Hard Work Rewarded In The End
Author: Paul Stewart
Despite worldwide success, The Living End is not about to take it easy, PAUL STEWART reports.
They may have sold hundreds of thousands of albums and entertained as many rock fans throughout the world with their dynamic live shows, but the three Melbourne rockers in The Living End still take nothing for granted.
Most seasoned rock acts would kick back on the rehearsals and take things easier after so much success, but not these likely lads.
The Living End is a great example for young musicians, demonstrating the rewards hard work can bring.
“We rehearse so much because we really do not think we are that much good,” charismatic frontman and lead guitarist Chris Cheney said.
“We actually get very paranoid and never think anything we do is good enough.
“The three of us strive to get the best out of ourselves.
“Rehearsals are taken very seriously and we strive to be a valid band that write great songs that stand the test of time.”
Cheney said after being laid up in bed for almost two years after a serious car accident in 2002 made him hungry for more hard work. “We lost a lot of money because our income stopped,” he said.
“Sure, The Living End might have sold lots of records, but we are far from being wealthy from all this.
“The best thing is my health is fine now. Maybe a few creaks because of old age.”
The Living End, formed in Melbourne in 1994 as a rockabilly covers band called The Runaway Boys, has released three full-length albums and three EPs.
All have sold well.
Cheney said the band had not played in Australia since last summer, instead touring Japan, England and the US.
On the band’s US tour it joined fellow Australian acts The Vines and Jet in what was billed as the Aussie Invasion.
“All the members of Jet and The Vines are lovely guys and we got on very well with them,” he said.
“On the other hand, because we were opening the show every night, we went out of our way to blast them out of the water and put on the best show we could.”
Cheney said the tour had been gruelling.
“We slept on the tour bus when we could and basically would shower in public washrooms and at truck stops,” he said.
Cheney said The Living End was outside the new breed of local young rock acts, who seem to pay homage to English 60’s acts such as The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks and classic garage rock.
“People know we have been influenced by punk and rockabilly, but the sound we create is always changing and we are trying to turn it into something unique,” he said.
Cheney said after the band’s coming Australian tour it would begin work on a new album.
“We will definitely be recording it in Australia this time,” he said.
“We have already got 15 new tracks to chose from.”
The Living End will perform at the Peninsula Lounge in Mornington on Wednesday and the Palace in St Kilda on October 1 and 2 (underage).