News

Wednesday, 08 July 2009 00:00

ICONIC 80'S DUO AIR SUPPLY RETURNS TO THE RECORDING STUDIO ALONG WITH 2008'S AMERICAN IDOL SEMI-FINALIST MICHAEL JOHNS.

Australian-native Michael Johns, who took a top spot in season seven of FOX's “American Idol,"  joined fellow Aussie Graham Russell of Air Supply in a Las Vegas studio to sing guest vocals on the duo's new song “Hold On.”  Written and produced by Russell, the track will appear on Air Supply's upcoming album slated for 2010-- the first to be released by the Las Vegas-based label, Odds On Records.

Johns later that evening joined Russell and Air Supply's other half, Russell Hitchcock, on stage at The Orleans Hotel to sing the group’s hit song “All Out of Love.”


PHOTO CAPTION (left to right):  Michael Johns and AIR SUPPLY’s Graham Russell


PHOTO CAPTION (left to right, top to bottom):  Michael Johns, Odds On Records President Ted Joseph, AIR SUPPLY’s Graham Russell and Manager Barry Siegel

Photos Courtesy Luck Media & Marketing, Inc.

Wednesday, 08 July 2009 00:00

AIR SUPPLY RETURNS TO THE STATES FOR FOURTH OF JULY SHOW AT THE BEAUMONT CHERRY FESTIVAL IN RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA AND ANNOUNCES MORE 2009 TOUR DATES

80s Hitmaking Duo of Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock Will Be Releasing Their Indie Projects ‘Free Love’ (July 14) and ‘Singer And The Song’ (September 15) On Odds On Records

After a typically jam packed exotic spring touring everywhere from Australia to Central America and Asia (Hong Kong, Tapei, Singapore), Air Supply (www.airsupplymusic.com) is coming home to America for Independence Day.

The 80s hit making duo of Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock are set to perform July 4 at the Beaumont Cherry Festival in Riverside, California. Later in July, they will be playing at the Hard Rock Hotel in Biloxi, Mississippi (July 10-11) and the Sandy Amphitheatre in Sandy, Utah (July 31).

Earlier this year, they signed a label deal with Las Vegas based independent label, Odds On Records. Distributed by E1 Music (formerly Koch) and headed by former Warner Bros. marketing and promotion executive Ted Joseph, the full-service company (www.oddsonrecordings.com) plans to release a new Air Supply studio album in 2010.

The timing of their first commercial release in nearly a decade coincides perfectly with the group’s 35th anniversary next year.

Not that the world ever stopped celebrating the soft rock gurus of romance. Over two decades after dominating the pop charts with romantic perennials like “All Out of Love,” “The One That You Love,” “Lost In Love” and “Making Love Out of Nothing At All,” Russell and Hitchcock have never been more popular, averaging 120-140 concerts annually.

Odds On has also licensed two indie Air Supply projects, and Free Love, which is scheduled for a July 14 release, and Singer and the Song, which is set for September 15. The albums were previously sold at Air Supply shows and on the duo’s website.

7/4/09                         Beaumont Cherry Festival             Beaumont, CA
7/10/09–7/11/09       Hard Rock Biloxi Hotel & Casino  Biloxi, MS
7/31/09                       Sandy City Amphitheater               Sandy, UT
8/1/09                         Cache Creek Casino                      Brooks, CA
8/8/09                         Palmdale Amphitheater                  Palmdale, CA
8/14/09                       Diamond Jo Casino                        Dubuque, IA
8/22/09                       National Arts Centre                        Ottawa, ON
8/25/09                       Dutchess County Fair                     Rhinebeck, NY
8/28/09                       Twin River Events Center               Lincoln, RI
8/29/09                       The Great Auditorium                     Ocean Grove, NJ
9/3/09-9/6/09             The Orleans Hotel and Casino       Las Vegas, NV
9/11/09                       Humphrey's                                       San Diego, CA
9/12/09                       The Grove of Anaheim                     Anaheim, CA

Saturday, 25 April 2009 00:00

As originally seen in Billboard Magazine, April 25, 2009.

Air Supply: Love Jones '80s Duo Raises Odds With New Label Deal
By Gail Mitchell

Love never goes out of style--just ask Russell Hitchcock and Graham Russell of Air Supply. Celebrating its 35th anniversary next year, the soft-rock gurus of romance still perform between 120-140 shows annually, singing such '80s perennials as "All Out of Love," "The One That You Love" and "Making Love Out of Nothing at All." Despite Air Supply's crowd-drawing appeal, eight years have elapsed since the veteran duo's last commercial album. And no one was more astonished than Air Supply when Las Vegas-based startup Odds On Records invited the duo to join its roster. Distributed by E1 Music (formerly Koch) and headed by former Warner Bros. marketing and promotion executive Ted Joseph, the full-service indie plans to release a new Air Supply studio album in 2010.

"We were surprised," Graham Russell says with a laugh. "However, the people at Odds On are industry veterans with a lot of experience. So we said, 'Who knows? We may be able to crack everything once more.' Weirder things have happened." Such as writer Russell and singer Hitchcock's chance meeting in 1975 while both were performing in a Sydney production of "Jesus Christ Superstar." Or crafting a platinum-studded career out of percolating performances at local coffeehouses.

After touring extensively with Rod Stewart in the late '70s, Air Supply signed with Arista and scored its first U.S. top five pop hit with 1980's "Lost in Love." That was followed a year later by the group's sole No. 1, "The One That You Love." Hitchcock explains, "We're just a couple of working-class guys who fortunately--and maybe cosmically--connected with a distinctive sound and great songs."

The duo's heavily orchestrated sound racked up five more hits (including "Every Woman in the World" and "Sweet Dreams") as well as several multiplatinum albums ("Lost in Love," "The One That You Love" and "Now and Forever"). Losing momentum after the No. 2 success of the 1983 single "Making Love Out of Nothing at All"--later featured in the Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie film "Mr. Mrs. Smith--the duo segued to Giant Records in the early '90s. After a less dramatic run there, Air Supply moved to Warner Bros. and released "Yours Truly" in 2001.

The duo always remained a constant on the show circuit. Hitting the road again in January, Hitchcock and Russell played the Nokia Theater in New York's Times Square Feb. 20. According to Nielsen Boxscore, they played to a near-capacity audience (1,161 out of a total 1,186 seats) at ticket prices of $64.50 and $39.50. During the next six months, the two will perform in Brazil, Australia and across the United States.

Odds On's Joseph first entertained the idea of signing Air Supply after catching a Las Vegas show last year. "I saw females from 17 to 77--and a lot of males--who knew the words to every hit," he says. "Coupled with Air Supply's expansive touring . . . this was an opportunity to partner with a strong brand."

Joseph declines to reveal Odds On's investors, but he is one of several principals--including Grammy Award-winning producer/engineer James Caruso--involved with the label and its $2 million recording studio. In addition to Air Supply, the roster includes the Los Angeles act Ultra Violet Sound. The electro pop band is slated to release its first single in June. Odds On has also licensed two indie Air Supply projects, "Singer and the Song" and "Free Love." Previously sold at Air Supply shows and on the duo's Web site, the label plans to release one of the albums this summer.

In the meantime, Hitchcock and Russell are completing next year's comeback. Titled "Mumbo Jumbo," it's a concept album with a story line integrating acoustic sound and full-on rock'n'roll. But there's no denying Air Supply's stock in trade: love songs.

"The older I get, the more interesting love becomes," Russell says. "It's one thing when you're 19; another as you mature and start thinking about the universe. I don't think I've even touched the edges yet."

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/magazine/music/e3iea8e9b63ae2a4f8a749c46d8d880e89e