You've sung their songs, put up their posters, gone to their concerts and worshipped them for being the music legends that they are, but have you ever wondered how some of your favourite Australian rock bands came to be? Great bands like AC/DC, INXS, Jet, Wolfmother and Silverchair didn't get to their current rockstar statuses in an instant. Like all great artists, these rock legends started out as humble young musicians with nothing but their talent and their dreams to propel them forward. Through the years they played their hearts out to the world until they finally made their mark - and our list - as some of the best rock bands that not only Australia, but the world has ever seen.
1. AC/DC
No certified hard rock fan can truly be a fan without knowing the awesome, hard-hitting and legendary band that is AC/DC. This Australian rock band is considered to be one of the pioneering heavy metal bands that transformed the sound of rock and roll in the 1970's. They had crowds going wild to such unforgettable songs as "Highway to Hell", "It's a Long Way to the Top" and "Back in Black", songs which continue to capture the admiration of rock fans everywhere.
AC/DC first started with its most constant members, the Young brothers Malcolm and Angus moving to Sydney with their family in the 1960's. Malcolm, along with another brother George, were the first to experience playing with some local bands before Angus and Malcolm decided to form what is now known as AC/DC. They first played in local nightclubs in special events like New Year's and other holidays until eventually, after many appearances in a nationally-broadcast music television show, they became one of the most popular acts in Australia and in the world.
2. INXS
Would you believe that this smoking hot band first got its bearings while its members were still in high school? Founding members Andrew Farriss and late, great vocalist Michael Hutchence were classmates in high school when they decided to form the band along with two other classmates Neil Sanders and Kent Kerny, and added Geoff Kennely and Garry Beers from a neighbouring high school. They were later joined by Farriss' siblings Tim and Jon and had their first gig in 1977 at Whale Beach, north of Sydney. They played at several other local shows before they finally landed a five-album record deal with Deluxe Records in the 1980's.
3. Jet
One of the more recent Australian rock bands that have gone global, Jet first came to be in 2001 when brothers Nic and Chris Cester decided to form a band with a sound influenced by the great rock and roll bands of the seventies and eighties. They first played in local festivals until a more established Melbourne Punk rock band took them in as their opening act. This led them to getting seen by a representative of their eventual management firm, Majorbox.
4. Wolfmother
Grammy award-winning band Wolfmother is a Sydney-based band first established in 2000 by only three members: Andrew Stockdale, Chris Ross and Myles Heskett. The band toured and played in a number of events and venues before they moved to Los Angeles in 2005 and achieved some success with an album that went five times platinum.
5. Silverchair
One of the most well-known modern rock bands from Australia, Silverchair first came together when founding members and schoolmates Ben Gillies and Daniel Johns decided to form a band while they were still in high school. They played in several local shows covering the songs of well-known rock bands before they eventually won a national competition and landed a three-album recording deal with Sony Music later on.
Following Your Own Rock Dream
Now you can chase your own music dreams by starting where some of your favourite rock bands started - playing local gigs and rehearsing and recording your first demos in the studio. Big Music is a music store in Sydney that offers not only the finest music lessons in Sydney but plenty of avenues for you to start rocking out. They have an online music store, fully-equipped rehearsal and recording studios, as well as Rockstar Experiences - a full on experience that lets you showcase your music skills in front of a live audience. Big Music can organise all the details - the venue, the gig, the instruments - and all you have to provide is the music and talent. It's sure to be one experience you'll never forget, and one that may just lead you to being the next great Australian rock sensation.
(www.bigmusic.com.au) Big Music is a music store in Sydney that offers opportunities for music lovers, young and old, to learn, play and experience music in a variety of ways. They offer a whole range of music lessons in Sydney plus fully-equipped rehearsal and recording studios. They also have an online music store and can organise your very own gig for a once in a lifetime musical experience you'll never forget.
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