One of Australia’s biggest bands of the ’80s, Models are re-forming with two huge shows to coincide with the band’s 30th anniversary!
“The Models are one of my favourite bands from the Countdown era” – Ian “Molly” Meldrum Models – featuring Sean Kelly and James Freud – will play two huge shows in Melbourne and Sydney in September to coincide with the band’s 30th anniversary. Joining them for these exclusive shows are another legendary band from that era The Reels.
Aside from an appearance at the Countdown Spectacular in 2006, this will be the first time that Sean and James have toured as Models in eight years. “We might go into hibernation occasionally – actually, quite a lot,” Sean says, “but we have never broken up.” Models are that rare breed of band – one that has successfully straddled critical acclaim, cult appeal and commercial success. The band actually had a “no singles” policy when they started – which annoyed Molly Meldrum. In 1980, Molly stopped his car on busy Chapel Street in Melbourne when he spotted a couple of Models. “He blocked traffic for several minutes to berate us,” Sean smiles, “telling us that we were doing no-one any favours and that our song Happy Birthday IBM could’ve been a hit!”
Models rescinded their “no singles” policy with their second album, Local &/or General, and their chart-topping run of hits includes I Hear Motion, Big On Love, Barbados and Out Of Mind Out Of Sight. Out Of Mind Out Of Sight was the only homegrown hit to top the Australian charts in 1985 – and it went on to crack the American Top 40 in 1986. This year’s re-formation comes 25 years after Models’ commercial breakthrough with The Pleasure Of Your Company (2003). At the time, the Sydney Sun called them: “The band of the moment. Two years in the making and one huge hit album later, the Models are the stuff of real stars.” Twenty-five years later, they still are.
“Alongside The Boys Next Door/The Birthday Party, Models were one of the first Melbourne bands to rise out of the ashes of that city’s hothouse punk/new wave explosion of the late 1970s with a clear vision and wider appeal” – Ian McFarlane, The Encyclopedia Of Australian Rock And Pop
