Hitting the road with his ‘All The Hits’ tour, Australian music legend James Reyne is coming to town with a celebration of his hits from the Australian Crawl days, to his more recent solo releases and work with his band The Magnificent Few. In a career spanning almost four decades, James Reyne shot to stardom as the frontman for Australian Crawl, who had a string of anthemic hits such as The Boys Light Up, Beautiful People, and Errol among many others. Glam Adelaide’s Music Editor, Darren Hassan, caught up with the iconic singer/songwriter over coffee whilst he was in Adelaide this week to promote the upcoming show and a new EP.
I’m slightly nervous about meeting him, and am feeling a little cloudy from the 4 hours sleep the night before, but Reyne instantly relaxes the scene as he extends his hand with a smile and says ‘G’day mate, James’.
He looks amazingly youthful for a man nearing 60, and has an easygoing charm about him, despite being one of the most recognisable singers in the country. Looking dapper in a paisley cravatte, we sit down to chat over coffee and although I occasionally fidget through my interview notes, he’s quick to ease any awkwardness on my behalf. This is, after all, a man that has had nearly 40 years in the industry, and he’s unequivocally a real gentleman of Australian music.
Asked how he feels about playing all the old hits and memories that he’s famous for, Reyne is quite comfortable with it and grabs the idea with both hands. “I understand that’s what people want to hear, I embrace it and have fun with it. My band (The Magnificent Few) and I just made a new record and there’s that section (songwriting) that keeps me creatively engaged, but I’m also happy to go out and play all the old hits. We do acoustic duo’s sometimes, and I really wouldn’t be here without some of those old songs,” Reyne contentedly says.
Music has the capacity to evoke memories of different times, and there can be no doubt that Australian Crawl feature heavily in the soundtrack to many of our lives. Growing up in the 80s, Reyne’s distinctive sound was ubiquitous, and he resonated with Australians as the equivalent of our musical spokesperson for the time. It is perhaps in this area of songwriting that Reyne has excelled, being able to articulate the various nuances around him into a musical score with an unashamedly ‘Aussie twang’ to it.
Reyne is obviously looking forward to touring again, and says he learns things from his music each time he plays. “I found something in a lot of those older songs that I’d forgotten about, and I love playing with The Magnificent Few. They’re a great band, I love playing live with them,” he fondly says. I ask if he has a favourite song to play, and he replies with “We’re doing Sweet Love, from an album called Company Of Strangers which I haven’t done in years, Daughters Of The Northern Coast as well. Heck there’s a few.”
For fans of James Reyne, hearing his songs has a tendency to bring back memories of times gone by. Whether slow dancing to Always The Way, or having your first ‘pash’ to The Boys Light Up at an eighties High School Disco, music has that ability to connect us with certain times, places, or situations in our lives whether good or bad. Not so much for Reyne with his own songs though, who admits to rarely listening to his own stuff. “Occasionally, I’ll hear something like Oh No, Not You Again which Guy McDonough wrote. I know what that song was about, where he was and what his relationship was like then and whilst not really getting sad, I’ll think of Guy. I’ll have little moments like that. Sometimes though, I’m in the middle of a set and I’ll be doing something like going through the shopping list whilst singing…'(sings Reckless) throw down your guns…(bananas, eggs, milk), don’t be so reckless.” Hilarious stuff, we both have a chuckle at this although he’s kidding, and I take a few moments to regain my composure as his humour catches me off guard. Up until now he’s been matter of fact, and has taken each of my questions seriously. But Reyne is a serious songwriter, and for all the tongue in cheek of songs like Beautiful People, he has also penned many a lyrical masterpiece full of emotion and feeling. His song Capsize from the album Thirteen is such, and is a poignant reminder about getting older, missed opportunity, and not regretting life. It’s lyrically beautiful and moving.
It’s not necessarily about Reyne himself, but is generalised. It begs the question though, about how Reyne feels about where he is at this stage of his life (almost 60). ”I feel better now than I ever did about playing, I’m much older, wiser and much more experienced. I’ve learned a lot about how the business works, and there were a few fallow years of course but if you want a career in showbiz go in with your eyes open. There are a lot of ups, but a lot of downs as well. It’s a part of it.” We talk for a while on the business side of things, and Reyne’s varied opinions on numerous aspects of performing come from an insight honed from decades of living through it.
If there’s anything he has learned from his time in the biz, it’s to have an open mind. He shares, if you like, his philosophy on life which is a great mantra for up and coming singers to consider. “Once you start closing your mind, you’re screwed. Have a sense of humour, keep your eyes wide open, and if you’re in showbiz be prepared for the ups and downs. So essentially keep learning and have a sense of humour!”
I couldn’t help but ask Reyne if there could ever be a chance of an Australian Crawl reformation despite the passing of two founding members, and as much as this would delight fans the answer is straightforward. “We can’t because two of the best members aren’t here anymore, and I don’t really have any contact with the other guys (Simon Binks and Paul Williams) and have no idea what they’re up to. There’s no animosity, but we’ve just had no contact over many years. You couldn’t do it without Brad or Guy, so that’s why I stick with ‘James Reyne sings Australian Crawl.’’
We’ve gone well over time and I’m getting the nod to wrap it up by the publicist, but I unashamedly have to ask Reyne to sign my ‘The Boys Light Up’ cassette I’ve had since 1986 before we go- he kindly obliges being the gentleman that he is.
‘Aussie Crawl’ and James Reyne feature significantly in the lives of my generation and beyond, and played a huge part in shaping the Australian music identity. Thankfully, he has still got energy to burn, is excited about the new release of a new 6 track EP titled James Reyne and The Magnificent Few (available now!) and, having listened to his previous releases, has vocally improved with age and sounds at the top of his form.
He’ll be playing his plethora of hits with his band The Magnificent Few in the upcoming tour James Reyne- All The Hits (Solo.Crawl.More), which kicks off this weekend in Melbourne and will hit The Gov in Adelaide on September 11 and 12. His fan base might have swapped mullets for man-buns, but this will be a memorable show by a musical statesman not to be missed!
Interviewed by Darren Hassan
Twitter: @DazzHassan
Twitter: @Jamesreynemusic
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