Taking influence in name and style from Australia’s greatest ever rock outfit AC/DC, Rockin’ Volts pay homage to old school rock music the only way they know how – by rockin’ hard with guitars blazing, attitude dripping, sweat-stained heads banging and testosterone pumping high energy rock n roll that puts the heart and soul back into Australian rock. The four piece act released their debut self-titled EP in September last year featuring a rip-roaring cover of AC/DC‘s “Let There Be Rock” and have just now released their first ever lyric video for the title track “Rockin Volts“. We grabbed a few words from drummer Dean Weedon to find out more about the new release as well as dig up a bit of history on the band.
Tell us about the process of writing and recording the EP.
We jammed out a few ideas at rehearsals, one was in a warehouse which was the making of our single and title track of the EP “Rockin Volts”. The rest I believe was at Magnet studios in Coburg and at Studio One. Be. (where we rehearse now). When we were making the backbone of the songs, we didn’t have a vocalist as the vocalist we had left the band while in the mixed of making the songs. Hayden our bass player suggested one rehearsal that he wanted to audition for the lead singer for the band, and he came in with the words for all 3 originals that made it on the EP that day, yet we knew he was the man for the job. A month later we were entering the studio with Chris Gatz, who we met before going in and he understood how we wanted to make a raw, high energy rock n roll EP with the sound of Alberts coming through the speakers. When we got in the studio and the process started, we knocked out our title track in 1 take which was a shocking feeling but we were confident we would knock it out a day or two and that’s exactly what we did. We didn’t stuff around, we got in and what you hear is us knocking it out in 2 days.
What were some of the things you wanted to achieve with the release?
We wanted to achieve to get a closer vibe to the sound of Albert Productions, who made a sound with the early albums of AC/DC, The Angels, Rose Tattoo etc. It was a thing that Alberts started and invented a sound for those Aussie albums and they still stand the test of time. Yet you don’t find many bands if not anyone but maybe Airbourne that are trying to get that sound back and that’s what we wanted to achieve. We wanted to achieve a raw Aussie pub rock n roll EP that will be a punch in the face and I think we achieve that.
Do you enjoy the process of creating? Are you someone who continually writes or does the best come out under a little gentle pressure?
I absolutely love creating music, it’s my escape and with the whole band creating our songs is so fun and making new music means we are still evolving and wanting to make music for our fans and rock n roll family. I’m always writing on my own, I’ve been writing songs since I was 8 years old and I still continue as much now as I was a little kid. We never have had a little gentle pressure or any pressure at all, I think pressure forces something that you might not like 100% when its done and you’ll look back at it and think what were we thinking? And that’s not we want, our fans want and our rock n roll family want.
For a debut release, is this the first experience recording for the band members or had everyone come from other bands previously?
For us as a band in the studio at the same time yes, it is our first experience. Hayden and Tyler had previous studio time with their other projects but this was our first in this band and look how it turned out.
What were the lyrical themes of the songs?
We wanted to have titles that stood out from when you pick up the EP or listen to it on your streaming services etc., and think these titles are ballsy and to the point like the 70s were. Same with the lyrics, a lot of bands talk about depressing and how low their life is, which is great if you are in that sort of band. But with this band, we are all about rock n roll, women, alcohol and having a good time which is what a rock n roll band was always about and should continue to be. Our title track from the EP “Rockin Volts” for example was gonna be about paying respect to the bands that came before us and what this band is exactly about with no bullshit. This is who we are, this is what we do, we are Rockin’ Volts!
How did you choose which AC/DC song to cover on the EP?
I used to play along behind my drumkit, drumming the whole live album of AC/DC Live At River Plate from start to finish, and I used to love playing Let There Be Rock when it came on and I thought to myself, what if I can bring this version of the song into my band? Long behold I brought it in and jammed it out and it became our final song of the night, we choose it to be on the EP and last song on the EP to pay armitage and tribute to Malcolm Young from AC/DC, of course AC/DC themselves and all the bands we grew up listening to.
Did you imagine how these songs would play out in a live situation?
We don’t think about that too much, we write and play songs we love playing and if the crowd is getting into it and singing the words back, then you’ve got them. We were always gonna be a high energy Aussie pub rock n roll band and make the crowd feel like they are all in from the first note till the final note.
What are the future plans for Rockin’ Volts?
We are gonna go into pre-production for our debut album, then record the album as soon as the studio reopens. Go on tour around Melbourne and if we can go interstate for a show on this tour would great also. We are just gonna gig, gig, gig and get our name out there as much as possible and then starting working on the second album soon as we are done with the debut album tour, and keep going up and up and up!
How did the band form and get started?
I started the band back in 2014 in Sunbury a small town, well it was then north-west of Melbourne, with my younger brother on bass and got other members in as we played a gig 2 weeks later in the next suburb for a 30-minute set and we went from there. Fast forward to 2018 I got the band members I was searching for, the members that will come along with me to make a big f**king noise! I wanted to bring back Aussie pub rock n roll back and the name it came Rockin’ Volts, was actually from me drumming alongside to a song from AC/DC and it was High Voltage. After playing that, I knew what I wanted my band to be and with our name you know exactly what we are and what we play and that’s how I wanted it to be.
What have been your greatest challenges to date, and your favourite moments musically?
The greatest challenges for me especially is when you have hit rock bottom and you have no members and you feel like you can’t go any further down. I really thought I wasn’t gonna have a full band again sharing the same dream I had, that was actually the greatest challenge I have ever faced. Favourite moments definitely is when you are in the studio recording your first piece of original music that you’ve dreamed about as a kid, reading magazines of your favourite bands in the studio and yet you are in the studio doing it, that’s so rock n roll!
From what you’ve learned so far what is the most valuable advice you’ve been given so far as a musician?
I have two uncles who are my dads older brothers who were in a band together back in the day, who always knew I was gonna walk in their footsteps one day in my own band and I remember them saying to me “don’t give up on your dream, keep pushing, it doesn’t matter if there is 5 people or a packed house, you keep living the dream and enjoy the moment” I don’t think you can get more honest advice than that especially from other musicians who have been there.
Who are some of your main influences?
Wow where do I start? Definitely AC/DC, The Beatles (Even when they went on their own), The Angels, Rose Tattoo, Airbourne, Phil Collins, Phil Rudd, Status Quo etc. You know it’s the list!
Who or what inspired you to be in a band and play music?
Without even thinking for a second, Malcolm Young from AC/DC! Soon as I hooked on the band, I knew starting a band was the only option. A lot of people when they say AC/DC is Angus Young, not for me! AC/DC was and always will be Malcolm Young, he was the founder and rhythm guitarist of the band, he was the driving force, the decision man for every step the band made, the most confident guy on stage, the backbone, the riff master, the songwriter. Everything this man did, was the best decision for the band, even if it wasn’t at the time. I read so many magazines, online articles, books, stories from other bands back in the 70s, even my own uncle jammed with him like what the f**k! I wanted to start my own band because he did, he had a vision and nothing was gonna stop him not even managers or labels, he overruled them all! He is without question the greatest rhythm guitarist of all time and it should be more known. Without him there was no AC/DC, yet without him and seeing him live in 2010 on the Black Ice Tour in Melbourne there is a great chance Rockin’ Volts wouldn’t even have started in the first place.
How do you feel about the current music scene right now?
There is a lot of talented musicians/bands out there, you just gotta find them. It’s not how it used to be in the 70s or 80s. The music has changed but not many people are making that Aussie pub rock foot to the floor rock n roll like we are which is a shame coz this style everyone loves a bit a rock n roll. It’s harder to get people to gigs than it used to be especially with all these streaming services, more people need to get down to a gig because it’s still the best feeling on the planet to see a rock n roll gig and have the whole place going off. I think it’s fantastic to see every man and his dog in a band, trying to get gigs and trying to succeed. If more music is out there, no matter what style it is, is incredible!
Do you believe music can still change the world?
I’m not sure if this is the right approach, but I am gonna take it this way. Sadly, a lot of people young and old who suffer from anxiety & depression and they feel like they can’t take it anymore, listen to some music and turn the f**ker up loud! Music is a universal language, it’s a common language and music does save lives because it saved mine! Anyone who is having a shit day or feeling like the end just get your phone, put your headphones on and listen to whatever makes you feel alive! Music does make people happy, music is an escape weather you believe it or not. Music can change the world because it saved my life and I’m still here playing music. If it can save someone’s life, music is changing the world into a better rockin place!
If you could be a fly on the wall for the recording of any album in history, what album would it be?
It would be the Back In Black album by AC/DC by some mile! The sadness they went through with the passing of Bon Scott, yet Bon’s parents after the funeral said to Malcolm you guys should keep going, Bon would’ve wanted it that way”. Yet they found Brian Johnson who Bon previously said to the band that Brian was an incredible singer, after they auditioned a few people, Brian walked in and they did Nutbush City Limits and Whole Lotta Rosie and they liked what they heard and got him back for a second try and did Highway To Hell and a couple of the riffs which would become the riffs on Back In Black that he gave a try and then they went in the studio to record the album which is greatest album ever in my opinion. It was done in 4-5 weeks and less than 5 months after Bon’s death it was released and look what it became. I would have loved to be in the studio when they were making that and to see the journey, they went through would be incredible to see.
What is the meaning of life?
Life is about having a good time, being with family, having a drink or two, putting on your favourite bands on the cd/record player, having your girl with you, telling jokes to your family and friends, being in a band no matter what style, go to a pub, seeing your idols in concert. Just being around people you love is life, we have one chance at life, life’s too short to worry about the negatives. Go out and live your life because we don’t know when it’s the end. Life is living!
Final words from Rockin’ Volts…
You can get our EP along with the other merch we have such as: T-shirts from small to extra-large, stubby holders and stickers from our Facebook page.
Check out our Spotify page to listen to the EP, our Triple J Unearthed page to listen and give us a review as we are #16 or so in the rock charts which is unbelievable.
Check out our debut lyric video we just released on our Facebook page or YouTube of our single “Rockin Volts”.
Once the restrictions are lifted, get down to a gig we are at and if you’re looking to have a good time and a drink and a rock n roll band, we have it!
Debut album is coming so get out and get it once it’s out and turn it up to 11!
