After talking with Johnny Mackay for just a few moments, it’s clear he and his band’s dedication to rock ‘n’ roll as a way of life is a throwback to another time. A time before the antics of shock-rockers like Motley Crue and Marilyn Manson turned the music industry into a three-ring circus, or before the quick-patch DJ culture threatened to make hard-working bands obsolete. It’s not the “music is my life” sort of sentiment, either. There’s none of the kind of thing that drives indie kids to pick up an acoustic guitar and crank out tender-hearted ballads that have more in common with a trip to the local corner store than a walk through the sleazy underworld that begot rock ‘n’ roll 45 years ago.

This trio containing Johnny Mackay (guitar/vox) and Heath Crawley (bass) formed Children Collide in Melbourne in 2004. After a few line-ups, the final piece in this puzzle was confirmed in January 2007 with the recruitment of Ryan Caesar (drums). Their hard driving riffs and sweat dripping, energy-filled live sets are beloved by their fans. The band is known for powerful, dynamic live performances through their extensive touring, bowing down to a vision of rock ‘n’ roll as a sort of rebel religion.

As well as playing the South X Southwest festival in the states, the band’s previous EP releases Glass Mountain Lairs (2006) and We Three Brave & True (2005) grabbed the attention of renowned rock producer Dave Sardy (whose C.V. reads the names of Oasis, Marilyn Manson, The Dandy Warhols, Wolfmother and Jet ).

“Dave is amazing to work with,” says Mackay from the recording studio in LA. “When we did pre-production, he came and sat in. He captures exactly what we wanted to find over here. He has also pushed us harder than ever before. It’s such an experience being over here to record with a prouder such as Dave.”

While it’s seemingly unimportant to MacKay what rock ‘n’ roll sets out to rage against, the idea of it as outsiders’ music is one that Children Collide keeps close to its heart. Considering the band’s background and style – one that blends perennial outlaw progressive rock with alternative punk – it’s not too surprising to find out that the band have been anxious to capture the buzz of a live show on record.

2008 has already proved to be a promising year for Children Collide. Recently signing with Universal Music, they made the bold move to record in the States, playing shows in L.A. at such iconic venues as Viper Room. They’re set to return home to play a string of shows that will include the Come Together festival in Sydney.

“I think we consciously think – and we do not usually think of anything consciously – it’s like what happens, happens. After the fact we then go back and craft it – but one thing was that on top of my mind: don’t write music that sounds like anything else. We try to keep it very different. I say to people it’s a little punk rock, but branches away on different parts. One thing we definitely aren’t is a sound band where every song sounds the same. We treat each of our songs like a child: as an individual, and every child is different.”

With the band working on its debut offering on a major label, it’s entirely possible that they’ll take up a position as bona-fide rock stars at home. Because of this recent exposure, the band’s name is becoming more widely known.

“One day I will come up with a good answer to the question regarding where our name was derived from,” MacKay says. “But the real story is that I was in a share house with Heath, when it came down to split bills, on the top of the sheet of paper it read ‘Children Collide’ and I really liked it. I told him that I would use the name for something one day and when the band started we knew exactly what to call it.”

Such a no-nonsense view of rock ‘n’ roll runs counter to almost everything that’s passed off as rock in the mainstream. In fact, this band has done a seemingly amazing job of creating hype on stage shows alone.

“Are we looking forward to coming home? Not really. We are having such a great time over here making the record and experiencing a new country. When we do come home, of course it will be great to play live again. We are really looking forward to playing the Come Together festival and playing our own shows – but until the album is finished our focus is to just make the best album we can.”

Children Collide rally against imposters in rock, who use the music merely as a springboard to commercial success.

“Those sort of bands, I don’t know how much they believe in what they do,” Mackay concedes. “I’m sure they’ll believe in it as long as the money’s there. I just want to see how long these bands keep sticking to what they’re doing. It’s always ironic to see a mid-20-year-old band singing about being pissed off, but in their video clips they’re showing their lavish lifestyle.”

Children Collide play Day Two of the Come Together Festival at Luna Park on Sunday 8 June.