News April 9, 2018

Dragon to celebrate Countdown/80s UK chart busters in two-hour concert tour

After two massive tours across Australia to celebrate the iconic TV show Countdown which saw them play 50 shows, Dragon take the concept back on the road for a third time.

This time it celebrates 80s UK Chartbusters, made up of some of the band’s favourite songs from that era.

Bassist and co-founder Todd Hunter says it has been an exciting undertaking pulling the tour setlist together.

“We just love those songs and those bands,” he says.

“It is great to turn the Countdown spotlight on a specific time and country of origin.

“Having a perimeter like ‘only songs from the UK in the 80s’ gives the band a filter which to distil the essence of the songs from that era.

“The UK music scene was very vibrant in the 80s and there was a changing of the guard from bands and artists that were around in the 70s, to people who emerged in the UK in the 80s.

“We have tried to keep that in mind with our song choices.”

There were three tests for the songs:

Everyone in the band had to like the choices.

Was there something in the song that Dragon could reinterpret so it didn’t come across as a cover?

Were they fun to play and would the crowd sing its lungs out?

Making the list were classic hits from the likes of Queen, Tears for Fears, The Police, Madness and Duran Duran as we’ll as Dragon’s own hits from the era ‘April Sun in Cuba’, ‘Rain’, ‘Young Years’, ‘Still in Love’,’ Dreams of Ordinary Men’ and ‘Are You Old Enough?’

The ‘80s left a stamp on each member.

Drummer Pete Drummond: “(80s music) is my home base as far as pop music is concerned.

“There were so many great songs from UK bands during that time.

“Countdown had a huge impact on me growing up, I was able to see all my favourite artists play – or mime – or be interviewed.

“It was one of my favourite shows, so I guess if I am anything to go by, it holds that same place in so many people’s hearts in Australia.

“My favourite memory of 80s Countdown was seeing the video clip for ‘Rain’, I think it was November 1983.

“It was one of my favourite songs, by one of my favourite bands… and now I’m in it!”

Singer Mark Williams: “I’m a big fan of the UK 80s sound. Digital was young, new and ear-splitting then and we were all experimenting with sequencers and programming.

“The 80s gave us a new-found freedom.

“It is funny how one is guided by the way that music is heading at the time,

“However, when you’re involved so much in it, you’re not thinking about that, only thinking of the music itself.

“Being part of creating the sound of that era, it was an exciting time.”

Todd Hunter: “My favourite memory from Countdown in the 80s was the way that they welcomed us back onto the show after we reformed in 198.

“They gave us another chance by letting us play songs that sometimes weren’t even singles until ‘Rain’ came along and things went nuts again.”

Friday June 1: Calamvale Hotel, Clanavale, Qld

Saturday June 2: Alexandra Hills Hotel, Alexandra Hills, Qld

Sunday June 3: Paddo Tavern, Paddington, Qld

Friday June 8: Rooty Hill RSL, Rooty Hill, NSW

Friday June 29: The Palms at Crown, Melbourne

Saturday June 30: Heads Bowlo, Shoalhaven, NSW