musician.

What’s next for you in the near future? 
Veronica: Tour, EP, new music and lottsa rock n’ roll!

What are your longer-term aspirations? 
Veronica: quit my day job. And also tour internationally and get on some bigger festival slots.
Steven: Yes it would be a dream come true to just be able to play music and not have to support it with another job. Being a roofer can be hard at times and coming home to play and write music can be even harder to do when you’ve been working manual labour all day. So I’d say just to be able to do it and have it as my day job.
Ryan: To try get better and better at my craft to keep continuing writing better music and also play at a massive outdoor festival such as Download or Wacken.
Arthur: Keep playing and hopefully bigger venues crowds, amps etc.

What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? 
Veronica: that feeling where everyone’s into it, getting a crowd up and on their feet, head banging or singing along with you is the best thing in the world.
Steven: I’d have to say its just such a different experience than anything else. Playing in your bedroom, recording in a studio even doing a livestream just doesn’t compare. There’s so many emotions and little nuances that comes with it that truly make it. It’s like your whole body reacts to it, the adrenaline, the anxiety even the way you think can change just from one show. It’s one of the few things I’d consider in this world to actually be magical.
Arthur: The raw energy of watching people react to you playing and going absolutely nuts.

.

.

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:

Veronica:
Album — Live At Sunbury – Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs/Let There Be Rock – AC/DC/Hard Again – Muddy Waters/Rose Tattoo – Rose Tattoo/Free Live – Free… fuck there’s like a hundred more this question is hard
Artist – AC/DC
Movie – Let There Be Rock the Movie
Place to visit – Melbourne
Venue to play – Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice
Food – French Fries
Drink – Orange Juice
Person in History –  Bon Scott. And Spartacus
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?) don’t have one, I’d maybe get my guitar or something tho

Steven:
Album – Black Sabbath (self title debut)
Artist – AC/DC
Movie – Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Place to visit – Orbost, Vic as my grandparents live there and I spent a lot of time there as a kid
Venue to play – Frankies
Food – Meat pie
Drink – Jack Daniels and coke
Person in History – Lemmy
Tattoo – Both my arm tattoos mean the world to me, one is AC/DC’s high voltage logo, the other is our band logo

Ryan:
FAVOURITE ALBUM:  LET THERE BE ROCK
ARTIST: AC DC
MOVIE: FURY
PLACE TO VISIT: Perth WA
FAV VENUE: Frankie’s pizza by the slice
FOOD: chips and schnitty
DRINK: Water, Coke And a nice glass of Lemmy (Jack and Coke)
PERSON IN HISTORY: Lemmy
TATTOO: I would get the Logo from Motorheads Overkill

Arthur:
Album – appetite for destruction
Artist – Gunners
Movie – step brothers haha
Place to visit – Greece of course
Venue to play – FRANKIES
Food –   a good steak
Drink – VB!!!!!!!!!
Person in History –  Frank Gehry (I’m an architect haha)
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?) absolutely no idea. Too indecisive haha

.

.

AVALANCHE
‘SECOND HAND BAND’
EAST COAST TOUR

SAT 22 MAY | PADDO RSL, SYDNEY NSW | 18+
Tickets available from Oztix | 1300 762 545

SAT 19 JUN | KING LEARS THRONE, BRISBANE, QLD | 18+
Free entry

SUN 20 JUNE | VINNIES DIVE, GOLD COAST, QLD | 18+
Tickets available from Oztix | 1300 762 545

SAT 26 JUN | HOTEL WESTWOOD, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+
Tickets available from Eventbrite

SUN 27 JUN | THE LAST CHANCE ROCK N’ ROLL BAR, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+
Tickets available from Oztix | 1300 762 545 | https://thelastchance.oztix.com.au/

THURS 8 JULY | LA LA LA’S, WOLLONGONG NSW | 18+
Tickets available from Moshtix

SAT 24 JULY | HAMILTON STATION HOTEL, NEWCASTLE NSW | 18+
Tickets available from Oztix | 1300 762 545

FRI 6 AUG | KELLY’S ON KING, SYDNEY NSW | 18+
Tickets available from Eventbrite

SAT 14 AUG | THE BASEMENT, CANBERRA ACT | 18+
Tickets available from Oztix | 1300 762 545.

.

.

Follow AVALANCHE
INSTAGRAM – FACEBOOK  – SPOTIFY

.

.

AMNPLIFY – DB