The Chevelles, Western Australia’s longest serving surf/punk/garage specialists are celebrating their 35th Anniversary and will mark the milestone with a special show at Mojo’s Bar on Friday, November 14.
“We’re louder, older, meaner,” notes bassist/co-founder, Jeff Halley, “… and still having fun.”
Born in the summer of ’89-’90, The Chevelles came together from the ashes of some of Perth’s best bands of that era, including The Kryptonics, The Stems, The Freuds and The Diehards. What followed was a rock’n’roll roadtrip of over three decades, with five albums and 23 releases culminating in 16 overseas tours through parts of Europe, South America and the US.
The band has tasted high rotation on triple j as well as Top 30 European Chart hits in the ‘90s, and smashed it out of the park at sweaty rock clubs and 30,000 capacity international outdoor festivals in the 2000s. In 2008 they signed a worldwide deal with Little Steven Van Zant’s Wicked Cool label, with the great man himself describing them as ‘The Who meets the Ramones meets the Easybeats meets Beach Blanket Bingo!’.
Celebrating this monster achievement is the long-standing, definitive and classic Chevelles line-up. Halley and fellow co-founder, vocalist/guitarist Duane Smith, have built a bona fide rock’n’roll legacy from a band they formed when barely out of their teens. Guitarist Adrian Allen joined in 1991 and has forever been a constant driving force within the Chevelles’ brotherhood. Dave Shaw first joined in 1998 and then disappeared into a surfing safari in 2007. He resurfaced back into the band from 2023 with his ever-strong, powerful, influential drumming and beautiful pop music insight.
“Seneca said life is long if you use it,” Duane says, citing the Ancient Roman philosopher, “and rock’n’roll has made mine full. The gravity of hanging out, creating, and playing music with my best mates around the world for 35 years is not lost on me.
“The heartbreaks and the joys of our journey have become the stories, the stories became the lyrics, the lyrics became the songs — and in the end, after over 1200 live shows - they became the sweat stains on a ‘69 Telecaster. The rock ’n’ roll motorcycle gang ride continues.”
With a new album up their collective sleeve, The Chevelles are for the moment taking the opportunity to celebrate and reflect on a lifelong adventure that is rolling into the future as strong as ever.
“There is something quite glorious in tearing up a stage with voltage and volume and melody that connects everyone in an almost primal way,” Duane says. “It’s addictive! We are all, still after 35 years, just rock’n’roll love junkies.”
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