Here’s a feelgood story that’s worth sharing with VicRock members.
During the Wintersun festival, New Zealand band ‘The Rockabilly Rebels’ played at a multi-band Friday night at the Coolangatta Hotel. After their performance, I got chatting with their rhythm section in Dave (bass) and wife Marie (drums).
The conversation centred around when and how they started the Rockabilly Rebels, their Australian connection and even their ages. I did ask if I could mention ages in an intended write up and the couple approved.
Dave and Marie are frequent visitors to Wintersun and it was five years ago at the Cooly Hotel when they decided as soon as they returned to NZ, they would start a rockabilly band and play the music they were so passionate about. A major influence in their decision was when they heard the story of Atomic Hi-Tones’ Cliff Jolly taking his singing out of the shower and forming his rock & roll band at the age of 50.
At the time, Dave (58) and Marie (55) had no musical experience but the couple knew what they loved. Their passion & perseverance paid off when they teamed with Peter on lead guitar and Billy on guitar and lead vocals and formed the Rockabilly Rebels. They gigged around Auckland’s rock & roll scene and played the big festivals like the Beach Hop then landed their first gig in Australia.
Rebel Dave recalled how much the band was "blown away" when invited to play at Wintersun’s Rockabilly Headquarters. Dave also said it was exactly five years to the day from when the couple committed to forming the band … to when they played Wintersun’s Rockabilly Headquarters. A pinnacle in the bands life.
Marie admitted that she and her husband were far from naturals on their instruments and the road of “learning from scratch” was everything but smooth. Also, “they are not out to set the world on fire with their music … but love to create a spark in someone’s ambition by trying”. They also love what they do and it keeps them young.
On a personal note, I admire people with such a high level of positive attitude. They are inspirational. There may be 123 years of age in the rhythm section of the Rockabilly Rebels but those years are also saturated with rockabilly passion. I give these Kiwi's 11 outta 10 for determination.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSe6a3j1eOk