Airlord – Nostalgia Central

Prog rock group Airlord arrived in Australia in 1977 as an unknown New Zealand band.

Originally formed in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1975 by guitarist Stephen MacKenzie and bassist Brad Murray, the band spent over two years struggling for venues.

There was little demand for original live music in New Zealand, and Airlord’s music was intricate and imaginative, featuring classical influences blended with hard electric rock, examining serious themes, and creating images.

The band called it “picture music”.

Plagued with bad luck in New Zealand (they had lined up a tour with the Alex Harvey Band, and other international acts, but they all fell through for one reason or another), the group left for Sydney in February 1977.

Their first gigs were at French’s wine bar, and it was there they got their big break.

They had sent tapes to all the record companies and invited representatives to French’s. A producer from Festival Records (Martin Erdman) was the only one to turn up, and he was impressed enough to sign up the group for a recording contract.

A few weeks later, they were cutting their first album, and record company executives were beside themselves with excitement.

When completed, the LP, Clockwork Revenge, was introduced to the media at an elaborate and expensive press reception.

Sydney radio stations 2JJ, 2SM and 2MBS-FM subsequently featured tracks from the album, and a $20,000 spectacular stage presentation launched the group as live performers at Sydney’s Elizabethan Theatre in August 1977, with a specially designed set, costumes, an extravagant light show and a dance company.

The band found it difficult to compromise their large theatrical show to fit smaller pubs and clubs, and began having to adapt their songs to a harder rock style to compete with the rapidly growing demand for the pub-rock sound in Australia, spearheaded by groups like Cold Chisel and The Angels.

Ray and Brad left, other lineup changes followed, and the band slowly fell apart.

Drummer Rick Mercer went on to a successful radio career with Mix FM in Melbourne.

Ray Simenauer was killed in a road accident in New Zealand in March 1989. Brad Murray passed away in 2017.

Stephen MacKenzie
Vocals, guitar
Ray Simenauer
Guitar, vocals
Brad Murray
Bass, vocals
Alan Blackburn
Keyboards
Rick Mercer
Drums

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