15 August 2024
St Peter’s College had the honour of welcoming a special guest to the Battle of the Bands 2024—Mr John Brewster (HWD 1966), a founding member, songwriter, and guitarist of the legendary Australian rock band, The Angels.
John, along with his brother Rick, who also attended St Peter’s College, has made a remarkable impact on the music world. Their family’s musical legacy is deeply rooted, with their father serving as the head cellist of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and their grandfather a founding member and conductor.
After graduating, John and Rick pursued higher education, with Rick studying piano at the University of Adelaide Conservatorium. They formed their first band, The Moonshine Jug and String Band, later evolving into The Keystone Angels. Their early performances, including touring with Chuck Berry, set the stage for their future success.
In 1974, they embraced the electric rock sound and formed The Angels. With frontman Doc Neeson, bassist Chris Bailey, and drummer Graham “Buzz” Bidstrup. The Angels quickly made a name for themselves, securing an excellent tour supporting AC/DC on their South Australian leg. Their performance impressed AC/DC’s Bon Scott and Malcolm Young, leading to a record deal with Alberts and a move to Sydney.
The Angels became a rock powerhouse, renowned for their relentless touring and electrifying live shows. Their 1978 album, Face to Face, propelled them to national stardom. British icon David Bowie invited The Angels to join him on the Australian leg of his world tour, and they later toured with American rock sensation Meat Loaf on his ‘Bat Out of Hell tour’.
With AC/DC taking their music overseas, The Angels became Australia’s biggest band. In 1979, they headlined the New Year’s Eve concert on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, playing before an audience of 100,000. In 1981, they were asked to perform with their friends, AC/DC on their ‘Back in Black’ tour.
The Angels’ international success included multiple tours of the US, Canada, UK and Europe, including a tour with The Kinks. Their 1982 show at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre was sold out, and among the audience was a young Dave Grohl, who would later form Nirvana and the Foo Fighters.
The Angels’ influence extends to numerous international bands. Slash of Guns N’ Roses called them heroes, while Axl Rose cited their song “Take a Long Line” as a key influence in Guns N’ Roses formation. Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready has praised their music, expressing a dream to cover The Angels’ song “No Secrets.”
The Angels’ impact is global, having toured with legends like Cheap Trick, Soundgarden, Billy Idol and ZZ Top. They have also shared stages with Australian greats such as Cold Chisel, INXS, Midnight Oil & The Screaming Jets. As Jimmy Barnes said, “The Angels were a band that changed Australian music forever.”
In 2022, their legacy was celebrated with the documentary The Angels: Kickin’ Down the Door, and Adelaide honoured them with ‘The Angels Lane.’ This year marks The Angels’ 50th anniversary, celebrated with the release of a new album, 99, and a national tour titled “50 Not Out.”
We were incredibly proud to welcome John Brewster back to St Peter’s College. His contributions to music over five decades are extraordinary. To celebrate, John was the opening act and performed “No Secrets” with the staff band, “The Vaccines,” featuring Ms Jacqueline Cook, Mr Conor Kinsella, Mr Tim O’Shea, Mr Patrick Swanson, and Mr Jacob Robson. After the performance, Mr Brewster was presented with a gift of appreciation by James Hattingh and Ryan Fowler.
Before leaving the stage, Mr Brewster shared, “I was an old boy here, a long, long time ago. I am proud to say that because it is a great school. I had many great years here. Back in the days when we all wagged school and went to see The Beatles! Cheers!”
Tim O’Shea
Visual Arts Teacher
